The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-08-05
COMMUNICATION.
For the Columbia Demncrnt.
LYCEUMs--sOCIAT. soClETIEs

"R' ANSKAm nave frequently been IN
terrogated on the subject Of Lyceums-as
to their object and utility; and beg leave to
reply through the medium of your useful
paper. Iapprove ofthe plan suggested by
MIR. Holbreok, in his discourse on that sub
Ject, in which he recommends the forma-
ton Of "Social Societies." consisting of
any convenient number of neighbors: The
meetings to be held as frequently as the
daily occupations of the members will ad-
NIT, forthe purposeof stalking over" In a
social way, (without all the cold Formally
OF rule and order, and without the labor in
cldent to elaborate speaking various sub
Jects, calculated to improve the mind.
The advantages resulting from societies of
this kind are two fold:-First-by furnish
ing useful topics of conversation and filling
ethe mind with wholesome ideas, 1t tends to
exclude a train of frivolous or wicked
thoughts, during the recess of the society.
Secondly.-If people, particularly the
young,) are left unemployed, they too fire.
4quently resort to places of amusement, to
the intoxicating bowl and the gaming table,
to fill up their leisure hours. Therefore
the formation of ''social' societies. would
be attended with beneficial consequences,
even if nothing were gained by these meet
ings butto prevent worse ones.
But do not admit that nothing will be
gained, but on the contrary believe mach
must necessarily be attained by such meet
ings: and more will be gained in the infor-
NAL way of treating subject, than by in
numbering it with too much formality; be-
cause if one person be explaining subject
with which he is acquainted, he NAV eIuci-
date it very clearly, yet owing to one sen
tence being misunderstood, or not perfectly
comprehended, the whole subject would be
obscure, or perhaps quite lost. But if no
rule be interposed, the audience can clear
the doubt instantly by asking the speaker a
question, or requesting him to explain,
which would be inadmissble under rigid
rules. Further, this plan affords better op-
P1rtunity for examining specimens of art or
natural formations, than the more pompous
method of declamation--and also laws less
burthen on the nerves of the modest and
inexperienced lecturer.
The benefits to be expected from these
institutions, conducted on any rational plan,
are many and great, and amongst them may
be enumerated the following in particular.
Suppose the subject of BOTANY to be in
troduced, and familiarly explained, from
time to time, both by oral description and
specimen; does it not follow that every per-
son who had previously read essays on the
subject becomes a practical instead of
theoretical botanist! And why? Because
from books he had learned the virtues of
many plants and trees, and the uses to which
they may be applied, but for want of a les
son from the living teacher, specimen in
hand, he had been rambling amongst these
very useful productions for years, without
knowing that they are the same which he
knew well by name in print. Thus, then,
the farmer may in one evening learn to ap-
ply to the benefit of his farm the very plant
which he had read of as matter at dis
itance, but which he thus learns is the pro-
duct of his own soil,
Suppose the subject of MINERALS AND
FOSSILS to be discussed, and specimens pro-
duced, which had been examined by an ex-
perienced geologist and labelled: may not
the society derive from few hours study of
this kind, an advantage almost equal (prac-
tically speaking) to that derived from reg
ular course at college! Cannot the mem
bers by comparing the minerals they may
find, with those which they may (by course
of exchange) possess, ready labelled, form
pretty correct opinion of their quality and
worth! If they can, they may avail them
selves of many of the advantages attendant
,on profound learning, without the labour of
acquiring it. For example, suppose farm
.er has read, or became verbally informed,
of the nature and uses of lime, both as a
manure and as a cement--andis theoretical