I!
STltAV TlIOUnilTS.
VOL. VIII.
gard the gradual successor tlicsoas indi.
eating an increase in llic civil welfare of
the individual, and a blow at the illegal
power wielded by millionaires and cor
porations. The mission of government is to coin,
bine the welfare of I lie individual with
thai, of the state. Our government, lias es
tablished political equality; much re
mains to be done in the way of securing
greater social equal it' even though it can
only exist in a comparative degree.
Caius.
STRAY THOUGHTS.
After searching in vain, Webster's Una
bridged, for knowledge on a zoological
term, I sought solace in translating a few
French sentences; completing an assigned
task I allowed my mind free transit for
sometime. Sudden)' in its travels it
resurrected a low stray thoughts and I
here jot them down as they were pa
raded before me. Not long since I no
ticed u paragraph in one of our daily
papers, that lecturers were not remuner
ated so highly for their services .is in
previous limes, and also thai tliey were
greeted by smaller audiences. The peru
sal of these few lines led me to ask the
reason of tills lack of interest on the part
of the lecture going people. Stringency
in money matters or lack of literary up
precaution may have been the prime
cause, but in order to see if such is the
true reason, let us for a moment consider
the merits, or rather demerits, of Beccher,
Tllton, Woodhul! ct nl of similar notorie
ty. What brought them so suddenly
into such publicity? Certainly not their
intrinsic worth alone, for have we not
learned from history and bitter experi
ence that " Home was not built in a day?"
Again, their productions could not have
been exceptional or rare literary treats,
for upon appearance before a public an
diencc a second time, prices for admission
declined, and the number of intelligent
listeners diminished. Also the leading
critics of Europe severely condemed both
the style and subject matter, as well as
the lecturers themselves. Jtfo, these are
not the reasons for their sudden and
seemingly everlasting popularity. Their
connection with a scandal that would put
to shame even barbaric Turkey, is the
pedestal that raised them, not into emi
nence but into stark notoriety. Had
they not figured so extensively in this
disgrace, their audiences would be a cor.
pond's guard instead of a nation's elite.
In fact, this will surely be their desert
when the novelty of the thing wears oil'.
We learn that II. W. Beccher lias been
engaged lo lecture for llfly nights in Eng
land at !?500.00 per night. Prom the nu
merous articles written against him by
the London Press wo opine Hint his busi
ness manager will bo more bankrupt than
was the Missouri Hank, and Dial his up
pearance befrre an Oxford audience will
be made apparent by the many hisses ho
will surely receive.
Ueecher's lectures are advising, instruc
tive and ennobling so long as the reader or
listener repels from his mind a single rec
ollection ol his doubtful deeds. "Chastity
begins at homo," hence we would advise
Mr. lk'cchor to thoroughly reform him.
self before undertaking the task of roino
dying tho evils of Ills brethren.
Wendell Phillips, tho great anti-slavery
man and acknowledged orator, during
appropr'ate seasons, ornaments the led
uro stage. Many a time lias ho faced
dealli while boldly lighting tho colored
man's battle. He even dared to raise his
arm against accursed slavery when the
air was tilled with threatenings of dealli
against him. This is the pedestal on
which his everlasting fame is firmly set.
Phillips raised himself into popular fa
vor; Heecher excited public curiosity.
Phillips' manhood commands the respect
of millions, while Ueecher's depravity
demands their condemnation and incri
ted disgust. In history, Beccher will be
a s.pec: Phillips, a star.
