St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-01-02

We feel very greatly indebted to Nr.
Marshall of the St Paul Press, for the fol-
lowing substantial and wholly unexpected
compliment and give it currency that it
may aid US in our purpose of bringing be-
fore as many minds as possible, in the
form OF lectures, the subject of "Woman's
Wages as Wife and Mother" and some
ideas on "Household Ecoromy." The
former subject is one We have lived and
waited many years for favorable opportu-
nifty to discuss. 1t is one to which we
can do no justice in the necessarily short
and disconnected articles suitable for the
columns of a newspaper. We have wait
ed so long that we begin to fear that our
last summons may come and find this one
life work undone. We had resolved to do
something towards it this winter and this
makes the Press notice peculiarly valuable:
as VIC feel that it cannot fail to do much
towards giving US favorable hearing, as
we may present that forgotten truth that
American Slaves are not all in Dixie.
LECTURES AND LECTURERS.
We have been requested to give infor-
nation in regard to pnblic lectures who
may properly be invited to lecture, and
who arc interesting and instructive lectur-
ers.
We have some difficulty in answering
the inquiry in satisfactory manner AS
yet, there is no one to our knowledge in
this State was wishes to be considered a
professional lecturer. This is not the case
from lack Of talent for such literary work
but rather because everybody has to do
something for living, and as yet ]ectur-
ing does not pay. A MN cannot afford to
quit his Office Or study, when at best it re-
quires his whole time and attention to earn
a living, and respond to invitations to lec-
lures without compensation. When lec-
turing will pay man to devote his time
to it as professional business-there are
a few persons in the Statc-and but few
who might with advantage to the pub
lie be'ake themselves to the profession.
We are so distant from the homes of the
distinguished lecturers Of the East that un-
til railroads shorten the distance, we can
not except in rare circumstances, expect
them to delight US with their pcrf,rman-
ces.
We therefore conclude that lccturing,
as an institution approaching the high Or
der which it has attained in the older
States cannot be enjoyed by our people
for some years to come-not until we have
a much larger and deuscr population, and
greater wealth.
But in the meantime we need not be
wholly without the instruction and enjoy
ment of public lectures. And, indeed,
VIC must make an exception to part Of the
foregoing remarks, in favor Of three per-
sons now resident within the State. We
refer to Rev. VIM. Spcer of Lake City,
DR.. d. b. Reid ofSt. Paul, and Mrs. Jane
Swisshelm of St. Cloud. The lectures Of
these persons will compare favorably with
those Of first class lecturers in the East,
and are we'll worthy the patronage Of oil
societies and localities in the State that
are able to pay suitable compensation.
We have seldom ever listened to lectures
of more interest than those of Rev. Mr..
Speer on Chinese character, customs, and
history. 1t is not merely that he las en-
joyed rare opportunities Of observation in
the home Of the Celestials, and among
that remarkable people on our own west.
ern shores, but the interest of his lectures
is largely due to the genius Of the man.
We are confident that all who have heard
him, will sustain as in saying that he is