COUNT DE ZABA'S LECTURE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 495, 29 November 1877, Page 2

COUNT DE ZABA'S LECTURE.

ICotntDe greeted last even- \ innvon the , occasion of liis lecture on 4 ' TheHiaWfcyTif Poland " in aid of tho funfls of the -Hospital and Benevolent Society, by an aiidience both large fashionable. Indeed, never before haW we Been so largo or enthusiastic aft audience gathered together in Oamaru to listen to a lecture. As a general rule lectures are considered dry and wearisome, and those delivering them arc pretty frequently voted bores. The lecture given by Count Do Zaba was a striking exception to tho rule. The subject, although to the thinking of many people somewhat uninteresting, was handled in suc'i a manner as to command tho attention of all present, while the plain and homely, but withal warm and touching, manner in which Count Do Zaba placed before the audience the story of the former greatness of down-trodden l'olmd, the many great and noble men *■ she had produced, and tho wrong* and sufferings ho people had undergone, aroused in the breasts of moßt of those present feelings of sympathy for one of the finest and most unjustly treated nations on the earth. VV« have not space at our command to follow Count Do Zaba throughout the whole of his lecture, neither do we think it necessary to attempt to give a risumi of his discourse. The history of Poland is, or should be, perfectly familar to most of nur readers, for it is one that stands out in bold relief as compared with thoso of almost every nation in the world. Suffice it, therefore, to say that the subject was treated by the lecturer in a manner such as it only could bo by one who had made it a Btudy and whoso heart was in hi# work. The thorough patriot became apparent in every portion of tho lecture, and few who listened to Count Do Zeba last evening could fail to bo struck with the enthusiasm which ho displayed in his subject. Liko all his countrymen —for we presume he is a Pole—Count De Zaba cherishes a strong affection for his native land. Whether he was Bpeakiug of the liberality of the Government of the country, the eminence of her scientific men, the prominence of her men of letters, or the patriotism of her people, Count De Zaba dwelt glowingly upon tho subject. His pictures of the trials and struggles of the Poles under their oppression, the battles fought, and tho civil appeals made to reirain tho Bocial and political freedom of Poland, were at onco touching and truthful. The lecturer drew a striking comparison betwoe/Aho apathy displayed by ot'ier nations \'v.ith .Migird to the fate of Poland and the interest displayed with reference to Turkey a nation that had done nothing to promote the civilization of tho world. Ho said that Poland had always had the sympathies of the people of other nations, but sho had through some unexplained cause failed to enlist tho attention and assistance of the different Governments. Ho concluded by referring to tho present war, and said that he looked upon it as a means of regaining tho independence of Poland, for whatever tended to humiliate Russia must have tho effect of doing good to the cause of Poland. At the conclusion of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr. Jaiucß Llassoll, accorded by acclamation to Count Da Zaba for his very interesting lecture. His Worship tho Mayor presided.