MR. FREDERIC COLEMAN'S LECTURE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2740, 7 April 1916, Page 3

MR. FREDERIC COLEMAN'S LECTURE

Mr. Frederic Colem'an delivered again his lecture "With the Allies in France and Flanders" to, a crowded audience in the Concert Chamber last night. Mr. Coleman has'the virile atmosphere surrounding him which is characteristic of the American, and lie tells his story in language about • which there is a certain fresh vigour, that is fascinating. It must not be supposed that his stock-in-trade is merely a spring, of smart or startling phrases. He is a close and intelligent observer of men and events, and of course .he'has seen some events and some men such as it is the lot of few men 'in ithe world, to see. Every now and then, he ,will digress to generalise a little, or to particularise a little, about the big men, or the humble men, whom he saw pass successfully through the mosttrying 'ordeal, to which any army was ever, put—the ..retreat from.Mons. And it'does seem that Mr. Coleman learned to know and to love I the British soldier of all ranks. Of the actual clash of arms he does not speak much, but he does speak of a little cavalry encounter or so, of the last fights; of ; the Gordons and the Munsters, incidents of which he speaks with sadness, almost with horror: Also, he tells more clearly and in fewer words than any narrator up to date, how and why the great, retreat happened. And-' that is, as Mr.. Coleman says, enough subject matter for a 'whole.; lecture. Mr. Coleman's talk is illuminating and interesting. .'■ •_

Pressure from various sources lipon Mr. ..Coleman, insisting on his taking advantage afforded by. an unbooked Saturday night, has .resulted . in his management - announcing that to-mor-f row evening Mr. Coleman will give a farewell lecture, covering ground which lie has hitherto found'it impossible to touch in his previous Wellington lectures. Tho-work of the wonderful Allies' Flying Corps, which has resulted in the winning of the. supremacy of the air, is ono of the subjects upon whichMrs Coleman will dwell. The work at the front from the men of Great Britain who have been awarded V.C.'s and D.S.O;'s is a chapter of the war on which Mr. Coleman could talk entertainingly for hours. Many stories of the 'indlvidusl acts of bravery which have been" so noted a- feature of the great'.war will be told in detail by Mr. Coleman, to-morrow night. An- entirely new. serie." of war pictures will be -_<s«d to embellish what should prove a most entertaining, lecture.- Tho box plans are now available at the Bristol.