The Works Alexander Brown Bell

LECTURE - THE VALUE OF NONSENSE

Lectures about literature appears to  have been a popular topic at this time. this forms an interesting take on the usual public lecture series remit of bringing what was considered “literature of a high order “ to the wider working population of Britain.

ABB notes that this was delivered to the Co-operative Holiday Association, Leeds; The Headingley Literary Society, Leeds, etc. I haven't been able to locate any entries in the British Newspaper Archives relating to ABB giving that particular presentation of this lecture. Though there are entries in the of the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 14 November 1925 and Tuesday 29 March 1927 for this lecture given “Leeds Public Libraries Committee” series of winter season lectures. So he clearly presented this on several occasions around Yorkshire.

THE VALUE OF NONSENSE

Perhaps some of you are thinking that the title of this lecture is itself a very good example of nonsense, since nonsense is just nonsense and cannot possibly have any value. I hope to convince you that you are mistaken if you take that view. To begin with, there is a Couplet which says: --

A little nonsense now and then
is relished by the wisest men.

Surely, if wise men can take pleasure in nonsense, nonsense must have some value.

(A Work in Progress)

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