Mr Christie Murray

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 130, 26 April 1890, Page 2

Mr Christie Murray

The lecture delivered by Mr Christie Murray in the Assembly Booms last night Was not so well attended as the occasion deserved. This was owing entirely, we feel assured, to the amount of sickness now prevalent in the district. /However, the audience was a thoroughly appreciative one, and many who had previously learned to like the author from reading his books, will now appreciate the man for himself. For twa : hours Mr Murray kept the attention of his hearers. As. he said himself his discourse was not, according to Dr Samuel Johnson, a lecture, but a series of anecdotes, taken almost haphazard from the V lucky bag"ofth3 experiences of an eventful hie, during which he had rubbed shoulders with the most degraded and the highest classes in the world. His description of his experiences as a journalist were interesting, but his lite then could not have been all ''beer and skittles" if one may judge by his present antipathy for English newspaper writer* and critics; ■with perhaps- a few exceptions. Hiß description of the fire in the coal pit was a graphic and beautiful; piece of word painting, which will never be forgotten by those who were so fortunate as, to hear it. The anecdotes of John Bright, Mr Disraili, and other prominent members of the House of Commoni, Afefe amusing and told with 1 dramatic fiftect; but the funniest story was that of ttie^Waiter who said, "Well I am 1" . For quaint, dry, humour, tbia could hoi be surpassed. The speaker was frequently applauded, while the ready laughter Which greeted each touch of humour showed ho# thoroughly he was en rapport with- 'his audience. ,Mr Murray left for Napier this.;morning, where we doubt not he will meet a warm and hearty reception. -