National Republican., 1886-12-11
Anr-nRApEp oRAroRY.

Music Hall, he appears TO be 40, but day
light is kinder to him. A man meeting him
on the street would call him 2S-no more.
The thousands in Chicago who have at in-
tervals for seven years accompanied Mr..
Stoddard on his delightful journeys will
read with interest OF certain phases In the
lecturers career which the Null herewith
presents for the first time. Graduating
from Harvard, he had as little bent toward
lecturing as desire TO ship as q common sea-
man. His supreme ambition was to travel,
yearning which, fortunately, he was able
TO crafty. The British isles, the continent,
and the Orient were seen aud studied
by the young and enthusiastic traveller.
Returning to Boston he found occupation
rs a tutor, preparing young men for Hlr.
ward College. After much hcsltancy, and
with many misgivings, Mr.. Stoddard yielded
to the request OF some intimate friends aud
wrote lecture which he called "RamOles
in Athens" 1t was delivered in Boston
church, before cultured audience, and the
success Of his initial effort In this direction
suggested possibilities which have been
handsomely realized. The obscure tutor
OF 1878 is to-day one OF the wGalthiest aud
most popular lecturers in this country.
sitting in his parlor In the fremont House
yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Stol1ard took
from the center table a copy OF the most
ing the pages of the magazine, he said to
the writer;
"You zee there are no illustrations. OBJ
serve the contrast [producing tho last Cen
tvy Is II matter OF surprise that iitty
copies OF the tcpi'GV arc sold to one mum
Der of the iNdlfjCt Now, bear in mind
that the articles in the Century, as in HIT-
pcr's and Scribpcr'y, were written before the
illustrations were made. | hold that lee
lures can be as legldmatply and effectively
illustrated as magazine articles, but the
articles and the lectures must como first.
invariably write my lectures and then add
the illustrations us drapery and decoration.
a lecture must stani by Itself rs literary
work Of art, otherwise the lecturer Will be
mere showmau repeating parrot-like com
monplaces."
"Do you personally secure the illustra-
tions you GShihit?'
"1hut was my custom at first, but my
work has ASSUMED such proportions that
can no longer spare the time. Each year
when | come 10 Chicago plan WORK for the
next season. Last year while here | deci-
ded upon the subjects which | am now pre-
sentiug. Take 'Napo,Con III and the Fall
Of Paris ! began twelve months ago to
read and study for that lecture. Tue fact
that Napoleon had spent six years In the
fortress Of Ham suggested the desirability
Of some pictures In that connection. Ham
"
late region you can scarcely imagine. To
secure views the permission Of the French
government was required. Then special
artist was engaged, and days were devoted
TO this branch alone. The work OF securing
views was entrusted entirely to Mr.. Burditt,
one of my agents. He spent months on
the continent this year, and returned with
at least 500 views, of%hich utilize posi-
bly, ninety"
'In what shape do the illustrations reach
your"
"On glass; here is one 81 by A. inches;
We call them 'lantern Slides You are
doubtless surprised to find the originals SO
small, but, being so small, you will under
stand there is the greater need Of artistic
perfection. Every quarterinch on the slide
is magnifed several feet on the screen.
The improvement IN these illustrations Is
marked; we gain O little each year, AMI, so
far as our slides are concerned, rellize
that perfection is made up OF triiles after
ALL"
"Haye you any knowledge of photog-
r'PhyI" .,o,
the literary side"
"Of the thirty lectures you have dellv-
cred, which has been the costliest In prep
arationtn
"One in the series on Charles Dickens II
you mean the costliest from an artistic
standpoint, but this lecture on Napoleon
(holdiug up the MSS.) has cost me what
cannot express In dollars and cents. At the
outset must have had 500 OF these pages
eco pages tCo many. Four times | rewrote
the lecture, eliminating, carving, and con-
densing, and all this, please remember, be-
fore ] decided upon u single illustration.
Many think 1t Is an easy thug to give an
illustrated lecture; they try IL and fail, be-
cause they make their pictures first. As
"a 1hgrn nj
deI sel, vivid, dramatic, aud truthful mar
rat,ve. The lecturer must avoid dry statls-
tics on one side and mere superficial views
on the other
"IIow many nights have you given to
letturing during the past eight years."
"Over 1900, and have never missed an
engagement; WAS never obliged TO post
pone Il lecture nor to compel an audience
TO wait for me sixty seconds. | talk an
hour and q halt almost continuously, and
no actor on the mimic stage declaims IN
one peformai ce one half the number Of
lines which speak nightly. Yes, physi-
clans have assured me / was running my
vocal chords, which | prefer not to be.
lieve."
"You are giving more historical lectures
than formerly
"Yes; 1t is new departure and a success
ful one. In lecture on travels simply
one has the power to select what places he
will picture; not so In an historical lecture
where one must seek out and secure GER
tain illustrations. 1t is great satisfaction
to me to have been able TO make the change
from travel to history. Because Of the high
pressure Of American life the time which
most men and women can devote to solid
reading is dlscouragingly limited. The
popular craving Is for newspapers, periodi-
calls, and light novels. Gibbon, Hume ahd
Macaulay are not holding their own, be.
n m hau fiTnn fNr
them. What shall be done for these people
who are desirous Of knowledge but lin
tied for time? / reply Give them con-
densed statements OF facts in concise yet
pleasing narrative, strengthening such pre-
sentation with carefully chosen illustra.
tions. Pictures, by the subtle influence Of
association, fix facts in memory's store
house"
Asked which OF his lectures had been the
most successful from a financial stand
point, Mr.. Stoddard appealed to Mr.. North,
OF Burditt ~ North, these gentlemen hay
ing been his agents for nearly eight years.
'If the pulse OF merit may be detected at
the bOx.oilice," said Mr.. North, ~ should
soy the Dickens lectures rank hlghest.n
In the Boston Music hall, which seats
1855 persons, Mr. Stoddard has lectured to
an audience Of $3.50. over 5000 persons
crowd the Philadelphia Academy of Music
when the attraction promised Is "Stod-
dard lecture" In those wonderful little
"lantcrn Slides the Boston lecturer pos.
sesses the most complete, as well as the
costliest, c. lllcton Of the kind IN existence.
OF original views he has upward Of $4,000.
When be first came to Chicago his course
comprised five lectures. lie now delivers
eiehLCen lectures, aud, as the practical Mr..
North phrases II, "thc house is sold out
every time,n leaving 10 late, corners not
even the comfort to be derived from that
ancient legend, "standing room only" 1t
is quite probable that Mr. Stoddard will
before long turn his attention TO Mexico
ard some OF the South American republics.
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