W.E.A. LECTURES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 192, 15 August 1922, Page 7

W.E.A. LECTURES.

. J The second of the series of popular lee-' tures arranged liy the Workers' Mutational; Association was given yesterday (Sunday)! afternoon by l'rofe.<sor 11. f-'. Ijettnianc, in ' the Tivoli Theatre. The r»uuje<-t iwau I ••liyron and His A-e." iir. L. A. Manderj The lecturer said that Byron's life and character had l>eeu tile obje.-t of much adverse critlrism, but the poetry was the' thing, and lie should foe judged by it and j especially by his mature work. Byron's forbears liad been fiimoii!! for Iheir fijrhtini ! and noble qualities, and these qualities were' largely reurodiifpvl in him. Hut althouarli j well-born, be was ill-bred, and as a <'onppi|iien.e was. in pome re-pects. very Ignorant; whilst at school he found lenrnius difficult end irksome. The best or his poems were "Cuiu." "A Vision of Jiidsiuenl.'' and "Don | Juan. ' The latter was referred to by. Cop-he as "ihe most Immoral poem ever I written." and an Kn.clish critic said of it, thai -never had s-hining Bold and black [ mire been thrown together more Indus-1 triously." Ityron was a man of niixe.il qualities, and the lecture;- qu.ired from ' ■■IJepvo." "Mazeppa."' and "Iw Juan." Kilowins how he alternated humour, bitter-] ness, nobility and levity. He had a passionate love of freedom, and it was ibis which made him serve (ireeee with such unreniiltin- energy and self-sacrifice. It was interestlus to note that 'Hymn was th-et Urst Kiisiishman known to refer to the (ierniiuis as "Huns." Ills contemporaries In] Knjilaad maile the bitterest attacks upon him he was cut in society and ihe House. ! of Lords Ills reply to one of these attacks; w-is' "If what i« said were i rile. I am unfit, ■ for kuKlaud: if untrue. Knjjland is until for I mc" In uiuiiniarUlnit. luo sneaker wild thai Byron's popiry for vigour. rns-h. [ ■volume.' and Round, was unequalled. As a 1 man he had many lovable qualities, a posinoi poll: :n sympalhy and an intense hatred of cant and hypocrisy. At the conclusion nl !the address the audience sli.-iv.il its appreciation by iiassiii'-' a very hearty vote of j thanks to the lecturer.