The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-23
WALK into LOVE
WITH EYES OPEN

Professor Moulton again delighted
the audience AT Richmond College last
niSht by his keen &EaIysis, his vivid
portrayal OF character and his extreme
iy delicate ethical Appreciation II
was Il tribute TO the popularity OF the
lecturer that all of the standing room
In tho college chapel was appropriated
BY eager listeners.
The lecturer made the point that It
Is common iaisacy to suppose that
sood deeds ought always to be re.
werdcd with prosperity, and tha I
wrongdoing ought always similarly to
h. punished by adversely. But If this
were true the highest morality would
10 impossible because there would be
Io moral choice. AS a matter OF fact
character does not determine fate. Job
was good in the sight of God. yet wavo
after wave OF adversely came upon him.
Ills friends held the current fallacy
and concluded that Job must be a sin
ncg. But the truth as brought out ut
the end OF that great book is not that
righteousness brings prosperity. butt
that righteousness is itself prosperity.
than which the universe can give US
nothing better.
In many ways Job and Romeo and
Juliet resemble each other. Romeo and
.iuieit are very estmable people, he
said, yet wave after wave OF accidents
overwhelmed them, and yet each one OF
these accidents transpii ed through 10
FAULT of either. The whole play is but
q series OF accidents. II is true that in
the physical worid We may suppose ,
That thcr. are no accidents. Thus a
railway wreck is called an accident, yet
there is or may be an underlying cause !
in every case. Not so with the mora /
accidents. IL WAS pure accident IL /
ones friend took that particular train |
instead of a later one.
Professor Moulton explained that
The play opens with Romeo in love
with Rosaline. BY accident she does
not return his love. BY accident SER
want in the house of Capulet, who can
no, read, takes list OF those to DO
invited to dance. BY accident 1t bears !
the name of Rosaline. BY accident the
servant stops particular group on
The street TO help him read his list of
names. This happens TO be a group
from the rival house of Montague.
Romeo happens to be present and secs
the name of Rosaline. He resolves to
60 to the ball masked. Accident of
accidents Romeo falls in love with
juliet at first sight. No less OF an ac-
cident she too tails in love with him
ii the same moment This is very
rare he added. We say that people |
iall in love. Most of them walk into
luNC WIN lHcll eStS Nue opSii, AoohiHE
10 the right and TO the left, and pnrti-
cularly to the rear, to see that the way
OF retreat is open. Nj so with Romeo
Snd Juliet.
This was an accident. We may &C
count scientifically for the electrical |
condition of the atmosphere, but we
cannot account for this or that par
iicu!ar tree being struck. Shakespeare
has made clear that Romeo and Juliet
n,,e a. Il
perhaps to hcighten the accident.
Moreover. notice that the pair COM
United no error. Capulct speaks we'll
OF Romeo as . man. Friar Laurence
marries them i'll the bIicf that this
viii end the feud between the fami-
lies.
Again, IL is by pure accident that
Romeo is banisncd, and through no
fault OF his. lie refused to light .
Tybalt, yet is later forced to Kill him
so avcngc Mercutio's death.
When Capulet arranges with Paris |
10 give Juliet to him In marriage she .
sees nothing to do but to die for her ,
husband, il the church will sanction. /
Friar Laurence approves, and gives !
the drug which Will cause her to /
ieign death for forty-two hours. Friar !
John is selected TO carry the news to ,
Romeo. But here again accident inter- 7,
Vcnes. which explains ali Of the sue |
ceeding events. The house is quar-
antined for the plague, and Frar John
is kept prisoner. Thus by accident |
the tragic end is accomplished. that
Romeo comes back just befSre the
iorty-two hours expire and takes his |
life al her tomb.
In tho background stands the hero
ism OF the principals. and that by their
death the family feud is ended. In the
foreground is the pathos Of moral
accident"
The concluding lecture of this series
viii be given this evening, the sub
Jcct being "The..'Merchant of Venice:
Ihe Play OF Character and Accident"