north america-1-第72章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
eness。 The subjects chosen are social； literary； philanthropic； romantic； geographical； scientific； religiousanything rather than political。 The lecture…rooms are not usually filled to overflowing； and there is often a question whether the real good achieved is worth the trouble taken。 The most popular lectures are given by big people； whose presence is likely to be attractive； and the whole thing； I fear we must confess； is not pre…eminently successful。 In the Northern States of America the matter stands on a very different footing。 Lectures there are more popular than either theaters or concerts。 Enormous halls are built for them。 Tickets for long courses are taken with avidity。 Very large sums are paid to popular lecturers； so that the profession is lucrative more so； I am given to understand； than is the cognate profession of literature。 The whole thing is done in great style。 Music is introduced。 The lecturer stands on a large raised platform； on which sit around him the bald and hoary…headed and superlatively wise。 Ladies come in large numbers； especially those who aspire to soar above the frivolities of the world。 Politics is the subject most popular； and most general。 The men and women of Boston could no more do without their lectures than those of Paris could without their theaters。 It is the decorous diversion of the best ordered of her citizens。 The fast young men go to clubs； and the fast young women to dances； as fast young men and women do in other places that are wicked； but lecturing is the favorite diversion of the steady…minded Bostonian。 After all； I do not know that the result is very good。 It does not seem that much will be gained by such lectures on either side of the Atlanticexcept that respectable killing of an evening which might otherwise be killed less respectably。 It is but an industrious idleness； an attempt at a royal road to information； that habit of attending lectures。 Let any man or woman say what he has brought away from any such attendance。 It is attractive； that idea of being studious without any of the labor of study； but I fear it is illusive。 If an evening can be so passed without ennui； I believe that that may be regarded as the best result to be gained。 But then it so often happens that the evening is not passed without ennui！ Of course in saying this； I am not alluding to lectures given in special places as a course of special study。 Medical lectures are； or may be； a necessary part of medical education。 As many as two or three thousand often attend these popular lectures in Boston； but I do not know whether on that account the popular subjects are much better understood。 Nevertheless I resolved to hear more； hoping that I might in that way teach myself to understand what were the popular politics in New England。 Whether or no I may have learned this in any other way； I do not perhaps know； but at any rate I did not learn it in this way。 The next lecture which I attended was also given in the Tremont Hall； and on this occasion also the subject of the war was to be treated。 The special treachery of the rebels was； I think； the matter to be taken in hand。 On this occasion also the room was full； and my hopes of a pleasant hour ran high。 For some fifteen minutes I listened； and I am bound to say that the gentleman discoursed in excellent English。 He was master of that wonderful fluency which is peculiarly the gift of an American。 He went on from one sentence to another with rhythmic tones and unerring pronunciation。 He never faltered； never repeated his words； never fell into those vile half…muttered hems and haws by which an Englishman in such a position so generally betrays his timidity。 But during the whole time of my remaining in the room he did not give expression to a single thought。 He went on from one soft platitude to another； and uttered words from which I would defy any one of his audience to carry away with them anything。 And yet it seemed to me that his audience was satisfied。 I was not satisfied； and managed to escape out of the room。 The next lecturer to whom I listened was Mr。 Everett。 Mr。 Everett's reputation as an orator is very great； and I was especially anxious to hear him。 I had long since known that his power of delivery was very marvelous； that his tones； elocution； and action were all great； and that he was able to command the minds and sympathies of his audience in a remarkable manner。 His subject also was the waror rather the causes of the war and its qualification。 Had the North given to the South cause of provocation？ Had the South been fair and honest in its dealings to the North？ Had any compromise been possible by which the war might have been avoided； and the rights and dignity of the North preserved？ Seeing that Mr。 Everett is a Northern man and was lecturing to a Boston audience； one knew well how these questions would be answered； but the manner of the answering would be everything。 This lecture was given at Roxbury； one of the suburbs of Boston。 So I went out to Roxbury with a party； and found myself honored by being placed on the platform among the bald…headed ones and the superlatively wise。 This privilege is naturally gratifying； but it entails on him who is so gratified the inconvenience of sitting at the lecturer's back； whereas it is； perhaps； better for the listener to be before his face。 I could not but be amused by one little scenic incident。 When we all went upon the platform； some one proposed that the clergymen should lead the way out of the little waiting…room in which we bald…headed ones and superlatively wise were assembled。 But to this the manager of the affair demurred。 He wanted the clergymen for a purpose； he said。 And so the profane ones led the way； and the clergymen； of whom there might be some six or seven； clustered in around the lecturer at last。 Early in his discourse； Mr。 Everett told us what it was that the country needed at this period of her trial。 Patriotism； courage； the bravery of the men； the good wishes of the women； the self…denial of all〃and；〃 continued the lecturer； turning to his immediate neighbors； 〃the prayers of these holy men whom I see around me。〃 It had not been for nothing that the clergymen were detained。 Mr。 Everett lectures without any book or paper before him； and continues from first to last as though the words came from him on the spur of the moment。 It is known； however； that it is his practice to prepare his orations with great care and commit them entirely to memory； as does an actor。 Indeed； he repeats the same lecture over and over again； I am told； without the change of a word or of an action。 I did not like Mr。 Everett's lecture。 I did not like what he said； or the seeming spirit in which it was framed。 But I am bound to admit that his power of oratory is very wonderful。 Those among his countrymen who have criticised his manner in my hearing； have said that he is too florid； that there is an affectation in the motion of his hands； and that the intended pathos of his voice sometimes approaches too near the precipice over which the fall is so deep and rapid； and at the bottom of which lies absolute ridicule。 Judging for myself； I did not find it so。 My position for seeing was not good； but my ear was not offended。 Critics also should bear in mind that an orator does not speak chiefly to them or for their approval。 He who writes； or speaks； or sings for thousands； must write； speak； or sing as those thousands would have him。 That to a dainty connoisseur will be false music； which to the general ear shall be accounted as the perfection of harmony。 An eloquence altogether suited to the fastidious and hypercritical； would probably fail to carry off the hearts and interest the sympathies of the young and eager。 As regards manners； tone； and choice of words I think that the oratory of Mr。 Everett places him very high。 His skill in his work is perfect。 He never falls back upon a word。 He never repeats himself。 His voice is always perfectly under command。 As for hesitation or timidity； the days for those failings have long passed by with him。 When he makes a point； he makes it well； and drives it home to the intelligence of every one before
