OTAKI LITERARY CLUB.

Otaki Mail, 19 July 1922, Page 3

OTAKI LITERARY CLUB.

. ♦ SHAKE SPEAJtI AN EVENING. The Shakespearian lecture delivered by Mr Byron Brown on Monday te the members and friends of the Literary and Debating Club provided, as we anticipated, one of the most delightful, refreshing, and instructive evenings held so far this session. The President, the Rev. H. P. Petrie, H.A., occupied the chair, and there was an exceptionally largo attendance. Tho lecturer touched at length on the Baconian controversy and adduced many conclusive arguments to prove that Bacon could not kave been the author of the plays standing in Shakespeare’s name. The dramatic power of the “Bard of Avon,” the music of his poetry, bis lofty- conception of the passion of love, his intense patriotism, his marvellous insight into the heart of mortal man, were dealt with and illustrated by the lecturer in a way that fairly thrilled his audience, and as only a master of his subject, and a master in the art of elocution could do. “Our Pleasant Willie,” as' Spencer called him, seemed to bo rc-incarnated in- our midst and round after round of applause greeted his words of concentrated wisdom. Prom beginning to end of the lecture there was not a dull moment, nor a moment when the lecturer was not listened to with rapt interest. The genius of Shakespear, his power to grip the public mind and to arrest public attention , has seldom before been demonstrated ] here in such a masterly manner.

The lecturer received useful and creditable assistance from the following members of the Club: —Miss Joan Lowry (The Mercy Speech); Miss Beatrice Keall (‘The Seven Ages of Man); Kev. It. p, Keall (Conscience, Richard III); Miss Ashton (Polonies ’ precepts to his son Laertes); Mrs Joplin (Portia choosing her lovers). An enjoyable innovation introduced by the President were songs (set to Shakespeare’.'! words) by Miss Eldcrton (‘Orpheus to His Lute,’ and ‘Whore the Bee Sucks’), and Mrs Davies (‘Should He Upbraid’). Both singers were in good form, and their contributions were much appreciated. The accompaniments were ably played by Mrs H. E. Stable. At the do-'- of the lecture the President heartily thanked Mr Brown, and nil who had assisted him. for the inspiring and helpful evening provided, and lmned that the lecturer would not. follow the subject of his lecture’s advice too slavishly to “give every man thv ear. but few thy. voice.” but would use the wonderful gift with which he was clearly endowed to help and brighten “the daily round, the trivial task” with Shakespeare’s wisdom and his beautiful and elevating thoughts whenever- opportunity offered. The subject set down for next evening is a debate led by Mrs Joplin, and the Secretary. Miss Hardy.