Hon. W.H. Stead: Attorney General of Ilinois

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HON. W. H. STEAD
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS.

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THE MUTUAL LYCEUM BUREAU
AUDITORIUM BUILDING   CHICAGO



WHAT THE PRESS SAY OF HIM

His delivery is easy and pleasing and his logic plain and convincing.—
Sterling Gazette.


He is remembered as a brilliant orator and leaves a most favorable impression with his audience.—
Bradford Republican.


Mr. Stead unites with admirable tact the solid attainments of the scholar and the high art of polished oratory.—
Springfield News.


Mr. Stead is an orator of unusual ability and everywhere his lectures receive the most enthusiastic comment.—
Danville Commercial News.


The lecture was brilliant in conception and execution and was regarded by those who heard it as a rare intellectual treat.—
Illinois State Register.


No finer piece of word-painting was ever heard here and it showed the lecturer to be one of the most brilliant in the country.—
Marshall County Democrat.


If there was a single individual present who thought his ability had been over-estimated we did not hear him express an opinion.—
Carthage Gazette.


The lecture was one of those treats that have to be heard to be appreciated, and which always leaves the audience with a longing for more.—
Quincy Journal.


Mr. Stead is a polished orator.  Many noted men have lectured in Vienna, but none excelled Mr. Stead.  All who heard him praised him.—
Vienna Gazette.


'The Trail of the Yankee' proved to be a lecture of much interest and from start to finish the speaker held the closest attention of his audience.—
Mendota Sun-Bulletin.


His lecture was given at the Dixon Chautauqua last summer.  It was classed as one of the very best numbers among their vast amount of talent.—
Ogle County Republican.


He is one of the finest orators who ever appeared in Woodstock.  His audience would have been glad to have remained two hours longer to listen to him.—
Woodstock Sentinel.


His logic, eloquence and wit were greatly appreciated by all who heard him.  He will certainly take a leading place upon the lecture platform.—
Bloomington Pantagraph.


The lecture overflows with suggestions to the young that should inspire them to pursue the highest ideals of thought and effort.  There is nothing dry in it.—
Stark County News.


Mr. Stead is an optimist and his lecture is full of encouragement to those who are striving to achieve.  His wit is keen, his humor infectious.  He entertains and delights all who hear him.—
Cairo Citizen.


He has the rare faculty of presenting facts and grand ideas in short, crisp sentences, and with his manner of delivery enchains the attention and interest of his audience from start to finish.—
Sheridan Sentinel.


The lecture abounds in interesting anecdote and witty epigram, besides rehearsing with dramatic vividness the wonderful sequence of events which have made the Yankee and his land the marvel of civilization.—
Peoria Star.


Mr. Stead's reputation as a legal authority and as a speaker before the bar long ago reached Bureau county.  The lecture was masterful.  The subject was treated in a happy manner and evidenced deep and exhaustive research.—
Bureau County Republican.


It is not claiming too much to assert that the lecture by Mr. Stead at the opera house Thursday night was one of the most brilliant ever heard in Elgin.  It was a surprise—a revelation.  It showed power, culture, ability, and charming personality.—
Elgin News.


W. H. Stead, of Ottawa, delivered his lecture on 'The Trail of the Yankee' before the men's club of the People's church last night.  A good-sized audience greeted this noted speaker and enjoyed the lecture, which was one of the best ever heard in this city.—
Aurora News.


Mr. Stead's lecture occupied an hour and a half and there was not a dull moment in it.  It was crammed full of solid thought, but so seasoned with pithy epigrams, flashes of wit, touches of tender pathos, and splendid flights of eloquence that the attention and interest of the audience never wavered for an instant.—
Paris Beacon.


His delighted auditors in but a few moments recognized that they were listening to a scholar who had combined in his make-up the statesman, the logician and the orator.  His peroration was as fine a climax as we ever heard.  We trust that at some future day our people may be permitted to hear this eloquent man again.—
Oakland Messenger.


In words showing deep thought and careful study, and in language both eloquent and pleasing, he traced the wonderful career of the Yankee from colonial days to the present time, and for almost two hours held the closest attention of his audience.  As a lecturer Mr. Stead ranks among the first upon the platform to-day.—
Le Roy Journal.



