A FEW THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

Evening Star, Issue 3773, 29 March 1875, Page 3

A FEW THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

or distant readers who may not have had t’ne pleasure of seeing the celebrated lecturer, the Rev. Charles Clark, whose recitations hay e drawn crowds, may like to have an idea of the personal appearance of that gentle man ainl of hia style and manner on the platform. Supposing the usual stage furniture, and crowded expectant, audience, within a few minutes of the appointed-time for the commencem< mt of the address in walks a gentleman with perfect ease, hows gracefully to the audience, surveys it, seems pleased with everybody an<Jl with himself, takes a chair, indnlgfs inagla&s of water, and amuses himself with his handkerchief, taking a leisurely glance at things around, undisturbed by the gaze of the crowd around and the telescopic shots fired at him. He appears tall, has an expressive coun-tenance,-a youthful air at a distance, and instead of the common idea of a dissenting ministex, recalls to mind those graceful life guardsmen andfamiliars of high life whom John Leech delighted to depict in his glances into dxawing-room life in London. His arms are long and finished by lengthy, tapering fingers, which he brings irresistibly into play in his delineation _of character. Without a moment’s hesitation he bursts into his subject. He possesses a magnificent voice, and over its every modulation he has a perfect mastery. Grandj sublime outbursts of reverence when any subject deserving worship is referred to pathos at whose command the unwilling teai hj flow, toned until it almost reaches a whisper without a word misplaced, not a word mis’ placed—careful utterance, no clipping or shortening of words, to each its full intent and value—a marvel of memory and elocutionary power such as few men are privileged to possess among.the action to the word, the move to tho expression, actually to your mind peopling the stage with character unmistakable and lifelike you see rough old Miles Standish contemplating wedlock, or the poor- returned shipwrecked manner, Enoch Arden, stealthily gliding to sec with his own eyes the happiness of his lost wife i ’ iawariffy resolving, with ? ?elp, t? leave it undisturbed. Humor rollicking enjoyable fun, without one touch of wffiganty; be it depicting the horsey play of Sam Weller or the tea-table outburst of Sairey Gamp; the absurd escapades of Mr Pickwick whose beaming countenance you almost fancJ before you, unceremoniously capsized out of the wheelbarrow or immated in the village pound • or the ridiculous attempts of Mr Wardle to handle his weapon; In a sportsmanlike manner, to the disgust of the gamekeeper and the delight of Mr Weller The shrug of the shoulder, the touch of thought on the temple,, the humorous scratch behind the ear, but above all that touch of nature, the baby in Enoch Arden swinging its tmy arms to catch the ring that Enoch’s elder child dangles to amuse it. all these are iiresist- • P e °P le beginning life have been privileged to hear and see a lesson such as if diligently attended to, will be of life-long benefit to them; whilst others who attended merely to be amused are forced to admit that Mr Clark wields a power and a charm before which they are compelled to bow, Mr Clark has a career before him in other and larger spheres to which his Colonial success will V tnaes > but colonists will not forget that they were the first to recognise and appreciate his genm9 ' Humility.