The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-12-01
MANITOwOC CITY LYCEUM.

success. There is no reason that it should
not be successful Is there not always
sufficient scholarship in city of six thou
sand inhabitants to support an institu-
ton of this kind? There is about SO
much desire for entertainment In every
community and this desire seeks express
sion somewhere. Hence, if there are
but few other things to please the mind,
there is all the more reason for giving
strong support to the Lyceum. Indeed,
under these conditions. it ought to have
such support as to start the shingles from
the roof of the old Second Ward School
House, and cause them to rattle, rattle
upon the frozen ground,
But. though attendance is large, let
there be one complaint, enough do not
join the institution, that is, put their
names to the parchment and hand over
dime. It's FINANCES suffer no large drain;
but few more dimes from new born
members would be acceptable. 1t is a
purpose of the Lyceum to give as much
variety and scope to its proceedings as
possible; and, hence, it offers member
ship to all that are concerned with the
moral or intellectual interests of the peo-
ple Since this institution is confessedly
an advantage to the mental status of the
community, the logical conclusion is that
all thus in any degree concerned, will
give it support.
The advantages Of the Lyceum are
many. 1t awakens inquiry, and gives
literary tone to the community; and, if
the subjects are we'll chosen, it instructs
in those important topics Of the times,
which every American citizen should
know. The generous rivalry Of speakers,
Of essayists, and of DISCLAIMERS can but be
productive of good results. The benefits
of creating strong literary attractions can
not be estimated. It is counter action
to the degrading influences of the town.
Amid the gross tendencies of life, should
be some pure fountains from which the
amenities flow. Men are eaten up by
appetite. They take coarse pleasure in
the clink Of classes, and ribald jests
around card-tables; they have nightly
explosions of boisterous merriment to
the destruction Of decency. They think
the highest attainments are not in the
powers of the imperial mind, but in the
muddled gymnastics Of disgusting body;
and SO, with the greatest reluctance, they
pay the slightest tribute to omnipotent
reason. And Young America does not
snuff viciousness from afar; he has it
close by. His red eyes, his vile mouth,
his coarse brain. his muddy morals attest
the work Of early revelry. Intellect
should gather its forces, establish it's
rights, and not allow itself to be crushed
by a vast dead heap Of profane illiteracy.
The Lyceum is all it claims to be- it
rroifers its entertainment to the public.
The Lyeeum pitts Its sparilles Of thought
against the muddy bubbles of beer watts.
But Manitowoc City Lyceum should
be united in some way with Jones Ii
brary Association. Thus double power
would act upon single issue. In other
words, there would be given a mental
lever with which modern Archimedes
could move a world Of mud. | hope the
inquiries awakened by the Lyceum will
necessitate connection with that excellent
Library.
A Lyceum is fine thing to loosen the
tongue and cure the lockiaw Embar-
rassment is the great curse of young
speakers, and Is the ruin Of many
who might be superior. A Lyceum is
best fitted to remove this difficulty. Con-
slant association creates confidence. The
first attempt Of the young speaker is Sc
we're. But he gains strength at each eff
fort; till. at last, the letters drop, and
he is free. This embarrassment is ter
rible thing. I know how it is with others
by my own experience. In earlier times
[ have been in predicaments IN which |
have wished the mountains to fall upon
me. What feeling it is to have every
atom Of ones body culver with desire
for death. This embarrassment is tre-
mendous thing; but it is silly. 1t is
founded on nothing. It is well to re-
member the old Christian phrase, "fear
not the face of clay
The music has been excellent I fear
We are not sufficiently grateful to our
vocalists; we seem to take music as a
matter Of course. But let US who do
not practice the divine art, try it once
then would there be such a bull-frog
chorus as would scare little children from
their beds. As the trees nodded to the
Tyre Of Orpheus, so the schol-
arly heads Of the Lyceum nod to the sweet
gowned singers that perform. [ would
say to the public that, although we do
not have such music as would come from
such trio as Ole Boil, Camilla Urso and
f'arepa Rosa or as would equal duett
by Christine Nilsson and Madame Marie
Seebach, yet it is the best in the City.
I would say to the critic be just; but
sharp and unsparing. Soft sawder is of
no account. Prune them. dress them
down, chop them up, and cut off their
legs with cleaver. Adulation is weak
ness. To have fun, there must be "take
offs To have profit, there must be
truth. The critic position is one of i'm