New-York tribune., 1868-03-05
THE PEOPLES READLNGS.p

Tho first of a series to be known as The
Peoples Readings" given last night at Cooper Inst
tute The audience was large and Intelligent one, and
the exercises were OF most pleasing character Prof
Frobsher the eocutOnst TO whom the inception Of this
popular series is due. made few remarks explanatory
OF des gn audng TO the success which has attended
the efforts Of a few pubcsprited gentlemen IN England
interest the people entertainment OF like charac
ter In that country he said the movement was begun
on small scale. but t found necessary to IN
crease the aces to rent larger rooms and 10 employ
readers that the growing demand might be supphed
The present course II was thought would become equally
Mr. jackson r Schultz the Chairman, then introduced
Mr. Beecher who spoke follows:
am not familiar with the progress OF this peculiar
part OF education IN Great Britain as Is the gentleman
who first spoke Whatever may be the progress and sue
cess of IL There a Of opinion that reading Is set
have place in the course OF popular education IN
America which 1t has never hitherto held. Everything
day brought to the test of populartynot in the
bad sense OF cheap and indsermnate general praise
whole rather than for any select class III the community
That is a kind OF popularity IN which believe And
Learning that once was aDstruse scarcely can exist no"
until It develops something in itself that shall be food for
the whole. Directly Indirectly everything feels the
science and literature and art are obliged 10 earn
their livelihood by paying as they go some tribute
OF knowledge 10 the whole community Long since we
learned that pleasure oDged TO con
slider the wants Of all classes or they could not sustain
themselves. am glad that u Il so IN every uepattnen.
OF society and that 1t is no longer possible Tor select
class to assume 70 itself privileges appropriate 70 nse
advantages, maintain them without any eohsluerrs-
tion whatever as 70 the welfare and merits OF the
rest OF the community 1t Is part OF thls general ten
tency conform TO the wants Of the whole that has De
veoped modes of popular education The
sphere Of the pulpit was never SO broad as to-day IL
has lost nothing Many things ehange, Dut that Is gam
ing and little lost that Is worth keeping Law De
cause 1t has experienced this democraZlng influence
not weakened aud the practice OF law Is nor less 9hot
able. IL more honorable than to-day ana vet
It has been popuaTzed SO thas every man + S I own
Is obliged to conform 20 this change, ana MOtner
times good nurse not only as she used 10 De,
but doctors used 70 be even lhey STUDY pnysloos
they study hygiene and medicine being popaaIized,
common people understand the difference between being
sick and well not only but between the lhuehess tat
make sickness and health Now, the Lyeeum lecture az
a creation the last - years, Is popular institution IL
has wrought during these 20 years @OrA "hch SHOWS
that success Is Ia IT, Our Lyceum courses, as develop
ments Of the educating tendency generally represent the
thoughts Of the individual speakers, and happily they
discuss that pertinent 10 the interests OF
Ioday-the current thoushtS ana IeenSs' incan' % ~
not every man that can be lecturer There are huhu
red readers where there s one man that can compose
the stores OF literature should Do lockeu up
cleaned only by those persons whose means means
treasures II strange that We had not before
thought Of unlocking, bringing forth, ana presenting
by the reader TO the common people these lneonaDle
beauties and excellences OF literature There an un-
surpassabc wealth remaining almost unknOwn NOt one
reader IN thousand takes the trouble now 10 look Tor
things that they could well read ana might wen sealcM
FOR conceive that the time may come when Wen
ordered reading course in villages and towns nay IN the
course or TWO or three years. so heaiy pass Ote' n
ground OF general Literature, that our own people, at
course OF better literature through popular readings
than in lmy childhood was presented 70 us IN college
suscepble of Development TO a degree that have lit
lie Contention OF IL rs not fair that man having light
should put it under busheI it is not fair that man
who has received the gifts that constitute good reader
should get his wife and children around him,
serve them with il and let nobody else have
IT. These gifts should be for the community and not for
