THE HASKETT SMITH LECTURES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 234, 3 October 1896, Page 2

THE HASKETT SMITH LECTURES.

There was a decided improvement in tbo attendance at tha Theatre Royal last evening, wheu Mr Haskett Smith gave his second leoture. Mr Haskett Smith was modest in his pretensions, statiug that ho merely lifted a corner of tho veil which covers "tha mysteries of ancient Egypt"— the subject of discourse. As one who has seen a great deal of what lies behind the veil Mr Haskett Smith knew which was the beat corner to raise, and while his audience looked, he pointed out the mo.t facinating subjects and touched upon the salient points in the wonderful work of this century in unlocking the secrets of bygone ages. The glimpses which Mr Haskett Smit. g ive afforded much to meditate, theorise, and ponder over. The Kosetta stone was shown, and Champollion's discoveries thereon were explained ; the great museum of Cairo was visited, and in it were seen marvels ot the sculptor's art aud carvings in wood— well preserved though thousands of yeara old. The mummified bodies of the Pharaohs were shown ; Memphis, the mighty city of Mena was visited. The Pyramids were explored both inside and out, and somo of the mysteries concerning their origin and purpose were investigated. Another most interesting subject was ihe the Sphynx and its sublime teaching. The tombs of the Kings in the Thebaid Valley exquisitely and wonderfully cut hundreds ol feet into solid rock, were shown, and a great deal of interesting information was given concerning them. The lecturer said thab the Egyptians used those tombs to hide and preserve the bodies of their dead from the depredations of men, and the convulsions of nature, Tho bodies were embalmed most carefully to preserve them from decay, it being port of iho Egyptiau belief thai if tbe body decayed the soul was " snuffed out as the flamo of a candle " The lectuie throughout was most interesting, and Mr Haskett Smith was frequently applauded. He will leciure on Monday eveiuntr on Armenia, a subject of very speciul interest just now. Mr Smith will preach at the Cathedral to-morrow morning, and at tho All Saint's Church in the evening.