THE CRITIC

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 16, 25 December 1880, Page 135

THE CRITIC

So much lias been said and written abcmt Proctor this last ten days, that I really find it difficult to make any very original observations on the subject. Of course, I went to the lectures, and equally, of course, I was much instructed and entertained. They were, it seems to be a general opinion, just a little long. You see the subjects are not frivolous ones, to which a man can listen without an effort. The mental faculties have to be very wideawake to follow the lecturer clearly, and take away a fair idea of the discourse, and an hour and three quarters seems rather long to keep them on the stretch. One night when the gas was turned down, I made a point of examining, as far as I could, the countenances of my immediate neighbours, and Aras scarcely astonished to find that three out of eight were quietly snoozing. Now, these good people were really and truly interested, and to my certain knowledge, listened for an hour attentively. After that time, however, their intelligences began to flag. I should think, too, it must be dreadfully wearing to the lecturer to have to speak for>o long. Proctor is, without doubt, a wonderful man, and a clever speaker. Natural eloquence he has none, but he possesses the (for him) far more valuable faculty of being able to convey the most obstruse scientific meanings in perfectly simple and comprehensible language. It is this gift, no donbt, that has made him such a great success as a lecturer. Nine out of ten scientific sermonizers bore an ordinary listener ineffably. Their language bristles with a jargon of difficult latinisms and compound words, which are to ordinary mortals, the veriest Hebrew. It is satisfactory to reflect that during his stay in Auckland, Proctor has met with large audiences and been properly appreciated, I sincerely hope he will take away with him some pleasant remembrances of the place. J. C. Williamson has again given £100 to the Melbourne charities. Ketten is said to have netted £8000 by his concerts in Victoria. No. 3 Company (Major Morrow's) will give a concert and ball in the Choral Hall on the evening of Monday, 3rd January. Several of our best lady and gentlemen vocalists will take part. It is anticipated there will be a big liousa. The Lingards re-appeared at the Theatre on Tuesday evening, and drew only a very moderate house. This, however, must be attributed rather to the strong counter attraction in the shape of the Catholic Bazaar, &c., than to any defects in the company and uerformance, which are both as good as ever. The " Wreck of the Pinafore" is underlined for an early day and will be the feature of the season. Meanwhile, "Betsy" is to be given for a time or two.