QUEER CARDS.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 228, 24 January 1885, Page 12

QUEER CARDS.

Professor Hugo has been lecturing at the Temperance Hall to very good houses on " Physiognomy,"' the subjects so far being "Facial Kxpression "' and •• Wrinkles." The Professor shows v thorough knowledge of this particular branch of science, and has a happy knack of making his lectures humorous, simple and instructive. On the first night diagrams were shown to illustrate the characteristics of individual faces from a view of the profile, and the Professor described fully the distinguishing points of round, square, and pointed faces. On Tuesday night the special subject was " Wrinkles,"' and v minute description was given of wrinkles denotinggrief, concentration, cross temper, deceit, benevolence, superstition, superficialism, clear judgment, etc. At the close of each lecture volunteers are invited to walk up and down the length of the hall under the critical eye of the Professor, who scrutinises the gait of each and lauds or ridicules his subject accordingly, the "soft tilings" and "hard caccs " dropping in for a good deal of the latter. Handwriting is also examined, and the social, mental, and physical qualities of the Avriter explained to a nicety. Several ladies were operated upon at the last lecture, and had their strong and weak points revealed to them in such a. kindly manner that any effort on their part to conceal or refute stern facts was quite out of the epiestion. They sat it out well, and the spasmodic tittering of one and all showed that they wore quite tit one with the Professor. " Lips" is underlined for this (Friday) evening, and as this is a subject that interests our mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, and aunts, we predict a large audience to hear a lecture that is teeming with humour and instruction.

Mrs G. I>. "W. Lewis and her premier Company arc dotorniincd the play-goers of our city sliall "have not only quality, but quantity, a most liberal programme having 1 been provided. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Marsden's charming comedy drama '■' Clouds " was produced, Mrs Lewis giving a very graphic impersonation of the heroine "Stella (-rjirdon," ably supported by her talented Company. On Monday and Tuesday " Cora.; or, Article 47," an adaptation from the FroHuh v -\vas placed on the stage. ' ' Cora " gave Mrs Lewis an opportunity of showing the full extent of her wonderful adaptability, the mad scene being a powerful and realistic pic ri o of acting, reminding those who have seen " liistori " very forcibly of that talented ai ti.-ito, and it is in pieces like this that the audience realize genuine acting only produced by one having a strong love for her profession and thorough knowledge of the

requirements of tlio part impersonated. On "Wednesday the drama " ISTot Trao " was produced, Avith Mrs Lewis as Effio Grafton, and Lev i>ortrayal of this character was all that could bo desired, her efforts being ablysupported, by the Oonvpaiiy. On ThursdaY that old favourite and popular actor Mr E. D. Haygarth took a benefit, the pieceselected being the comedy of " Our Widow," concluding -with the laughable farce of a bilious attack. To-night (Friday) "Love's Sacrifice " will be produced, ' Margaret Elmore having Mrs Lewis as her representative. On Saturday those who fail to sec Mrs Lewis in her admirable impersonationof "Cora '" will have an opportunity of -witnessing the histronic power of this talented lady in her grand delineation of "Leah" in the play of that name. Every inducement is given to the public to support thetalented Company, the programnio being altered l-ightly, and we would remind our readers that, owing to prior engagements, the Company will only play one week more, and those- who arc admirers of enjoyable plays, handsomely mounted and admirably performed, should not fail to pay a visit to the Opera House during the present season. Wo cannot conclude our notice without mentioning in eulogistic terms the delightful pieces performed by a splendid orchestra under the leadership of that talented artist,, Mr H. Woinbcrg, junior. Lome-street Hall was crowded on Tuesday evening* to hear Dr J. L. York lecture on "Evolution." Having a distinct recollection of the heaviness of Darwin's famous book, 1 did not anticipate- a very lively evening" in the doctor's company, but I was: most agreeably disappointed. The most pronounced opponent of the development theory would have boon unable to keep a: grave face while listening to the genial lecturer. Ido not mean to say that the subject Avas treated with levity — far from it, but every stage in the well-arranged and keenly-argued address Avas pointed by choice little anecdotes given in true racy Americanstyle. For example, in speaking on the orthodox theory of creation, Dr York said:- --'• A gentleman avrs talking to me the other day Avho said, ' Your hypothesis denies the creative power of God;' and pointing to an old cow which Avas feeding in an adjoining paddock he asked me, ' Do you deny that the Almighty created that cow?' I replied, 'I do. i>ut. supposing I grant you that God created a pattern specimen of the bovine race in the beginning, will you tell me Avhich of the existing varieties the first cow belonged to ? — was she a Durham, a Jersey, or a Devon ?' lie couldn't tell me. 'Then,' say^ f. ' You believe that God Almighty created a scrub : and if he did, what has produced Durhams. Jerseys, and Dcvons but Evolution ?' '' . . . . Science taught that matter Avns eternal, that development Avent on unceasingly, but it did not traverse the belief in a future state, nor was it antagonistic to pure religion and morality. He did not believe that such a being as an atheist lived on God's green footstool: if such a being there were, lie must be an idiot. Since Evolutionshowed us civilised man and improved types of the animal Avorkl which had replaced the pre-historic, imperfect, undeveloped man an& his co-existing rudimentary animals, Avhat more likely than that man himself Avould. develop in another state of being into something nobler, higher, and infinitely more.glorious. But if there be a heaven, it will bea material one — finer men, finer horses, lovelier flowers, higher types of the same formswe see around us now. Dr York was frequently and heartily applauded. He is a fluent and practised speaker, and I heartily recommend my readers to pay him a visit ;: 1 guarantee them a pleasant evening.