our own selfish appropriation. Now there are multi
tudes OF men. lawyers, physcieians ministers nay,
here and there you find among uneducated men, me
chanics farmers that both in voice sentiment feel
ing and original gift, have the reading power. Why
should not these be called They are ordained for
this priesthood the priesthood OF reading why should
they not read in their community More than that
Among those that capable of reading we'll we SHAH
find here and there those that have the power ALSO OF
insight good reader does not merely read to you what
you knew before lie teaches you how to read that s
how 10 understand things that you have read
hundred times without understanding FOr exam
pie. go and Listen TO Mrs tanny Aemble Butlsr;
hear her read The Tempest" You may have read u
ten timesf, like me, you are vrtuous laughterl-and
have been able To understand IT, 90 ana hear her
read II. Upon my word, aIter nearu nef tehu one vi
shake speae's plays" Romeo and Juliet-I fell IN love
myself -laughter-gith the play Renewed Laughter,
and cheers l never knew what Shakespeares ioois
meant TIL | heard Prof Raymond OF Brookiyn read
them For the wisdom OF ms friends DE made himself 80
very much fool that had the most intimate sympathy
with Shakespeare's conception lLaqghterl Ana can
say that have heard OF these able readers OF
You can say it because was so green that II had
thought II 50 very nne beg your pardon persons
that have attended most are the most Ouu III thelt
praise for II is said by them that listen 70 .nd pgs M &
that one or two parts are well presented u All te resi-
that you get some exquisite models Du
there be OF genius who takes IN the conception OF
the whole play each separate character ana render teh
>
not derive from the boards of the theater Now why
should not the dramaiistsn.or sSPeSpesrTd d anJ
Masnger and Ben JOnson, and many subsequent drama
fists be rendered, in popular readlhgsf one Tor an
evening and alternating with miscellaneous readings on
alternate nights How long step ia the knowledge OF
literature NIGH bo taken with very ltteexpense. Dy The
whole common people ,Sn ,ho boY Gi m
hoNly acts When circus comes into village, Tor SIX
every boy is standing Oh horses backs, acting In parts
that he has seen performed by the clown !
The principle OF imitation is very strong Let |
good reading course come INTO neghOorhOod OF VIZ
lage and every who has the initiative Impulse thc
oratOrica impulse will go home ana begin 70 Ieau anu
you may depend upon IL that II you have 20 g0od puD1
readers now in Ye years you Will have 600 Ihey VIII
spring up like flowers in the spring Even II II serves
only as an entertainments that y Well DeIeNe IN anuse
lnentthat the want Of relaxation III many mems NtS
a sin against God MS against themselves not That
Is a httlo piece OAahoWaple selnshhess,
but that II Is a duty. Amnsements are TO rugged daily
life what honeysuckles and morning 8ories are around
country houses IN the summer OAK trees are excellent
but twnn vines are Just as good In theT paces-and
sort selshHess 10 be wnked at Il duty Simply as
popular amusement then reading deserves your kind
Hess ea h aS p6puoT information and DEVELOPS the
literary tendencies OF the whole l think that you
small things yet the signs are auspclous that there
may come day OF great things-of things patriotic
yirtuous, and religious Applause.
Mr. Oscar NJ Newell then executed solo on the piano
and was followed by Mr.. Frobsher. who read Poes
Wedding was then recited by Mr VIM L.
Drmshy With fine OBJECT This is n peculiar poem In many
respects and put few Onprofess0nal readers nave the
onerity to attempt II In public. Mr.. OrmsDy however
evidently mastered ITS difficult points. and gave tho
poem tho f benefit OF good voice, clear enuncaton
snd general appreciation Of its humor pathos Butfor
nexcusble violations OF standard rules OF orthoepy
by the reader his performance might nave
been considered almost fnultless AS was It was rich
rcat aud was thoroughly appreciated The other exsr
,lses Uf' the evening consisted OF readings y
prof Frobsher Mr NIX FULTON, Mr. Ormsby. w. q. |
whitney the Rev Chas. T. Canidge and MTs fIoosner;
md music by Mr.. Newell new poem tf1mmequOdJ
,y the Rev Ralph Ioyt was notable feature Of the
ertainment. This was read by Prof Eroolsher Judg.
ng from tho interest manifested by the audience last
the taste displayed In making selections and the
Kill and talent OF those who TOOK part In the exercises
,ncomo very populAr.