The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-09
SOCIAL ITEMS.
DIR. JONES's LECTURE
 BEFORE CLUB MEMBERS.


 ciative audience. composed mainly of the representatives of the literary clubs of Montgomery, in the Jess ? French auditorium last night.
 While .Ibsen" was the advertised subject of Dr. Jones's last nights lec- ture. number of his friends during yesterday insisted that he change ais lecture to "Emmerson.
 The discussion of his subject was left to the audience, and .Ibsen" had enough supporters. that, though the Emmersonian element seemed to pre- vail, Dr. Jones adhered to the original program, and at the conclusion, a prominent Montgomery minister was heard to remark that "he voted for Emmerson but was glad he heard Ib- sen" ~ts~
 Dr. Jones began his lecture by speaking of the Ibsen of the present, the great poet -dramatist. who for many weeks has hovered between life and death. In the summing up of the man, he spoke of his character, his literary aims and methods.
 To Ibsen, he ascribed the wonderful gift of depicting in exceptionally life- like and most impressive manner that which excites his feelings. Dr. Joaes gave a little sketch of the life of the great dramatist in which he told of his birth on March 20, 1928, in little lumber village of Skein. He told of his parents and his grand parents, and the tragedy of some of their lives.
 From a small boy he was different from other children and instead of & fondness for play. and sports, his tastes were for books, his greatest ambition then to be an artist
 At sixteen years of1age he was ap- prenticed to an apotheeary, where he remained five years and while there he began to write poems and to be in- tensely interested in politics. It was while there that he suffered his first disappointment in his own people in that hey did not join in the defence of Denmark against the Germans.
 Dr. Jones told of the writing of his first drama--"Catellne."-- and of his failure of selling it after he had 1t printed
 He did not enter college until after he was twenty two years of age and was then very poor scholar diligent only with his pen in writing verse.
 While in college, he, with a friend, started a paper with the title The Man" In this paper Dr. Jones said the boys sounded some Of the earlier notes of the labor movement, but as their paper did not succeed from a fi- nancial standpoint they decided to change it's name to "Andhrimner,"--a, mythological name, but the pretentious name succeeded no better and the pa- per was a failure. tt
 For five years, while filling the po- sition of stage director. he. travelled over his own country and studied closely it's history During this time he wrote many pieces. none of which brought him either fame or profit
 One of the poets strongest points was his love of his own country-he was for Norway first, last and always, and while in his younger days he seem ed to fail in all his undertakings yet he was not of the yielding kind and in the end he triumpfed.
 Tn the year 1884. at the age of thirty-two, helped by his friends, he left his native 1and's said Dr. Jones, ito see Rome, to taste the culture of Southern Europe, to enlarge his life by travel and to find his true work Dr. Jones said that with the exception of one hurried visit Ibsen never return ed to Norway until last winter when he came back home to die.
 During the first ten years at Rome | he wrote three dramas entitled, | Brand" Peer Gynt," and ''The Young | Mems UnIon."
 Dr. Jones gave a lengthy and inter- asting account of Brand" and drew | graphic comparisons between these | -hree works. Among other dramas of he great Norwegian. that Dr. Jones spoke of were. The Dolls House" Ghosts The Wild | Duck 'TIedda Gabler," and '"The Master Builder" in all of which he showed the most salient points in q most interesting and satisfactory man Ter. |
 pr. Jones said. in fact. that his lec- ure last evening was but an intro luction to a course of six lectures on he Ibsen drama, for each drama de- Ierved a lecture to itself.
 He spoke of Ibsen as being called pessimist--which may mean much or lothing-especially in literature, and le said the world is too much enamor- d of the word optimism"
 pr Jones said he liked Ibsen be- 'ause he always believed there was new order of things to come, be. ,ause he believed in the Impossible" md worked fer it as every man and woman should.
 He was a man whose enthusiasm for humanity was a growth from the be- 'inning--a quality of the plant itself r and In 1t the sequel of his recoil orm and disgust of politicians.
 Ho was a man described by Dr. ones in concluding his address, as so tender in regard for the noble in l he human heart" that no one could ccusa of faithlessness or as irreli- ious, and he said his hope was that vhat he had said would increase the esire to know more of the poet, to nd deeper interest in the man.
 MRS. WILCOX COMPIINENTED