beauties of nature. He has a ready appreciation of the pro prieties of language, thought, and manners, as established by the usages of society, and a refined sympathy with the best sentiments of the purest intellects, hence he is a critic. He has been brought up, not with a silver spoon, but a book in his mouth, and has acquired such a command of the best language, he is able to give us "thoughts that breathe, in words that burn;" hence he is a lecturer. In the commencement of his lecture, he gave us a graphic sketch of the sneak; he then defined heroism, and afterwards described the hero soldier, the hero patriot, the hero reformer and the hero Christian. If the enterprising and enlightened people of * * * * desire to hear one of the best lectures of the season from the faithful lips of one of our first men, let them forthwith secure the invaluable services of Mr. Whipple. I have the impression that Mr. W. is a native of Massachusetts, of humble parentage, and that he is self-taught. When quite young, he secured a situation as clerk in a large library, where he had ample opportunities for intellectual culture. At the meeting, I noticed an unappreciating goose of a girl, directly in front of him, who had the bad manners to open her book and read during the delivery of some of the richest portions of the lecture. An unappreciating ass of a man also hissed him when he said Louis Napoleon was a sneak and not a hero. One dear little woman was so pleased she laughed and nodded and looked from side to side, where she saw scores of sympathizers. The following extracts from his lecture will give an idea of his style : "The noblest and most exhilarating objects the human mind could contemplate were," he said, "those which exhibited the mind in an exalted aspect. Heroes inspired our weakness with the energy of their strength, and taught us to feel that we, not they, were unnatural; that nature, obstructed in common men, appeared unchecked in them. They were so filled with the wine of life-they had, in Fletcher's phrase, 'so much of man thrust into them '-that they appeared in colossal proportions. Heroism was genius in action. "This principle was no sparkling epigram of action, but gradually developed itself in the mind until it rose to action. There was a unity between the will and the intelligence of the Hero. He was not perched upon a giddy height of thought, but stood upon the table of human character and action. Opposition tended but to call out the qualities of his courage, and urged him on through all impediments. His eye ever had the impression of looking into the distance. No fear of death disturbing him; it was lost in the intensity of his life.. "In the heroism of the soldier, glory was the absorbing idea. It was this which distinguished the man from the brute in the bloody field. Glory made the grim battle-field seem as a vision of youth to the warrior's eye. In such men as Bayard, this principle of glory was sublime; in men like Napoleon the idea degenerated into a thirst after universal fame. "The Patriot Hero took a place above the soldier. He was self sacrificing, elevated, and inspired with a love of country that made death sweet in her service. The idea and senti ment of country was felt in his heart, and dilated his individuality to the size of the national individuality. He regarded every wrong to his country as a wrong to himself. "The Reformer felt the full force of the responsibility that rested upon him, when the seed of reformation was dropped into his heart to be nurtured into action. Many were the obstacles against which he has to contend; and not least the accusations of those whom he was sacrificing himself to benefit. Heroism," continued the lecturer, was distinguished by a principle positive of love-not of negative hate. They might be soldiers, patriots and reformers, but not Heroic, except by a principle of love. It was love of his own country, not hatred of any other, which made the heroic patriot; nor was it fear or hate of hell, but love of God, which made the heroic saint. This latter was the highest degree of heroism, but yet it was a kind of heroism not eagerly coveted nor zealously approved. The patriot of the Heavenly Kingdom was the true pilgrim. The still, deep ecstasy which imparadised his spirit, could but ill describe itself in words. Its full power could only be seen in the virtues which it created; in the triumphant faith which defied the pains of the rack, and lifted the spirit above the world. He regretted his deficiencies, in trying to paint the character of Heroism for them. From a consideration of its records they would rise, not as from memories of the past, but living forces of the present, which would graft upon the mind its deathless energies." |