MISS VON FINKELSTEIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 242, 13 October 1888, Page 5

MISS YON FINKELSTEIN.

Amongst the passengers who will arrive at the Manukau to-morrow morning will be the celebrated lecturess who has been delighting colonial audiences during the last five months ; and as she is to make her first appearance in Auckland on Monday evening, a alight sketch of her platform career will not be devoid of interest. Miss Lydia Mamreoff yon Finkelstein is endowed with great gifts for vividly bringing before her audiences dramatic representations of everyday life in the East. Ib is her custom to have the platform transformed into an Oriental apartment or landscape, and she takes for her subject some events or incidents in Old or New Testament history, illustrating the customs and modes of life to which reference is made. Friends of both sexes assist her in scenes in which more than one person has to be represented, and all the characters are dressed in the costumes of the countries described. The lecturess speaks excellent English, having learnt that and several other languages in her youth, and so remarkable is her dramatic talent that one manager after another has offered her lucrative engagements, only to receive a refusal. Seldom has a public lecturer received higher testimony to her ability both from the churches and from bhe leading organs of public opinion. The clergymen who speak iv her praise represent nearly every shade oi religious thought^ and include the lion, and Rev. Carr Glyn, the Rev. Canon Fleming, Dr. Oswald Dykes, Dr. Bevan, Dr. W. M. Thomson (author of " The Land : and the Book "), the Rev. Newman Had, [and many other well-known ministers on "both sides of the Atlantic. The London newspapers are unanimous in their commendation. "The Times" calls her an able and remarkable woman; the "Daily Telegraph" speaks of her commanding presence, rich voice, graceful bearing, and felicitous expression; the " Pall Mall Gazette" published two interview.? wibh her, accompanied with illustrations ; and even the " St. James's Gazette," usually so hard to please, refers in the most laudatory terms to the accomplished lecturess, for whom' it predicted a cordial welcome in Australia. If Miss yon Finkelstein's tirst lecture in Auckland at all resembles her last lecture in England, as described in the London papers, ib will be a s-cene of great enthusiasm. .The event took place in Exeter Hall, in the presence oi more than 5,000 peopie, the chair being taken by Sir Chailes Warren. X.C.8., who had known the lecturer in Jerusalem. At the conclusion of the leebure the Chairman, on behalf of Miss yon Finkelstein's friends, presented her with a beautiful engraved Maltese cross of gold, set with diamonds. The lecturers, in acknowledging the magnificent testimonial to the "usefulness of her labours and the esteem in which she is held," stated that since the 3rd of October she had delivered 112 lectures. Having an nounced that in two days she was to leave for Australia, Miss yon Finkelstein shook hands with the Chairman and membersof the Committee, and took leave of the audience in Oriental fashion, laying her hand upon hearb, lips, and forehead. Shortly after Miss yon Finkelstein arrived in Adelaide, and previous to her iirst lecture, she gave an "'at home" at the hotel where she and her sister were staying. The guests, svho included leading residents and several clergymen,- had an opportunity of inspecting a number of the beautiful treasures which their hostess had brought from Palestine. The lady proved a capital entertainer. Added to a most agreeable manner she is said to possess a _ lively imagination, fluent speech, and withal a singular power to communicate her enthusiasm to others,

Though of Russian extraction, Miss yon Finkelstein had the advantage of being born and brought up in Jerusalem. Arabic was her mother tongue, and her earlier years were spent in free association with all classes of the native population of Syria. She thus obtained a thorough insight into the domestic life of the people, and became acquainted with the meaning of their customs. She took especial interest in their pastoral pursuits, and was frequently in the society of the youthful shepherds and shepherdesses while tending their flocks. It is well known that the Bedouins and Turks regard European travellers with a distrust and dislike whicb militate against their obtaining accurate knowledge. Miss yon Finkelstein, on the other hand, was beloved by the Bedouin tribes, and had the freest access into their domestic circles. She brings with her a collection pf jewellery, weapons, charms, and cookery utensils, many of which throw light on statements in the Scriptures. For instance, it is announced that amongst the illustrations of Monday night's lecture will be "a coat of many colours" of elaborate make.

Since her opening lecture in Adelaide, at which the Chief Justice presided, Miss yon Finkelstein's Australian tour has been a series of triumphs. Of all the eminent people whom Mr R. S, Smythe has introduced, the gifted native of Jerusalem has excited most curiosity and attracted the largest audiences. Notwithstanding the severe depression in South Australia, the Adelaide Town Hall was crowded every night, and in the Melbourne Town Hall her clear, powerful voice caused her to be heard to even greater advantage than the Rev. Charles Clark. Her lectures differ from those of all her predecessor., for there is so much to see ?is well as to hear, They are also unsectarian, hence in her audiences all creeds are represented, Catholics, and Protestants, Jews and Christians. The lecture entertertainments also please, all classes and all ages ; and wherever Miss yon Finkelstein.has appeared—in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Wellington—her children's matinees have always been crowded., The subject of Monday's lecture is " Homes and Haunts of Jesus."