St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-08

The four bureaus of national reputation
manage between them something like $50 lee
turers, and Al musical people and readers.
These give during the year over 5000 enter
tainments, the prices for which, for talent
alone, vary from 500 to 1000 night. But
few of the popular lecturers on the platform
at this time, are such by profession. There
are a few scientists-the least popular, unless
their fame like Tyndall and Huxley's is world
wide-but as might be supposed majority
of the successful platform speakers are
preachers or lawyers. Curiously enough,
though the medical profession has given many
able men to general literature, there is no
physician to be found among the list &C public
lecturers. This may be accounted for by the
exacting nature of their professional duties
that keep them necessarily near home.
As these bureaus ara managed on strictly
business principles, the prices paid lecturers
are gagged by their drawing powers rather
than their actual abilities, or the amount of
thought and culture given to their speeches.
The men who draw best are those who have
made reputation in other than the lecture
field, and to see whom there is much curios-
ity. Horace Greedy, while one Of the most
forceful writer's in the country, was notori-
ously bad speaker. He hemmed and hawed
as if about to forget the whole speech, he was
uncouth in his manners, and set all the rules
of elocution and the theories of Delsarte at
defiance, yet, because it was Horace Greedy,
the aboitionist the socialist the free thinker
and fearless writer. the people swarmed out
70 hin, anI loft Ii.rhta1 thnunh thnv
could not recall striking sentence that he
uttered. But the bureau liked Greedy, for he
spoke to crowded houses while men of de-
cided oratorical ability were too often called
on to harangue empty chairs in the halls and
a gorgeous array of red plush in the theatres.
Henry NJ. Stanley made the fortune of Ma
ior Pond and largely increased his own bank
account by his last tour in America. Wher-
ever he went he drew crowded houses, yet he
was but little worse speaker than Greeley.
He lacked tact; he had no conception of elo-
quence, but such a high conception OF him.
self as to offend good taste. But the secret
of his drawing powers is not far to seek. He
had been a famous traveller; for years the
newspapers had teemed with stories of his
exploits in dangerous and unknown land,
and the people flocked to see the man, rather
than to hear what he had to say.
General Grant was a very Indifferent speak
er, yet if in the days Of his adversely he
could have gone on the platform, he would
have drawn such audiences as never gathered
to hear the greatest orator in America or any
other land, and his manager could have
charged "opera prices" 1 see some one who
understands the public talks of taking Queen
Liliuokalani through the United States on a
lecture tour. From two interviews had with
her majesty since she was forced from the
toy throne of Hawaii, can affirm that her
person is not attractive, her culture is not of
a high order, and her knowledge of English
scarcely adequate to carry on the most ordi-
nary conversation Yet if she had been
brought before the public soon after she had
expressed 20 Willis her anxiety to do the
Herodias act on large scale with the heads
of her opponents. she would have been a
drawing card. Imagine the fortune there
would be in Queen Victoria, at ten per cent.
of the gross receipts, if her majesty could be
induced to sit on stage for two hours every
night, with her crown on her head and her
scepter held in the regulation way. Such at
fractions, however, would not pay if taken
over the circuit second time.
Up to 1872 lecturers had to make their own
arrangements, and apart from earning much
less than now, they were at a great disad-
vantage. TO the foresight and organizing
ability of the late James Redpath, himself a
most interesting speaker and polished gen.
teman the existing methods of the great
lecture bureaus are entirely due. Prior to
this Wendell Phillips, the prince of platform
speakers, was willing to talk for $3.50 night
and expenses, but though by no means a mer-
cenary man, he made no objections when Mr..
Redpath's system enabled him to collect $500
every night III the week.
Like John B. Cough, Phillips was an excep-
ton to the rule as to the repetition of lect-
ures His addresses on 'sDaniel OConnell,"
'The Lost Arts and 'sTouissant Lover
teure" were delivered each as often as
twenty times in the same place, and
largely before the same audiences, but peo-
pie never wearied of them, all of which goes
to prove the high excellence of his art.
A curious thing in this connection is the
fact that one speaker will be great favorite
in one town or section, and in the next town
or another section he is regarded with indif-
ference The Southern states have never