The lecture by Hon. W. H. Stead Tuesday evening in the moot court room of the college of law was one of the most interesting and instructive discourses to which the University public has had the pleasure of listening.  Many anecdotes told at opportune periods made the lecture bright at all times, the audience at all times being strictly attentive.—
Champaign Gazette


It covers the qualities and characteristics which have made the American the highest type of the human race.  It traces our marvelous progress in all the departments of human effort.  It overflows with hints and suggestions to the young which should inspire them to pursue the highest ideals of thought and effort.  There is nothing dry in it.—
Stark County News.


This was Mr. Stead's first appearance in Edwards county and he certainly made a hit.  Mr. Stead deals largely in epigrams.  His language is simple and his delivery is fascinating.  The lecture showed evidence of wide and accurate research and careful reflection.  It sparkles with wit and abounds in rapid transitions from pathos to laughter.—
Edwards County Republican.


It was a masterly review of modern questions.  It is a better education than years of study would bring to many.  He has the gift of saying much in a brief sentence, and there is a dry humor and sparkling wit, coupled with an eloquence unexcelled, running through the entire lecture.  Those who missed it lost an opportunity that is offered but once in a lifetime.—
Morris Herald.


For many a day there has not been a lecture given in Edwards county which was so well received as the one given by Hon.  W. H. Stead before the Edwards county teachers last Saturday.  The large audience gave him rapt attention.  Many teachers expressed themselves by saying that Mr. Stead's lecture was worth more than the whole trip in attending the meeting.—
Albion Journal.


The lecture was a masterful one and the speaker in his manner of delivery reminds one of the well-known platform orator, George R. Wendling, while his thought has the same pungency and his enunciation the same clarity and distinctness.  The subject was treated in a happy manner and evidences deep and exhaustive research.  As a platform speaker Mr. Stead has ease and grace, fluency and force, wit and eloquence.—
Jacksonville Journal.


The lecture by W. H. Stead at the First Baptist church, under the auspices of the Daughters of the American Revolution, proved to be a social event, Moline's society leaders being present in force.  Mrs. Charles H. Deere, the State Regent, introduced the lecturer.  From beginning to end the speaker held the interest of the audience.  From humor to pathos, from oblivion to prominence, from the east to the west, he traced the course and development of the Yankee, that type of New England product which embodied the push of the world.  Every one present regretted the end of the lecture.—
Moline Journal.


His presentation of the higher and stronger side of the old New England character was masterly, and his lecture is very evidently a work of love.  On the other hand, the foibles and conceits of the Yankee were hit off in a very humorous and clever manner.  The lecture was resplendent with wit, which brought out all the more plainly the contrasting deeper shades of thought.—
Davenport Times.


The lecture was given under the auspices of the Phi Delta Phi law fraternity, which is to be congratulated for securing such an efficient speaker.  His lecture was to the point.  It abounded in metaphors, homely phrases and apt illustrations, which were very amusing to the audience.  It was also original and convincing in a philosophical way and those who heard it were well repaid.—
The Illini.


In delivery he was graceful, restful, always with sufficient force, but with no tearing of passions.  His style was simple and direct.  His sentences were short, pointed and clean-cut.  His wit frequently brought down the house.  His discussion of questions of the hour was thoughtful, timely, optimistic, masterful.  It was the best we have heard for years.  Every one should hear it.—
Marseilles Register.


The audience sat for an hour and a half, charmed by the eloquence that flowed like a rippling stream from the lips of the gifted Ottawan.  Mr. Stead deals mostly in epigrams.  He can express in half a dozen words a thought that an ordinary man could not say in half a dozen lines.  'The Trail of the Yankee' was without question the finest platform effort that Lacon people have heard for many a year.  Most of us were expecting something better than ordinary, but this exceeded our expectations.—
Lacon Journal.


'The Trail of the Yankee' deals with the first Americans, their traits of character, and all that was brought together to build the hardy foundation of our republic.  It describes vividly the evolution of society through the centuries, and becomes social, political, economical.  It abounds in facts that are interesting to the old, and their elucidation is inspiring to the young.  It is the whys and wherefores of our phenomenal development.  It is pregnant with fire that thrills and a constant humor that provokes mirth.  Some good lectures are vastly instructive, others highly entertaining, but 'The Trail of the Yankee' is a happy combination of both.—
Ottawa Journal.


