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Show PMOICES IBSEN 1 WONDERFUL GENIUS1 I Asaph Robert Shelander In-J lereslingly Discusses Life j and Works of Noted Man. The rirst of the aeries of Ford-Sheland-er lectures to bo given at the Hotel I'Lali under tho patronage of a number of Salt Lake's hsading women was delivered last night by Asaph Itobert Shelander. on th-life th-life and works of Henrlk Ibsen. Beginning his lecture, Mr. SheJander said there were three classes of people peo-ple those who did not read Ibsen, those who did road him and thought him the greatest genius of lli world, and those who would like to understand 111 in and give him his proper position In the literary lit-erary world. He then briefly sketched Ibsen's life, saying that It was a. demonstration demon-stration that genius was. not confined to good families, and put aside till rules. In estimating Ibsen's character, he said that It would be measured by his spiritual growth. He devoted his life lo iho combating of evil and he had his spiritual birth early In life The lecturer lec-turer was of the opinion that Ibsen did not belong to the highest type of men, that Is he never reached the highest degree de-gree of cosmic consciousness. He always, al-ways, renminbi more or less Individualistic Individual-istic or egoistic It was probably a. mistake mis-take to consider him a revolutionist, lie only desired to tell the truth. Tie wa a conservative at heart, believing in monarchlal government as opposed to republicanism. He believed in the aristocracy aris-tocracy of the mind. His pessimism was not strange when the spirit of his age was considered In the light of some of the philosophy of that period. He brought realism In the modern dnuua because he believed that conventional truth was bea u t y. The different works .of Jbsen were taken up and divided Inlb three classes the romantic, the realistic and the. symbolic; sym-bolic; or the Individualistic, socialistic and psychologic. In the first class was "Brand." whose thome symbolized the everlasting right or the giving of all or nothing In the performance of conceded duty. "Brand" wa,s said bv Ibsen to represent his own character in his best moments. "Peer Gynt," another work of the first class, was one of Ibsen's happiest dramas and was a complement to "Brand." It was the symbol of tho struggle of the human soul for self-reall:;aton self-reall:;aton and Its salvation by genuliKj repenta.nce. "Brand" or "Peer Gynt" were never intended for the stnge. The "League of Youth" and "Ghosts" were of the socialistic class, the former symbolizing sym-bolizing political realism and the latter dealing with the question of heredity. "The Master Builder" probably belonged to the psychologic class. It smjbollzes the reconstruction of society. In conclusion, tho lecturer contrasted the honors paid to Ibsen at his death with tho poverty and failure of recognition recog-nition of his early days. The lecture was a fitting prelude for the dramatic interpretation of "Poor Gynt" Thursday night by Edith nine Ford. She , will be assisted by Prof. Squire 7op. pianist, who will render the Grlcg "Peer Gynt" suite. |