National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-04-05
The Lecture System.

For two or three wears past certain pco-
pie have amused themselves by decrying
popular lectures, and by asserting that the
lecture business was on q decline. But we
do not remember time when lectures
were more numerous than now--whcn so
many Of tho smaller towns were enjoying
lecture courses. 1t would seem that the
lecture system is popularixing itself with
every additional season, and that The plat
form is TO be mole than ever an educator
Of the masses.
A few weeks ago il was our privilege to
be present at the opening OF lecture
course in n little village here in Western
New York. 1t is Just snch little village
as you may chance upon in ride Of live
miles through almost any portion OF our
state e-bonting its two or threo church
es, its school houses, lbs store and its ho-
tel and is the quiet center Of a well-to do
farming community. That such a place
should institute and support course OF
lectures, would not long since have been
deemed impossible. That il did institute,
lecture system is growing more and more
popular, and furnishes n worthy example
for similar places to follow.
In the little village we speak of, the
providing Of course Of lectures was not
difficult, because it was taken hold of by
energetic men, who prGeeded upon strict
business principles. They were earnestly
bent on breaking the monotony Of a coun-
try winter, and they insisted that some
good lectures wosld not only be entertain
ing, but profitable. They called meet
ing of all interested, organized literary
association, with the proper complement Of
officers, and then passed a resolution that
no lecturers should be engaged until one
hundred season tickets were sold. just
here they showed themselves more wise
than some associations. The one hundred
tickets were placed at SO each, and were
soon disposed Of This insured eight loo
lures at an average expenditure for each Of
twenty five doll 5, and on this basis the
course was arra Iged. We believe it Is
proving satisfactory, and have no doubt
second season will satisfy still better
Ii may be urged that lecture courses
in such small towns can not be really sue
cossful, because high prices can not be paid
lOT ltCluItIs. I4tl 1t NC ltlhtlIiDtItu, IOf
answer, that able and entertaining lectur-
ers can be had for much less than one
hundred dollars an evening. One evidence
that the lecture system is popularizing it
self is the willingness OF competent men
to engage ioc moderate price, and so make
lectures possible. Cough and Beecher
may cortinue to demand two or three hun
dred dollars for one or two hours speech,
and ordinary associations may continue to
feel this demand beyond their means, but
tell it not in Gath !--thNe are men
much less mpcrious in demanding than
they, whose efforts Will be little less val
uablc.
In the years to come lecture courses Will
greatly multiply. Men with talent to en-
tertain, and ability to instruct, will hold
their service at rate within the popular
reach. And they will do a great eGuca-
tional work. ButIoonery upon the platform
has nearly had its day. The popular lee
ture Of tomorrow will be what the real
popular lecture Of to-day is-tbe product
of culture and careful thought; pleasantly
yet not quite SO sober as a ser
mon; entertaining, but not vehicle Of
low wit and waggery. There has been a
call for humorous lectures, bu when the
call has been answered by lecturers solely
humorous, good part OF every audience
has gone away dissatisfied. The so-calied
humorous are not the truly successful ones
not the ones committees apply to year
after year-not the standard public favor
ties. You rarely hear of consecutive year
y engagements of any one of them in |
tho same place.
The men whose services are continuously |
sought arc men who speak for another
purpose than merely. to amuse. George
W. Curtis has come here to Rochester
seventeen successive Writers, and will be
asked to come seventeen times more if he
ives and lectures as long, yet lie never de-
iycred a humorous discourse Wendell
Philips is often wise, as often sarcastic and
;atirical, but who even thought of engaging
I'm to edit a comic almanic Yet he
]raws larger audiences before our own
Athea3um and other associations, than al
most any other platform orator. Anna
Dickinson wins crowded halls everywhere,
though she never wrote a witty book in
ler life, never edited the humorous de-
Dartment of n MAGAZINE, never attempted
10 be funny as she could before one or two
people. In Miss Dickinson's
,ase it is not alone the fact that she is
. woman, which accounts for her popular
ty-shc is in deep earnest. Dir. Hollands
: Social Uudertow" is as generally salts
actory as any lecture of the season, if we
nay credit various accounts of it, yet it is
Is intensely earnest as any effort can be.
The Pulpit has its mission, and the
Press has its also, but this mission Of the
Platform i, It's own and will be wrought
,ut. We hope to see the time when liter
Try associations will exist m every commu-
lity, and when lecture courses will be well
under their auspices. 1t is not
rue, as has been said, that the public lee
urer essays to do the publIces thinking
lie is or ought to be only the suggester of
hought, and IN this capacity his services
nay be invaluable. Then let the lecture
ystem prevail. -fmerican Rural Home.
The HOME OF LORD FAIRFAX.
4, u