, 1892-12-01
POPULAR LECTURE d.
WI az the Unitarian Society Ha
Heen Doing 10 Educate the PeOpI,

WI az the Unitarian Society Has
Been Doing TO Educate the People.
The Unitarian society has been instru-
mental in securing some excellent enter
tainments, refining and educational, dur
ing the last two years. About two years
ago Mr.. Jas. G. Clarke gave an entertain
ment under the auspices of the society in
Columbia hall. 1t consisted of original
ballots sung by himself. A recent number
of the Arena speaks editorially of Mr..
Clarke as one of the great poets of reform
at the present time, Later a series of
illustrated lectures was given by Donald
Downie, who few weeks ago gave return
engagements to full houses in Seattle and
Portland. The lectures were good but the
attendance was so poor that the deficit
when 1t came to settle for hall rent and
fees wiped out the entire reserve fund at
the disposal of the committee. 1t was de-
elared on every hand that Olympia was not
lecture town, that nothing in the wav of
atnusements would pay here but ministries
ana hlgh KICK shows, ana no one On the
committee was inclined to dispute it.
Miss Alice Cary of Seattle gave the first
entertainment in the new church, consist
ing of recitations and selections on the
violin. She was liked so well that a return
engagement was made. The New York
Symphony club came next which was
really lrst-class entertainment. But the
patronage was so poor that nearly every
one present said, what shame there
were not more present" Rev. Thomas
Van Ness, of San Francisco, gave lecture
on his visit to Russia and recently one on
his visit to Germany.
AS no admission fee was charged the at
tendance was fair, but not large, though
the lectures were highly spoken Of by
many who were present. Rev. Mr.. Mar
tin, of Boston, now of Tacoma, gave a lee
ture about year ago in Columbia hall on
Thomas Paine and Rev. w. E. Copeland
gave one in the church later, on the
French Revolution. The most successful
lecture, financially and otherwise, was that
by John Fiske, of Cambridge, Mass, the
distinguished author and scholar. A prom
inent citizen remarked the other day that
he would not have missed the Fiske lee
ture for five dollars. An equally appre-
clative remark was subsequently made by
another citizen and expressed IN exactly
the same terms of value concerning the
Schwatka lecture, which was given last
summer. The Fiske lecture paid because
those interested went out on the street and
canvassed for the sale Of tickets. There
was a splendid audience and one that Mr..
Fiske said showed as much appreciation as
any he had spoken to for some time.
Since Lieutenant Schwatka's ill-timed
death many people who heard him speak
Of his arduous trip to the frozen north
have been glad that they had the oppor-
tunity of hearing him. He was certainly
brave, industrious, ambitious man, but
his conquests, though his training was for
war, were the bloodless conquests of sci
ence in the fields of geographical explora-
tion and clinical research.
Then in the line of music the Tennessee
Jubilee singers gave satisfactory enter
tainment last summer and the Capital
City band at various times has rendered
popular concerts.
At the suggestion Of the editor of THE
TRIBUNE the present movement was set on
foot to establish a popular lecture course,
particulars of which may be found else
where in today's paper. NH.