FOR MEN ONLY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 467, 30 April 1890, Page 4

FOR MEN ONLY.

VARLEY’S LECTURE LAST NIGHT. Auckland, April 25. What difference will the charge for admission make ? That was the question which nearly everyone asked themselves as they paid their shillings to hear Mr Varley’s lecture to young men last night. Curiosity on the point was soon satisfied. One had only to glance round the hall to observe the difference. Last week there was not standing room, yesterday evening the hall looked barely half full. The difference in the class of the audience was scarcely less noticeable. The larrikin element so profusely represented on Saturday last was conspicuous from its absence. The quietness which reigned all evening was therefore most refreshing. There were one or two lads present who were certainly very young-looking for sixteen, but they declared most stoutly they were over that age, so of course they had to be admitted. Amongst those on the platform wore Sir W. Fox, T. W. Gittos, and Cr. W. H. Smith. Two hymns with rather pretty tunes were first sung, and the audience having settled themselves by the time they were finished Mr Varley began. He first remarked that the lecture was given by desire on Friday night, so that many young people employed in business on Saturday evening might be able to attend. From this he drew the inference that many present had not heard either of his former lectures. He therefore was obliged to repeat himself somewhat, though he regretted having to do so. The early part of the discourse would, therefore, be much on the lines as the two previous ones. On this occasion Mr Yarley was very strong on tho responsibility of fathers to warn their sons of certain temptations which would infallibly assail them at specified ages. It was not always a pleasant duty, but as they had taken the responsibility of fathers upon themselves they ought not'fco shirk it. He had warned his own lads. He had told them never to go anywhere, or do anything, or say anything which they would be ashamed of his knowing. His boys were now grown up, and were all six-footers. He did not want to say this except to show that it paid to do right. Many people asked why God had not made us so that we should not feel any wish to gratify passion. As well ask why God has made us so that we can fall down in tho street and break a limb. Would we curse God for this ? What form would we wish our body to be in ? Like the piano on the stage? (Laughter.) What would Mrs Yarley think if he was in that form, lie wondered? (Laughter.) He was willing to give £2O to any young man who would make him a sketch of a form for human bodies which would always be able to preserve the perpendicular—not to fall down or slip, etc.—and yet be able to perform the manifold art 3 and crafts of which men were able to perform in their present form. Ho was not afraid of losing that twenty pounds. Mr Varley gave some sound advice to young married men, and then returned to the charge against the evils which beset the paths of young fellows starting in life. The lecture was pre-eminently one for men only, however, so it would be manifestly impossible to report it in a journal intended for all sexes and classes.