The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-21
The City Amusements.

AT THE WALNUT Mr.. Edwin Booth will APP
pear this evening as Hamlet"
Thursday.
AT THE CHEsNUT the drama of the Marble
Heart will be performed this evening.
AT THE ELEVENTH STREET OPERA HOUSE an
attractive minstrel performance will be given
this evening.
THE "STAR" LECTURE CoURsE.-Mr T. B.
Pugh, the popular and able manager, has an
nounced ''star" lecture course, to be given in
this city at the Academy of Music during the
fall and winter which will present to the Phila-
delphia public some of the most noted lyceum
speakers of the day.
The people of Philadelphia have always been
among the foremost in the support of the popu-
lar lecture; and many of the most famous
orators of the day have from time to time ap-
peared here. But these opportunities have been
wide spread and uncertain; and in the rare in
stances where courses have been organized, the
names presented have not been of equal, or of
anything approaching equal, merit. The lists
have scarcely ever included more than six
speakers, and of those but one or two have ever
been really great lecturers; the superiority of
this fractional part being relied upon to carry
through superintendent load of dulness and
commonplace. This short-sighted policy will
defeat any enterprise; for experience has
shown that although the public loves to attend
lectures it will have the best or none at all.
Amiable mediocrity is the thing it abhorS; and
the well-meaning but nerveless race of small de-
Chalmers are thrust impatiently aside. On the
other hand, the vigorous man, with an impress
sive manner, q resonant voice. and with some
thing to say-that man will be heard, and will
meet with response. Mr.. Pugh intends to in
troduce first-class lecturers, and we are certain
that his enterprise will meet with the success it
deserves
The course will consist of twenty lectures,
divided into two series of ten each, with perhaps
two or three supplementary lectures.
The first series of ten lectures will be delivered
from October 10th to December Goth, 1869. The
second series Of ten lectures from January 1st to
April Both, 1870.
The Academy of Music has been engaged for
the entire course; and this magnificent building,
with all its appliances of luxury and comfort
will be thrown open to the patrons of the enter
prise. During most of the season two lectures
will be given during each week. Owing to the
engagement of the Academy for operate pur-
poses during November, but one lecture will be
given in that month.
gagged by Mr.. Pugh:-Hon. Charles Sumner;
Rev. E. H. Chaplin, d. D.; George William Cur
tbs, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hon. 5. s. Cox,
Professor R; E. Rogers, r. j. De Cordova (three
Anna E. Dickinson, Bayard Taylor, Professor
Henry Morton, Mark Twain, p. B. Du Chaillu,
d. c. Locke (Nasby), and Olive Logan Nego-
tiations are also pending with Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher.
1t is proposed to give an elegant musical en-
tertainment each evening in conjunction with
the lectures. A certain tedium has often been
experienced by audiences in waiting for the
lecturer to make his appearance. To dissipate
this and to give the occasions the air and feel
ing of the social reunions they are designed to
be, Mr.. Pugh has engaged Mr.. Carl SentZs new
"Parlor Orchestra" consisting of flute, claronet
| two violins, and piano-forte. The performers
| selected all of whom are well known to the
public and extremely popular, are Mr.. Sentz,
| Mr. VIM. Stoll, Sr., Mr.. VIM. Stoll, Jr., Mr..
| Doebbler, and Mr.. a'Becket. These artists,
under the direction of Mr.. sentz, will play
| choice musical selections each evening, from
| half-past until o'clock. The subscription
price for each series OF ten lectures is fixed at
| $780,
| THE AMERICAN CONSERVATORY OF Music
| will give its first matinee of the season in the
| main saloon of tire Academy of Music, on to-
morrow afternoon, at o'clock. fine pro-
| gramme of frst-class selections will be pre-
| sented.