"NETTLES AND DOCKENS."

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12476, 13 September 1904, Page 4

"NETTLES AND DOCKENS."

Rarely indeed has sue;! an audience a--,-sembiea lor a ieciuie as attended rile Theatre Royal iaSt night. Members oi Ghalmeis Church and their friends retained a lively impression of Dr Nisbel's humorous Jedture here, however, aud they heard him three times on Sunday, so that it was not surprising to see the Theatre packed, to the " standing room only" stage, to hear his humorous recital ".Nettles and Dockens.". Mr J. A. Johnson acted as chairman, and the Rev. G. Barclay was present upon the .platform. Dr Nisbet explained that his lecture would consist of a few " nettles, which might or might not sting, and some dockens to counteract,the sting. He proceeded to point out some of the mistakes made by society and by individuals, the while illustrating them by highly interesting and humorous anecdoteß, made tenfold moie valuable by his inimitable. manner of relating them. His nettles were ceitaioly equipped with sting for those whose vulnerable points thfcy touched, but so tactfully were the various subjects -Handled, and with such good humour were the. moras conveyed, that the dockenjiiice seemed to be applied simultaneously. Dr Nisbet told dozens o: stories, some of them surely the funniest Scotch storips that could well be told; and it said much, as "he said, for the sense of humour of the audience, mostly -Scotch people, that they could laugh most heartily at jokes made about their less enviable national characteristics. The recital was a series of moral lessons in a new form, and as such was probably unexpected and the more valuable. Not being in any way specific, the lessons conveyed a severe stins, and being wrapped up in humorous parcels, 'they were likely to be remembered. Dr Nif bet's hobby, as the Rev. Mr Jackson subsequently remarked, "..was certainly telling Scotch stories; and he made so great an impression on his last visit to Timaiu that he was requested to rC|pea'. one' of his stories of that occasion, and did so, with much success.- When the recital was>-Snisked, the- Rev. Mr Jacksor moved a hearty vote of thanks to the rev. lecturer. He conveyed to him the veiy sincere thanks of the" congregation for his services on Sunday—services that wvu'u" ever be remembered by those who took part in them—and for his excellent humorous lecture. He made reference to a tour Dr Nisbet had made that day round ' Timaru, when the visitor had been much impressed by the beauties of the town and its surroundings. The Rev. Mr Barclay seconded the motion, which was carried ■unanimously.Dr ■ Nisbet gracefully returned thanks for what he almost called a superfluous formal compliment, as his thanks had been tendered to him by the applause during his recital. He said in reference, to a broad hint by Mr Jackson that he should some day give another lecture of the kind, that he would have even greater pleasure in coming to hear such a lecture by'*Mr Jackson, who had given one or two excellent samples himself that evening. Dr Nisbet was half-way .through the evening by a musical interlude, in which Mrs Gow, Miss Boyd, and Mr Mcßride sang Scottish songs. _ Major Crawshaw accompanied the vocalists.