The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-24
u,I.N'7ER .9.NESE.UE.N'TS.

Dr. Holland writes as follows in ScRIBNER
for December, on the subject Of Winter
Amusements:
1t is an easy thing to establish, either in coun-
try or city neighborhoods. the reading club
Twenty-Five young men AM women OF congenial
tastes, habits, and social belongings can easily
meet in one anothers buses, once during
every week. through five six months OF the
year. With small fu. hey can buy good
books, and, over these, I aloud by one and
another of their number hey can spend an
hour and half most plea atty and protitably.
They will find in these BOOB topics OF ccnver-
sation for the remainder of the time they spend
together. II they can illuminate the evening
with music all the better. Whatever accom-
plishments may De IN the possession of differ
ent members of the club may be drawn upon
10 give variety TO the interest Of the occasion.
This ID entirely practicable, everywhere. 1t is
more profitable than amateur theatricals and
legs exhaustive OF time and energy. 1t can be
united with almost any literary object. The
- Shakespeare Club" IS nothing but reading
club, devoted to the study Of a single author
and Shakespeare may well engage club for q
single winter. Such club would cultivate the
art Of good reading, which is the best and most
useful OF all accomplishments. 1t would cul-
tivate thought, imagination, taste. In brief,
the whole tendency OF the reading club ls to-
ward culture-the one thing Notwithstanding
all our educational advantages, the most de-
porably lacking IN the average American man
and woman.
There was time when the popular lecture
was source not only Of amusement but of
culture-when 1t stimulated thought. developed
healthy opinion, conveyed instruction, and ele-
waited the taste. The golden days when Sumner,
Everett, and Holiness Starr King and Professor
Mitchell, Bishop Huntington and Bishop Clark,
Beecher and Chaplin, Emerson, Curtis, Taylor
and Phillips, we're all actively In the field. we're
days Of genuine progress. Few better things
could happeH to the American people than the
return of such days as those were; and the
lecture system" as 1t has been called is de-
Ginning in Its usefulness and interest, simply
because it has not men like these to give 1t tone
and value. \ few of the old set linger in the
field, but death, old age and absorbing pursuits
have withdrawn the most Of them. The plat
form is not what il was. The literary trider,
the theatrical reader, the second or third rate
concert, have dislodged the reliable lecture
goers and the popular lecture will certainly be
killed If bad management can kill it. The
standard has not been raised or even main
tanned il has been lowered-lowered specially,
and with direct purpose, to meet the tastes OF
the vulgar crowd.
WE'LL the young people, IN whose hands the
lecture system" has always BEEN can mend
all this, II they consider ii worth the pains
Certainly, the coming into contact with thor
oughy vltalHed man OF brains Is very stimu-
latlng experience. The privilege OF doing 30
should not be lightly renquished and, when
ever course OF lectures well conducted it
ought to meet with a generous patronage from
all who have young people on their hands to be
entertained and improved.
But even the lecture desirable as it ia, is not
necessary, Ia city like New York. there ought
to be five hundred clubs Of young people es-
tablisLed this very winter, for the purpose OF
social and intellectual amusement, with culture
IN view as the great ultimate end. The exer-
cl5es may tahe great many forms which it Is
not necessary for us even to suggest. Books
may be read, original papers may be presented,
musical rehearsals may form a part OF the en-
tertainment, products OF art may be exhibited.
there may be dramatic and conversational
practice, and practice In French and German.
There is no limit to the variety OF exercises
that may be proftab!y entered upon. And
what is good for the young people of the great
cities Will be Just as good for young people
everywhere.