New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-04
THE LYCEUM.
,vsrru OF PIyBLIC LECTURES.


THE WEST
prorv persOn of mature years has at least
- ocauaintance with the lyoeum system OF thls
ptrv. every aged person has witnessed its RISE de-
sce and revival. DURING the eight years winch sue
,ho war no elass OF entertainment literally
eotod or so universally in demand. from the large
mon most distinguished in science and lit
g. sroke before audiences OF high culture to the
uest New England village, where the church was the
-, aud Tho clergyman the OratOr-eyerywhere the lee
lafform was one Of the chief instruments Of amuse-
- and instruction. Lecture courses we're usually ar
4, the smaller cities and towns ny some religious
10 charitable association philanthropy contributed
-, 20 their patronage, and wherever the manage
es IN the least degree judicous, pecuniay success
- .rtain and ample For time the popularity OF tnis
80, q, entertain met so great that In many parts OF
trv the quality OF the affair appeared matter OF
-, ,noneni Tho people wanted lecture, and' GET
-. lecture were satisfied. soon men began to realize
49,, ,sis was a very easy way of making money ana
So. n All ages, with no other qualification than
ranoe crowded the platform. College students,
.innled soldiers country editors and IN word all
rts and conditions Of men, set themselves 10 writing
,otures There at this time responsible bureaus
~, thew could not control the business, and tie result
as that the market certainly in New-Engand, became
r.toeked the audiences dwirded away and II seemed
,ht the whole system was falling into 0isrepne' The
ro.perous condition OF the country, to which was
LARGELY due the success Of lecture was 10 longer
General and with the coming OF hard times the
smaer towns and cities refused to support the system
1the larger cities welknOwn lecturers sun drew goou
audiences the prices paid to them by the bureaus were
mot reuced and the OF admission was charged
Within a year OF two there have been signs that the
lveeum system was n gaining a large decree the sup
mort of the peopa, and that upon more SUBSTANTIAL
basis and conducted with greater eOnScenoushess ana
wisdom it might attain healthy and vigorous growth
This year the opened earlier than usual ana e
managers OF lecture courses encouraged to anticipate
aprosperous Winter Lecturers who in years past have
suffered from the insneeTy and lack OF Judgment OF
irresnonsle agents have placed themselves under the
management OF established bureaus, and nOw nave
simply to m the engagements arranged ior thein hccou
ing TO their coutract There IRE still, especially perhaps
IN the West largo humber Of socaled bureaus each oi
which prints and distributes prospectus. containing
long list Of names OF celebrated men, whose services
the manager has hope Of secu ing Ihey
traffic on the oredulity Of il-iniormed com
munities sending them wretched speakers al
a large price, and negCctng every guarantee
Of satisfaction however believed that these mus
nom agencies had their day, and that the trust
worthy organizations whose record is pledge OF their
ndeity and capacity viii in the future control the onsi-
ress There are two prominent Lyceum Bureaus IN the
eountry-the Redpath Iyceum Bureau hathaway
Popds of Boston. and the NewYOrk Literary Bureau
with An Office in Cooper Union. The former founded ny
James Redpath in 1868 and at first called the Boston
Tvceum Bureau ia admitted TO have done much to re-
xve the lecture system which rapidly losing lniu-
ence and support Inquiry with reference to the present
stains Of the lyceura has elected the following facts
Audiences vary greatly IN size didetcut parts OF
the country and are drawn by the skill OF the
managers fully much as by the reputation
of the lecturer. Especially in NeW-England there
IA great nsInaaagcIlent III the arrangement Of
lecture courses and consequent corresponding risk OF
failure 1t requires very good Judgment to arrange
course that without losing in aractyenes 1t shan prove
remuneratve The demand for the best men Was never
90 imperative The people have higher
standard by which 20 measure yceun lecturers WIN te
spread Of information. and the increase Of travelling
facilities the dependence upon the lyceum has
diminished and the lecturer in order TO draw large
audience must be able furnish address Of unusual
merit While the popularity Ofthe lyccum in New England
generally has declined Boston still remains the first
support Of the system and last year sustained about 20
lecture courses Philadelphia, which formerly was re-
garded an Improbable lyceum field is now considered
one Of the best and last an unusual number Of
lecture courses proved successful there.
J. B. Pond Of tie Redpath Lyccum Bureau said Few
DAYS ago that the bureau had 50 many apphca-
tons from this season. ana he regarded TINS
IS evidence Of the increasing confidence when was fe!t
In the advantages % an established bureau system The
most popular lecturers upon his list were Henry ward
Beech r Homer f. Sprague. Wendell Phillips william
Parsons of Ireland, John h. Cough, Daniel Doughery,
aud Mary ID. Livermcrc As general rule the prices
paid throughout the West larger than IN the East
Western people DESTROYS Of seeing ana hearing dis
tnguished Eastern speakers, and were willing TO pay
literally for the privilege Mr.. Beecher had been paid
from $3.50 70 900 each lecture, and had never re-
ceiyed so many applications this The $1,000
lecture was delivered Boston, where he never re-
eeyed less than $500 Mr Cough had been paid $500
the highest price he received-for a lecture in
Boston this season, and the management secured
profit Mr. Cough spoke FIVE nights each week from oct.
20 sBo Enn nfar na1h r.af.Ff IoT "A
general and genuine ever. wendell Phillips was
IN great demand outside Of NewEnslsnd, where lie had
been heard comparatively seldom, but he unwilling
70 go far from home William Parsons OF Ireland de-
pended entirely for rs income upon ms lecture engage
ments in America He every season 70 tls eoun-
~ in October, aud returned in April from $3.50 TO
$1,000 richer. Of the few foreign lecturers
Who had been successful in This country. Homer H.
sprsgue was, Mr. Ponds estimation, the coming plat
form orator Of the country ana his merits "a Lecturer
mad never failed OF a warm recognition: MIS-. Liver
more had met with remarkable success, and had no rival
In popularity among her own sex, either at home or
had gained 80 Great public esteem that last season she
made about by her platform engagements. Julia
Ward Howe ana Phebe COuzins more popular every
year and WITH audiences of culture SIf5. LeOnOwcns
was an already established favOrte. Mr. Pond
sad that Ais experience, which lad closely FOL
lowed the varying fortunes OF the yceum had convinced
him that tu.agers must in the future procure Of
Itraordnary ability TO render their entertainments
successful. Ire" ecjurrs common covered
30 vide rang Id offered great attractions that the
goeum mus; fa;i n not iudiclcusly conductei Ine
unsuccessful would continue 10 insure consideration and
support % Efforts " UnQuf STONED excellence.
IS Carter OF the American Literary Bureau said yes
ruay that the promised 10 De profitable ono 10
rs agency. IL had begun earlier than usual, and
ABUNDANT patronage seemed already certain. The most
popular lecturers under the management OF his bureau
were James T. liolds, BayaTd Iaylg, Gen. Fitzpatrick,
pheOOore thton, the Rev Dr T. ii. Chapln The Rev Dr.
slOrTs Col. HiggiusOn and, among lady speakers,
MS Toss or Boston and Ann Eliza Young.
hr Cough, Who shared bis engagements between
M Carters agency and the Redpath Bureau retained IN
the fullest degrees the popular esteem which he won
long Martin FIrcuhar Topper In this country
Tor the second tne Was very pleasantly remembered,
and rapidly making engagements. Tire Rev. Dr.
Horrs had recently appeared lyceum lecturer, and
would doubtless invitations % speak than
he IL