The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-13

DEcApExcE OF THE LECTURE.


lecture platform he must find that in this
field OF work marked and marvellous
changes have occurred since he first APP
peared before the American people. Then
he was, one among half hundred bright
and brilliant men and women who Rraced
the public rostrum: now he Is one of few
remaining and represents profession
which seemingly has hegun TO so the way
OF lost art.
The ten years following the war was a
decade prolific i'm platform celebrities.
Some of our greatest men took to the lee
tura field. There was hardly a city or
town that did not have its winter iyceum
course for which were engaged the bright
est professional and literary stars of the
times. In the midst of material progress
there was intellectual activity. an activ-
ity which made itself manifest in de-
mand for public lectures OF high order.
The occasion brought forth the talent
TO supply the peoples wants. Whether in
the line OF reform of history. literature,
art or wholesome amusement there was
a galaxy of wise and witty men and wo-
men qualified and well equipped to i'm
struet and entertain. Public halls,
churches and school houses were filled:
which. while elevatlng to the auditors.
was not without handsome financial re-
wards 10 the platform workers.
Among the giants of that lecture period
enc recalls Emerson. philosopher and poet !:
Charles Sumner and Wendell Phillips,
eloquent. inspiring. with the glory Of a
mighty victory still about them At that
tirae the public heard regularly such emil
.sent people as Edward Everett Hale.
Robert Collyer. John n. Cough. George
William Curtis. James Freeman Clarke.
Charlotte Cushman. James Parton. Prof.
Agassiz. Dr. Chaplin. Scott siddons. Bay
ard Taylor Theodore Triton. James II.
Fields. Anna Dickinson. William Parsons.
J. 6. SAKE. L. Y. Nasty. Josh Billings and
many others. Most of them are now dead.
and vi;h them has died The great popular
Interest ia tic lecture rs they furnished
it-bs-iSht. fyesh oieyating and instructive.
II is d.Ifeult 20 trace the cause 20 which
lave thought that the daily press and the
magazine and review have become so
rapid and complete IN their operations
that the lecturer OF today finds his sub
teet stale before he asconds tho rostrum.
Every phase Of Il has been discussed. and
an audience which reads the paper. the
magazine and the review finds that the
speaker has little to inlpart tina; is new.
While there are clements % probability in
ibis. It Is only true in part Tor some sub
tects can never grow old. and. IL eloquent
~ treated. will oo listened TO NTH interest
IN the end OF sime
More likely is il that the public in SIS
modern restieSsnsSs wants change
They seek variety and are constantly ask
INK Tor something novel ola methods are
worn out. and 10 attract them usx WAYS
and means have 20 ~ devised \ scholar
" address by an Emerson would not TODAY
hold ar audience as Il did once. hat lcct-
ure made ap largely Of s,ereoptscen views
aud little talk will prove drawing card
Tais docs not mcan, necessarily. shat I'm
oar intellectual growth Ne have become
stun'ed, on the contrary. there ia evidence
TO the contrary. We set our Information.
however by means other than the popa.
lar lecture.
Lectures and lecturers We <tsll have in
abundance. lugerSol Sy has clasusnc@
and fitppancy continues 30 exchange Sostra
for silver. DC Witt Taimsec Bsirs up lsrre
gatherings yet: Henri wstlcrsOn. aud men
with eloquent tongues liAc his. rarely faii
q have large and appreciatsva audiences.
Mr.. Clemens a13 those az his unsq,sc and
original typo vii always nna people ready
20 listen 20 them But the lecture as a
popular attraction s G4ot what Il once VAS
aud NOWADAYS IS gradually becoming re-
served FOR ,he university extension cir
eics. family rarlerS ami private clubs. Z,
may BE temporary eclipse an. therefore
Sannos safely ~ said 20 aave cusllvcd IS
usefulness. bat cersataly the present. 50
FAR as lie lecturer Is Concerned, Is nc,