The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-03
THE LECTURE SEASON.

stitution. It is the outgrowth Of our peculiar
political system, Of our widely-extended and
sparsely-settled territory, and of that average
culture which makes the United States what
Matthew Arnold calls ''the paradise of medi-
ocrity." Invidous as this term seems, if
rightly understood it need be considered in
no other light than compliment. 1t means
| that while we have no exclusive and highly
! cultivated class, such as exists in the Old
World, we also have no such debasing igno-
rance. 1t is disgrace here for q grown man
or woman not to know how to read and write,
and the consequence is that knowledge is
better difrused, and we have an average of
culture that in free country is of more value
than a system that, while il breeds race of
scholars, leaves the mass of the people in pro-
found ignorance. 1t would be curious study
to trace out the origin of the American lee
ture system. and to watch its gradual
growth until it has reached its present
development. but within the limits of single
article like the present this would be impos-
sible. 1t is sufficient for our present purpose
to know that lectures on every imaginable
subject, grave and gay, scientific and comic,
and covering the entire range of human ex-
periences, are among the most popular and
best-paying winter entertainments in all parts
of the country. The lecture field is occupied
by divines, statesmen, savans, philanthro-
pists, travellers, reformers, historians, poets
lawyers, and buffoons. 1t serves to bring the
people face to face with some of the most
eloquent and celebrated men and women of
the country and it is an important source of
profit to many who are able thus to trade
upon reputation or notoriety obtained in
other spheres of action.
In the large cities the winter lectures are
somewhat overshadowed by the multitude of
other amusements that are offered but for a
very large class who never visit the opera or
theatre they supply desideratum and afford
style of entertainment that is highly appre-
ciated and extensively patronized In the
smaller cities and towns, however, lectures
fulfil more important function. With the
exception of an occasional circus or a wander
ing minstrel troupe, they are the only enter
toinments that break in upon the monotony
of village life, and it is in such places that
the majority of lecturers find their best-pay-
ing and most appreciative audiences.
Lecturing whatever it may have been in
the beginning, is now reduced to a regular
business. Our leading statesmen, clergymen,
and others who have obtained lyceum popu-
larity all have their regular scale of prices,
and the experience which many of them have
had as to the unreliability of committees and
others who attempt to manage without know
ing how, leads them to demand the cash in
hand before stepping upon the platform.
| Of Iuhn 1ar hna pf
lecturing have an agent who goes in advance
and prepares the way for the coming cele-
| brity: and persons too who are thoroughly
posted in all the details of the managerial
profession, have taken up with lecturing as a
regular branch of the show business, ar
ranging popular courses in the leading cities
and towns, introducing to the public the most
popular ''stars' in the lyceum armament, and
conducting the whole affair in a business-ike
and orderly manner.
The coming lecture season in this city pro-
misses TO be one of unusual brilliancy and in
terest. Independent of the transient celebri~
ties who will appear, one of our best known
managers has arranged a ''star" course, which
will bring before the public such orators as
Charles Sumner, Henry Ward Beecher, Anna
L. Dickinson, and others equally well known.
The series will consist of ten or more lee
lures to be delivered between the middle of
October and the first of January, at the
Academy of Music and the arrangements are
such as to secure great variety of styles and
subjects, and to bring before the public the
speakers that the public will be best pleased
to hear. Such a course as this will offer un
usual advantages to the admirers of this styll
of entertainment, and as the management i,
in good hands, it can scarcely fail to be bril-
liant success.
AS matter of curiosity we give the names
of some of the best known of the lecturer
who are announced for the coming season il
| various parts of the country, with the sub
jects that they will treat of. The terms whcl
, these ladies and gentlemen demand vary &C
cording to circumstances. Those who ar
+ sure of full houses demand $500 per nigh
and expenses in large cities like Philadelphi
y and New York, and $3.50 per night in smalle
places The prices of the others vary iron
$50 to 500, their terms being subject t
4 notifications which depend upon the size o
the lecturing hall and other circumstances.
Among those who will lecture during the sea
& son are Rev. John S. G. Abbott, who will dis
e course upon the congenial subject of ''Franc
e and her Emperor" and less familiar them
v of ''The Romance of Spanish History" which
\ however, will allow him to introduce som
o illusions to his particular friend, the En-
n peror of France: Rev. w. II. Alger's subject