The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1881-05-28 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

LIBRARY COMMITTEE. - The monthly I meeting of this committee was held at the Free Library on Thursday morning. Dr. T. W. Thursfield pre.ided, and there were also present Councillors Overell, Watt, navel, and Francis, Alderman Wackrill, Hon. and Rev. J. W. Leigh, Rev. W. J. roods, and Professor Mlssie.7-The visitors for the ensuing six months were appointed as follows :—June, Messis. Flavell and Francis ; July, Alderman Wackrill and Councillor 'Muddeman ; August, Hon. and Rev. J. W. Leigh and Councillor Watt ; September, Councillors Massie and Overell ; October, Alderman Southorn and Dr. Nicholson ; November, Rev. W. J. Woods and Dr. Thursfield.--The Secretary of the School of Art reported that the school is at present constituted as follows :—Ladies' class, 11 ; afternoon, 3S ; teachers, 10 ; industrial, 28; total, 87. The sun. of t‘:2l 9s. had been taken in fees since the last meeting of the committee.—The report was adopted.—The Librarirn reported that the Rev. J. Walters had presented to the Library a work entitled, "Thrift Lessons,- also a pamphlet entitled, "Ireland's wrongs and how to mend them." Captain Walthouse had presented a work entitled, " The life and struggles of William Loveitt." He had also received by post, "The course amid current of architecture,' and a "Chart of the history of architecture." From the 25th of April to the 24th of May 3,519 vols. were issued from the lending library, against 3,320 in the corresponding period of last year.--Accounts amounting to £3l liis. 3d. were ordered to be paid, including the following : -E. Newman, 3s. 141. ; J. Rolf, ill I ls. 11d. ; Gas Company account,; 17,000 feet of gas, 19s. ; F. A. Horne, £2 los. A. 11. Heritage, 12s.—The report was adopted. HERR COIIEN'B LEcTeass.—On Monday evenitur last Herr Cohen, the phrenologist, gave a lecture in Holly Walk schoolroom, on " Honest Thieves." The Rev. J. Pleydell Driver presided, and there was a very numerous attendance. Herr Cohen handled his subject with conspicuous ability, and the lecture was most amusing awl instructive. On Tuesday evening Herr Cohen delivered a second lecture, in the Public Hall, on "Character and Reputation," when there was again a large attendance. On Wednesday evening Herr Cohen delivered a third lecture to a large audience. Re urged everyone to study themselves for their own personal benefit, to please their neighbour, their coontry, and their God - (hear, )uear). There was a certain class of young people who wanted to get on in life, but they did not go the right way about it. They lived a " ginger beer life and nothing else "—(laughter). The best friend to a man was ho who told another his faults. Man was never put into this world to be such au ugly creature as he, in many cases made himself, to be so wicked and cruel as they were. It was not God's will there should be so many " perambulators," or rather " bath i chairs," about the streets of Leamington as there aro. All this came of not having been properly trained when young, and a wise cultivation of the various faculties. If people would walk more and ride less they would be more healthy. Referring to the fashion of the present day, llerr Cohen said as sure as over a clergyman began to talk about tight lacing, etc., the young ladies Invited round and said, " I will never go to his church again "-- tlaughter). That clergyman   would soon become uapopular. The fashionable people of to-day Mod to be smoothed over. The clergyman or the lecturer might talk about anything so long as they did not talk "to " the peoplo—(hear, hear). Fashion was the rage of the age, and there was nothing more injurious to the success and happiness of the people than the abominable fashion of the day—(hear, hear). There was too much fashion, too little health, too much dress, and too little of the vital functions that keep body and soul together. Re had known doctor's daughters who had killed themselves by inches and committed suicide by degrees, and all •Ao bo in the fashion. It was the most shocking practice of the day—(mar, hear). Why was it that with all the medical men, lecturers, and teachers of the present day, there was so much disease, so much consumption and heart disease ? It was time for some one to get up and speak. The time to see these fashionable people was when they got up in the morning, without their teeth, without their wig, without any paint, just as thpy are, and we shouldn't know them— (laughter). Then again it was said that young people fell in love because they couldn't help it. They married without studying one anothers Pitions, and what was the result? Their offspring in nine cases out of ten were consumptive. And what did the doctors say about it? Nothing! It would not pay them. The game argument held good respecting the youne men. Some young men were only manly when elevated by the intoxicating cup. Such young men may have a character, but it was a bad one. The principal aim in life should be to do good—(hear, hear). ‘Vhen young people of the present day went in for a rise, they began to grumble and be dissatisfied, instead of working to be worth that for which they agitated—(hear, hear). Religious intolerance was another great evil, and he wished it wore swept off the face of the earth—(applause). It .mattered not whether a man was a chapel or a churchman if he wis conscientious. Only that very day he had read a speoeh made by a curate, who actually had the audacity to say that it was a sin to go into a dissenting chapel. The sooner that curate was out of the church and the chapel the better, because he was no credit to either— (hear, hear). If more charity was exercised a better work would be done in the world. Mr. Cohen then proceeded to delineate the characters of several local gentlemen. Particulars of next week's lectures will be found in an advertisement in another column.