Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-06-07
THE LECTURE SEASON.
An International Bureau-The Takers
and the Red Path.

Mr.. James Redpath, OF the Boston
Lyceum Bureau, has Just returned from
Europe, which he visited for the purpose
of making engagements with intena-
tional celebrities. The establishment Of
branch of this famous Boston institu-
ton 10 London, is significant sign of
the times and surely II Is also an en-
couraging one. For half a century we
have Imported at an immense expense,
rare lungs and legs, ACTORS and singers
and dancers Ia II not about time to i'm
port brains Yet IL Is not likely that
any agency will bring over many orators.
celebrated Englshman expressed his
astonishment to Mr.. Redpath that Ameri-
cans should 20 over TO England to get
lectures. "We haye not six orators in
all England" he said 81 and YOU" (he
hpd visited America), care nation Of
orators" There Is great deal Of truth
in this remark. En- glishmen are great
doers rather than takers. Vincent,
PunshOn, and Stowell Brown are famous
in England as orators but not one of
them Is equal TO PLilips, COllyer, or
Cough. Spnigeon Is great orator for
the illiteraic masses but he Il NJ more
to be compared To Beecher than English
Macdonald has been successful because
every one who saw him, loved him as a
man; but we have score Of ADLER
speakers of home growth. As for Yates,
he was beneath contempt. He was
simply a Bohemian. Indeed, the only
addition worthy of note, that England
has made to the American lyceum is
William Parsons, and he (t0 make a
t. I.fF Hw
(better known as J. Moutesquieu Belew)
is excellent In certain readings-for once
Bnt, Mr.. Z irsons excepted, not one of the
foreign lecturers who have hitherto Wis
lied us are equal to the American literary
orators.
Mr.. Redpath, when in England, In
person or by letter and friends. ''soundcd"
a large number of celebrated English
men, AID ascertained that neither George
Eliot, Darwin, Tyndall, spurgeon,
Thomas Hughes, Huxley, nor Charles
Reade have the slightest intention Of
visiting the States. Most of them could
not be induced TO do SO for any considera.
ton.
But Mr.. Jenkins, the famous author of
"Ginx's Baby" will make tour; and
as every one has read his book, and he
has the reputation of being a good speak
er in England, he will undoubtedly be
widely sought after. He is 10 lecture on
"The England of To-day" and on 'frhe
English Satirsts." Mr.. Jenkins is the
son of a popular Montreal preacher, who
was for several years settled IN Philadel-
phia, where his son, now so we'll known,
studied law and Imbibed liberal Ideas of
government. He is London barrister.
A
lind that Mr.. Cough is to have a new lee
ture entitlsd "NOw and Them" which,
next seasjn, unlike most lectures, he will
not deliver now and then, but all the time.
Wendell Phillips, IL Is stated, will not
lecture a great deal but as long as he
lives, he will doubtless keep the lyceum
platform which he has done so much to
adOrn.
Mrs. Livcrmore, who Is now the most
popular woman lecturer living, will dis
course, we hear, on "Women's Hus-
bands," which we take it, will not be IA
translation of Thackeray's "Men's
Wives"
Rev. Mr.. Murray will lecture on "The
Perfect Horse" lie is certainly not
one. horse lecturer and when he comes
to speak OF horses, he will know whereof
be ailirms.
DR.. Thomas Hill, President of Har-
varl College, will describe "rhe Straits
Of Magellan" and tue island Of "Juan
Fernandez "
Mrs. Leonowens will have new lectures
on the marvellous life of Siam and the
Orient. Her stories have the interest of
the Arabian Nights Entertainment.
DR.. Isaac |. Hayes, the Arctic Explorer,
will lecture on Far Northern Life and
1ee.e' r',.'D. .; :; o1 Miritinc Discovery, before
and since Columbus.
Thomas Fitch, lhe eloquent Pacific
Coast orator, Is Ia Europe, and will have
"A lecture called "a Sag brusher In
Vienna"
Mrs. Steuhouse, for twenty years the
wife of Mormon elder, and an ablo
and eloquent woman, will expose
the masked barb lrism and tyranny OF
Polygamy in Utah"
James Parton is to talk of "Our
Scandalous Politics" 1t is not stated
whether this lecture is to last six monthsi
bat 1t certainly might be continued fol
that time. Mr.. Parton is sure to produce
trenehaut lecture with such theme.
We have always thought he made mis-
take in selecting purely literary topics fol
lyceums. Such a subject as this new one
will call ont all his powers of brilliant
epigrammntic statement.
Dr. DiO Lewis is to lecture on sour
GIRLS" and "Our Eyes" lie can doubt
less get oil great deal Of twaddle under
any head.
DR.. John Lord, the oldest veteran il
the field, has lectures on nearly all TN
representative men Of modern ciyiliza
| tion.
Miss Kate Reynolds will lecture oil
"Charles Reade."
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe will describe
"Paris'' and "San Domingo"
Col. nigginson will lecture on sion
dom and on thinking Animals"
Prof John Fiske is to lecture on III
"Darwinian Theory"
Senator Boutwell, enters this intelleetua
arena; he will give up November to th
lyceum, but he has not yet indicated th
title of his lecture.
senator sumner authorizes the state
ment that he wishes to lecture, and wi
lecture II his health will permit.
Bishop Haven will have "a lecture o
Mexico, from which he has recently II
turned.
Gen. Butler aud Judge Russell will NJ
lecture this season. which probabl
means that bitter gubernatorial can
paign is at hand; and the generals frien
Gen, Hawley, holds the matter in sal
pense.
On the whole, the quality Of lectures
steadily improving, aud the day of sense
tionalism stems to be nearly at an END
We are glad Of it. The Lyceum is "a
important au institution TO be surrende
cd to charlatans.