The record-union., 1895-09-27
PREACHER AND HIPPoDRoME.


The Rev. Anna Howard Shaw has billed
She State for paid lectures in the interest OF
the State Woman's Suffrage Association.
In this the State Suffrage Association
falls into the category of organized tenn
peranoe work as the convenient vehicle
for box-office receipts. The Rev. Anna
Howard Shaw found herself exceedingly
popular in the provinces. So after her
return to the metropolitan centers Of the
country, she concluded that the province
of California regarded her as a greater at
traction than the double-headed night
ingale. An experienced promoter OF
shows saw in the reverend lady one OF
the attractions Of the fall season, and an
engagement was entered into for hip
podroming campaign of the State.
Recently q reception was arranged in
the city of Oakland by the Starr King
fraternity. The appointment for this re-
ception clashed with the date fixed for
the Rev. Miss Shaw's lecture, and the
J1CCHtLytCIs Al 0POh
event, puts the case in this wise: "There
was a reason for having but one lecture
for the two towns, a reason worthy of the
financial perspicuity of the new woman.
In order to defrsy some OF the expenses
of Miss Shaw's trip to this State small
admission price is to be charged, and the
L. 10 oI,o Of h. Dol
determined to have . good showing at
the box Office"
This is putting the case very mildly.
It is evidently the phase which the Rev.
Miss Shaw wishes to put upon the situa-
tion. But throughout the State, in every
town of one thousand inhabitants up,
Miss Shaw is advertised as an attraction.
Divested of its varnish, she Is simply
making a lecture tour for money. The
Chronicle puts the case less mildly. 1t
says: Miss Shaw has been billed
throughout the State. She will lecture
five times week and will remain in the
State six weeks" The name of her ad-
NAnC0 dkohh 0h0 bNA-OAAASO AhopOObOA ID
given, but the rough edge of the hippo
droming campaign is taken off by saying
that all her lectures will be given under
the auspices of the State Woman's
Suffrage Association. All this is q very
thin disguise. It is perfectly plain that
whatever percentage of box-office re-
oeipts ihe State Woman's Suffrage As
sociation viii receive, Miss Shaw is to
become show. The interest manifested
in the woman's suffrage movement is
made auxiliary to the box-office receipts,
and the only surprise we have to express
in the matter is that there should have
been any double dealing about the mat
ter.
The Rev. Miss Shaw ia by no means
singular in her hippodroming expert
ment. Recently the Rev. Mr.. Haweis
visited this State in the double capacity
of preacher and Snowman. He used the
pulpit as means OF advertising his week.
day lectures. lie took gate money as
lecturer and received the collections as
minister. He laid claim to free trans
portation on the ground of being min
lister, but as he took gate money for his
services be fell into the category to which
the theatrical profession and circus be-
long. and was offered transportation on
that basis The reverend gentleman re-
turned to England much offended at the
railroads in the United States. and in
published letter scored them roundly for
their illiberality.
The people who make great social and
political movement the means of con-
cealinp their desire 10 deliver lectures for
nav have been a numerous class in all
time They come into the community
disguised as champions of philanthropic
movement. They at once enlist the sym
natbies OF the votaries of the cause. 1t is
easy to convert the fsnatical adherents Of
the cause into agents for the sale of tickets
and reserved seats Thus thriving private
business sends it's tap-root into the spirit
of modern reform.
THE legislative inspectors of Oakland
4tnAf