Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-11-28
Letter from Boston.

WIZ The OLD-TlME LECTURE COURSE II AS DIED
OUT, AND WHAT HAS TAKEN IT'S PLAcE-A
DELIGHTFUL ooMB1NATIoN-A KIND AND
THOUGHTFUL ACT BY GREAT DRY GOODS
coNCERS-'AN EARNEST TRIFLER."
BosroN, Nov. II, 1879.
Nothing is more significant of the rapidly
changing taste of the public than the disap-
pearance of the old-time lecture courses and
the substitution Of entertainments of light
or order. We can all remember when a lee
ture was quite wild form of dissipation, an
event to be looked forward to and talked over
for days before and after its occurrence
Even in large cities one or two lecture cours-
es were considered indispensable. 1t was a
great innovation when some daring manager
introduced first reader then a concert COM
pany, into his course. But now Take the
leading courses in Boston this year. In the
Bay State there is not one lecture in the
Redpath course there are two; one of whom
-Talmage-was after all, only sensational
show. The South End course has two. but
one of these is an artist who draws pictures
for the entertainment of the audience, and
the other is De Cordova whose province it is
to amuse his listeners. OF course there are
reasons for this change, one of which is the
rush to the platform of all sorts of people,
and the amount of nonsense.that was talked
by them. Another is the disappointment
people suffered in going to listen to some sue
cessful author, and learning what their com
mon sense might have taught them before,
that very few persons can excel in two direc-
tlons. The magazines, too, have largely tax
EN- the place of lectures all questions which
formerly it was the province of the lyceum to
discuss, being treated most ably in their col
umns
Apropos of the Boston courses, attended
the opening of the South End Star course a
few evenings since, at Parker Memorial hall,
and was entirely charmed by the entertain
ment, which was given by a company of six
persons, styling themselves "The Rivals.
1t is the jolliest little performance have at
tended for many day. The members of the
company are Mr.. w. H. Sayward imperson-
ator, Walter Emerson, cornetst Eleanor
Meredith, dialect-reader, Mrs. Julia Houston
West soprano, Herr s. Liebling, pianist, and
Leon Reach, accompanist Mr. Sayward is
simply wonderful. l have heard all the diff
ferent imitators before the pnblic, but new
er have seen his equal he gives not only the
voice ana manner but the absolute personal
i'y oil the one initiated. He has no accessor-
les of costume, but in spite of that he makes
his characters absolutely perfect He im-
tates oil the leading comedians, and that of
course Is tunny but 1t Is wonderful to hear
MN 90 "hole scenes IN the manner of Salvi-
nj Ea.IN
Ill., fechter and Janauschek. Personally,
care 'he most lor MS Robert Collyer. There
ls no' the slightest touch OF burlesque, but
ne ee'S all the qualntness and tenderness of
tna' Beilai' "hoie-souied man, as don't be-
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