The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-11-29
aaaIs0.nrs a an iskt.fu tor

There ~ so much truth and go well eapress
"a jn the following remarks from the Gin.
cinnati Gazette, that We are inclined 10
,aaot the "A as our own. The stereotyped
need 81 praise 50 injudiciously awarded eve
~ leclurer "a no visit. US, but encourages
e,aeiricism sud is calculated to dePreeiste
and to bring into disrepate an institution,
mai IN the shortest space of time can i'm
part 10 the iHqniring mind the most useful
instruction. 1t must be obvious to the
inset superficial observer. that The Puohc
Lecture is becoming as much an establish
cd institution Of the county, ss the Press,
lie Pulpit OF The Bar. With the recurrence
Of Winter. the good people Of every eosmo-
poat4n and metropolitan town, are learn
nlr to eYpect bin OF fare. setting forth ihe
various Injuries that are 10 tickle their IN
leileciuai paIatea in the lecture room, win
the came ma,lsr-of-course manner IN which
they look ior The approach Of Christmas
and Eleclion-dsy. The prosincisi clues are
even of the little villages tina, DOT New
England, New York, Ohio, and tue great
West, there are very lew that canno,
boast Of their yearly COURSE Of Lectures"
OF the beneficial effects OF the Lecture as
an institution, there can be no doubt
Combining Us IT usually does. and always
should, instruction with entertainment, It Is
rapidly superseding amesements OF more
questionable character. lts expense Is but
light; il grstiiies public curiosity; IL iniu,
ses even into the Poaphar families some
usciul information and correct ideas; il far
nshes the people, at first hand, vita the
best productions OF the best minds in The
country; and what is more important thar
all, il induces discussion aud stimulatei
thought.
But ike everything else that 10 valusbi'
IN this world, the Lecture profession is LA
bic 10 become slulterated, and is here ems
there tinctured with empiricism. II is some
times impossible, FROM lack Of persona
knowledge, for communities TO exercise
high degree Of discrimination in engaging
lecturers; and hence it often happens tina
audiences which have gathered in anleipa
tiop of an intellectual feast, are compelled
after sitting out he hour, and going through
The motions Of the banquet, TO return hons
hungry.
There is but one remedy for this, and tha
ia the public press. Lecture audiences ar
generally too well bred TO make any deci
d.d demonstrations Of displeasure, if the
are compelled TO cit for one, or even tvs
mortal hours, through dissertation Of ele
giant stupidities, mechanical hippsneies ans
stste plslitudes But the newspapers have
tie power of criticism and should exereis,
it. The maa who appears in public as
lecturer thereby assumer tina. be has some
thing 10 tell his HIditors--some origina
thoughts. rare truths or profound and prne
teal philosophy - 10 short. something be
yond the plain, monotonoas details Of ord.
AIRY Geographic, historic Or geogrs phie rec
ords. DR.. South says, "ihere are many men
officiating as clergyman who would have
done excellent service al q plough tail; aus
40 we have some lecturers who may be yer,
brilliant ornaments 10 private lite, but III
totally unit for the position they have ne
spmed. Let the press once act on the by
pethesis ths, the speakers matter and man
ner, style Snd syntaz, ara legitimate sub
,ee,s for criticism, and the new Profes.ioi
viii undergo speedy and much needed Pn
rikeslion.