Contrasts.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 457, 22 May 1890, Page 3

Contrasts.

[TO THE EDITOR. ] Sib,—ln these days of well-written articles in newspapers costing only a pen y, touching almost every conceivable subject, how is it that still there are people who are bold or ignorant enough to assume the office of public lecturers, teachers, and expositors of that grand old theme of—“ How to live so that we may be ready for another world ” ? I attended a discourse given by a travelling exponent of the above subject one evening last week, and listened to his exposirions. These were fairly, but not forcibly place! before his very, very small audience. Indeed, sir, if it were not for the respectability of the subject the speaker handled, I should have slept well and undisturbedly, as Whinray’s little hall is just the cosiest public place to go to sleep in, that is, if other things present there be equal. The speaker’s monotonia chant-drawl-reverenoe personified — never varied save to fall into a low, low key, almost a whisper—in order, I suppose, to give emphasis—to sleep, or to wake up, which ? Well, I believe the he intedrted those presen', to make a note of that particular nail which he then lightly tapped with his well-bred theological hammer. Well, you will by this time be asking—well •nd what, Mr Correspondent, did you, or do yon Want ? I suppose that the tbunder-and-tmf, tara-an-ages, tabic-fisting style is what you require in our public men ? If that be so, the editor bows you out of the door, and calling for a policeman, asks him to direct you to the Salvation Army barracks. Not so, sir; not so, Mr Editor ;—I seek for manner suitable to theme in our would be public lecturers : I ask no more, I shall accept no less. | We have had a lesson publicly given at the Ihands of Mr Murray, and I thank him very i sincerely for it. We are shut off here very l completely from the enjoyments which are I provided by masters in large centres of eiviliI sition ; so that when one has the opportunity (uf hearing and learning how to do things st they deserve io be done, all ought to attend—mote ®«peoihlly oil those who simfst the port-

tion of a public speaker, and to those who have grown tired of following an humble calling.—l am, <fco., A. [The latter portion of the above letter has been excised.—Ed ]