Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1901 — W. Hawley Smith Is a Hood One. [ARTICLE]

W. Hawley Smith Is a Hood One.

The third number of the Lecture Course, was given at the Opera House last night, to a deeply interested and attentive audience. William Hawley Smith, the prince of readers, as well as lecturers, left something over in his leoture, entitled, Something Left Over, that will abide with his hearers for all time. His aim in speaking, seems to be, to impre a truth, or teach a lesson, at the same time, amusing his audience, and pinning his point to their memories, with an illustration so

striking, that the most obdurant, and stubborn person present could not help but see himself as others see him, and still take no offence, at the picture. None escaped; the ministers saw themselves talking ov«r the heads of their hearers, in showing off their own great culture; the doctors heard their own incomprehensible terms, in explaining to their sick patients their ailments. The teachers found themselves giving high school work, to fourth year pupils, while parents could only “plead guilty” to the charge that they visited their hens and pigs, to the total neglect of their children at school, while the girl at the piano showing off some great composition of a master, to people who could only appreciate the sweet melodies of home and ohurch, was held up in greatest ridicule. Affectation and show off and conceit were shown np in all their grotesqueness; and while Mr. Smith is probably the best recitationest, that ever struck the town, his illustration of the overdrawn Delsarte, would make the Queen of Delsartes, blush. He is also a great admirer of good authors, and in that part of his theme he showed very dearly the difference be* tween good poetry, and rhymes. His control over his audience was perfect—when not in roars of laughter—the stillness was so great that a pin could have been heard, to drop. Mr. Hawley Smith seems to be an actor of wonderful power, but under it all, a fearless teacher of the masses, who has a deep love and respect for all the good and truly great, in life.