ST. ANDREWS ĹITERARY INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13673, 16 August 1906, Page 2

ST. ANDREWS ĹITERARY INSTITUTE.

There was a moderately large gathering of members of St. Andrew's Institute in St. Andrew's Hall on Tuesday night to hear Kev. W, Ilcwitson lecture on "Concord: Sleepy Hollow, and Some of the Sleepers," The chair was taken by the Rev. Dr Wilddell. Tho lecturer introduced his lecture wit h pleasant reminiscences of recent travel, and mentioned the pleasures that- were to be derived from retrospection or from association belonging to sight-seeing, even if the objects visited wero ill themselves insignificant. Nothing, ho said, had given him greater pleasure than to visit _ Carlyle's house at Chelsea, and to make pilgrimages to tile graves of great men, liecause of the associations connected "with them. Coming to the more immediate subject of his lecture. Mr. Hewitson narrated tlm circumstances of his visit to Concord, or "Sleepy Hollow." which as a town was not note-, worthy, but was famous historically, and from its literary associations. It was there that opposition was first raised to the British taxation that led to the war of American Independence, and in 1774- the first Provincial Congress mot there. The literary a*.?omtions made the little town fatnott'sj because it had been the residence of such men as Branson Alcoit. Hawthorne, and Emerson. In a very charming manner Mr Hewit?on touched on the lives and works of tlkjse famous Americans, and also gave a biographical sketch of Louisa, daughter of Bronson Aleott. with extracts from her diary, showing noble struggles against poverty crowned with ultimate literary success. Such associations, the lecturer pointed out, revived old memories, led to tho reopening of bygone studies, and' encouraged the reading of now books. A very Cordial voto of thanks was carried by acclamation at the closo of the lecture.