He compresses more into an epigram than is found in volumes of ponderous platitudes on the philosophy of history.  It was a clear-cut, striking presentation of the characteristics of the Yankee, portraying his foibles and virtues with wonderful insight and fidelity, and interpreting the true significance of American history.  Mr. Stead is a master of the Macauleyan style, and his use of the antithetic method, the rapid succession of contrasts and parallels, makes his rhetoric clear, incisive and powerful.  And there was not wanting that flash of genial humor, that rapid transition from grave to gay, from pathos to laughter, which marks the greatest oratory.—
Streator Independent-Times.




WHAT PROMINENT PEOPLE SAY
Judge Oliver A. Harker, Dean of law school, University of Illinois, says:

It was one of the best lectures I ever heard.

Hon. Walter I. Manny, President State's Attorneys' Association of Illinois, says:

The lecture deserves a wide hearing.  Such healthy and robust doctrine is everywhere demanded.

Rev. Oliver C. Johnson says:

His lecture is full of suggestive thought and moral.  His illustrations are refined and his manner entertaining.  His 'Yankee' is not the horse-trader, 'David Harum,' but rather a composite picture of historic, progressive Americanism, seen in its true setting and best light.

Mrs. Charles H. Deere, State Regent of Illinois D. A. R., says:

I enjoyed your lecture more than any I have heard for years.  It is especially interesting to the Daughters of the American Revolution, and I sincerely hope that every chapter in Illinois may have the pleasure of hearing it.  I earnestly and unqualifiedly commend it.

Rev. Joe Bell, pastor Methodist church, Galesburg, says:

I consider it one of the most graphic and convincing lectures I have ever had the pleasure of hearing—earnest, forceful, eloquent and thrilling.  He had not uttered a dozen sentences before the audience was under his control, and for over an hour they followed him with continually increasing interest and delight.  As a word-painter he has few equals on the platform to-day.

Rev. T. S. Keating, Dean of St. Columba Catholic Parish, Ottawa, says:

It was a very great pleasure to me to listen to the splendid lecture on 'The Trial of the Yankee.'  During the one hour and forty minutes of its delivery I was thoroughly interested.  There was so much of an historic nature put into good crisp English—seasoned thought with happy, refreshing epigrams—that in common with all around me I regretted that the lecturer did not continue an hour longer.

Judge N. E. Worthington, of Peoria, says:

I heard with much pleasure and profit W. H. Stead's lecture on 'The Trail of the Yankee.'  It holds the attention closely from start to finish, and will interest and instruct any audience.

Rev. W. S. Fleming says:

It was brilliant in conception, inspiring in purpose, sparkling in wit and wholesome in thought.  There was not a dull moment in it and it held the audience spellbound for an hour and a half.

Prof. S. B. Hursh, of the Western Illinois State Normal, says:

I listened to Mr. Stead's lecture on 'The Trail of the Yankee' with increasing interest from start to finish.  It is a great lecture, characterized especially by comprehensiveness of view, clearness of statement and richness of humor.  It is meaty enough for the philosophical and popular enough to please and instruct all.  Mr. Stead's splendid presence goes well with his matchless thought.  No audience will fail to be delighted in hearing him.

Judge H. M. Trimble, Department Commander of Illinois G. A. R., says:

'The Trail of the Yankee' is one of the best lectures I have ever heard.  It covers the capabilities, qualities and characteristics that have made the American the best and highest type of the human race.  It demonstrates that our marvelous progress in all departments of human effort was in a great measure attributable to the development of the strong mentality, the persistent industry, the undaunted courage and the high purpose of the original Yankee; that the growth of these qualities and characteristics has resulted in what is ordinarily called the genius of our people and institutions.  It is highly instructive, full of concise epigrammatic statements and seasoned throughout with the best of humor.  One of its strongest merits is that, without apparent intent to that end, it overflows with hints and suggestions to young men and women that should inspire them to pursue the highest ideals of thought and effort.  There is no dry streak in it.



Republican-Times, Printers, Ottawa, Ill.