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’} jaaaemblage at Mercantile Hall, last* I 4VAti1ilrr fn f fCtaiV ift ' *- — *----#1#’ ! even? he, to listen to the lecture of “ Ralph Waldo Emerson,. was the l*r-tthnt has as yet creeled’any of the tuna of the Library course. The lp.eakera fame, aa a writer, had at-ractM not dnly a large concourse of. f our owm citizens, but also many from Montlcelln and Upper Alton. • The subject of the lecture had been ,*n nounced na“Sn ones*,” but atthe last ‘moment the treatse® on “American Culture” was substituted therefor. The change, we fear, did not give entire satisfaction to the audleuee. ;Mr. Emernott'a appearance upon the stage is rather peculiar. In person, he ig tall, spare and somewhat ungraceful. His face is thin, but genial • u expression. In manner he Is very quiet, making scarcely'no -gestures. He speaks with great deliberation, pausing slightly between almost every word, as if weighing its e-lect. Hie diction la faultlessly elegant. Every sentence displays not only (he refined taste of the gentleman, but (he logical strength of the thinker n»d scholar.Concerning the matter of Mr. Em-ersoa’e lecture, we shall not attempt to aps-ak, as a synopsis of anything so closely condenaed would be atmosi impossible. Each sentence seemed separate and distinct, perfect in ifc-teif. One of his views, however, of culture, that of polishing oui manners so as to suppress all natural and spontaneous emotions—-making men mere cultivated automatons—was rather in advance of his audience. They nisy be capable of being educ* ted to such a pointbut wequestiou its desirability.The general Impression produced by the lecturer was excellent. People ’tit, as the golden sentences fell from iiis ilps, that they were in commnn-I ion with one of the- master spirits of ' America—with a scholar a»a author whose name isdestiued to an honored place in the “Temple of Fame.”-* Madison County R. R. Co.—By reference to the; Council proceedings, it will be seen that a preamble resolution were introduced into that body granting to the Madison County Railroad Company the privilege ol laying down a track the entire length ►f the levee, commencing at a point west of Weaver’s elevator and Jinter-sccting the Chicago road near Piiisa street. It will also be noticed til* the franchise grants thg privilege for i period of twenty-five years at the magnificent (?) annual rental of $200.- tm subject was referred to |he Ordinance Committee to report.Mow vre do not criticise the wisdom of the proposed grant to the railroad ompanv, as the city’s trade would be I mrcased thereby, but it seems as if the resolution grunes great and uure-itrictai privileges fyt a Very small ■mm of money. Any one can see that the connection which: -ids projwsed track will give with the mills, elevators, etc.. is worth vastly more than $200 per annum to the: rompany, especially when the great length of time, for which it is propc-i posed to grant the franchise, Is taken into consideration.We do not object to granting such privileges to the company,but consider that the rental paid the city ehould be more commensurate with tire extent of the privilege* granted. We trust the Ordinance Committee will look closely to the matter of rental.t;n«T■It!Pintrn.LtbiiS01nlt;lt;iybxctedtbgt*rof;Wlaathpi.toflvreiaaanDttoisirabllt;stcOj;chhitanCC!sellie*pimeaftedhis Ibmwabe*ttaEDaelt;lalolsrtbsthrter.WitdetcriidmcortheDaCot.tot*VIt2W.Bft
Newspaper Details
Alton Telegraph
Alton, Illinois, US
Fri, Dec 20, 1867
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 12 Oct 2023
Other Publications Near Alton, Illinois
Alton Evening Telegraph
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