Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-02-27
BOSTON LECTURE COURSES.
BY S. II.
Written for the HERALD.

of lectures" and surely it may Justly
claim that title. "Parlor" lectures,
given to benefit young, ambitious
souls abound, while churches and
schools have their courses for the
benefit of libraries OF reading rooms.
The Star and Bay State courses have
long held sway in fremont Temple
and Music Hall, from September I'M
til the new year; but the lectures
have been replaced, in a great de-
gree, by musical entertainments and
readings. The Y. NJ. G. A. supports
an annual course, numbering among
its recent speakers Will Carleton,
and Joseph Cook resumes to a full
house his Monday discourseS. But
all these may be styled popular"
Of special courses, chief are the Old
South Historical and Lowell Insti-
tute. Two years ago, in Marshfield,
at the old home of Daniel Webster,
a national society was formed under
the name, "Webster Historical So
ciety," having for president General
Chamberlain Of Maine. Its aim is
to establish in each state a branch
society with vice-president in charge
and from that basis to introduce in.
to the public schools a course of in.
struction in political economy,
either by suitable lectures before
the scholars, or by proper text books
The goal is better education fol
the citizens of future years. The
work of this society is yet in its
earliest stages. Beside the occa.
sional lecture given under it's au.
spices in the Old South, fttingly
made its headquarters, Prof. Fisk
of Harvard gave, last year, course
of lectures on the Revolutionary
period in United States history, and
continues the present season with
early constitutional history. This
same building has been selected by
Mrs. Augustus Hemmenway fol-
the Saturday forenoon classes in
history which she has furnished
for the scholars and TEACHERS of
Boston. 1t seems a most fitting
tribute to the past to devote this
memorable Old South to such q
purpose as an historical lecture
room.
The Lowell Institute was estab.
lished in 1889 by John Lowell, ir.,
the son of the man for whom the
manufacturing city was named.
The bequest stipulated that the
money was "to provide for regular
courses Of free public lectures in
natural and moral science" The
annual outlay is two hundred thou,
sand dollars. A further stipulation
is that the property shall be manag.
ed by trustee who shall be lineal
descendant. This munifcent Gift
may be one of those "bursts of
youthful enthusiasm" upon which
the worldly wise looks askancc, fol
the donor was only thirty-seven at
his death. Certainly it is a gift
deserving appreciation. Besides the
Lowell School of Practical Design
which furnishes instruction and
looms for working out the designs
the Teachers Saturday afternoon
courses in natural science, and the
scientific courses for advanced stu
dents, there have been, this winter
two courses Of lectures of general
interest. The first was by Edmund
Gosse, a name we'll known in Eng
glish literary circles; the. second, a
series of twelve, now in progress, is
by the president of the Institute of
Technology, Francis Walker, on the
various elements making up the
population of the United States
The tickets for these are obtained
by application at the appointed
time and place, where each must
wait his turn in the line of expect
ants. For tickets to the moro spec
ial courses, application must be
made by letter, stating age, occupa
tion and previous preparation. A
glance at the varied audience gives
rise, Involuntary, to question of
the actuating motive; for there are
represented all classes of studious
people, from the gray haired man oil
woman, anxious to keep abreast
with the hurrying age, to the young
enthusiast, striving in vain to gath
err all in the rich field before HIM
Surely, progress and knowledge de
pend only upon fairly good con
stitution and a determined will