Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-01-10
THE LYCEUM RlOPENED.
Kindness Of Hon. Julio M. Foster
in Its Aid.

ANNNAAA"
Afternoon from One 70 six O'Clock
Some Pertinent Questions as to Funds
Raised for ITS support.
The rooms of the Lyceum Associa-
ton have been closed for sometime,
the directors thinking it wise to hus-
band their resources for use next
summer. BY the kindness of the
Hon. Julio M. Foster, they have now
been put in funds so that something
can be done this winter.
On Saturday afternoon of each
week, from one till six o'clock the
room will be open and warmed, under
charge of a competent attendant.
During the hours named the library
may be consulted, and books may be
drawn from it in accordance with
the rules of the association.
We learn with pleasure that those
desiring will have access to the Ii
brary of the Lyceum during the
winter, and hope the opportunity
thus afforded will be duly appre-
ciated, by liberal patronage.
There is no good reason why it
should not be so. This library con-
tains many useful and interesting
books, which should be sought for
and read, particularly by the younger
members of the village. We have
also for sometime been rather curl
Gus to learn why it was that the
Lyceum was so short of funds. II
our recollection is not at fault, and
if it is there are many who can cor
rect it, in the summer of 1894 strenu-
GUS effort was made to raise funds
to put the society on good financial
footing, and at a meeting held in
the Lyceum rooms an enthusiastic
gentleman, created two life mem
bers and promised to pay the men,
bership fees S. each. One of the
members so created took and held
office, but the other, we are in
formed, repudiated the generosity
of the enthusiastic individual. The
treasurer of-Che association has nc
record of any payment of these life
memberships, This same sanguine
and officious individual further
proposed a dramatic entertainment
for the benefit of the struggling as.
sociation, and set to work to secure
local and city talent to aid him
This was readily secured for it was
given out that the proceeds of the
play was to be given to the Lyceum
Many people attended solely in the
belief that they were contributing
to worthy object. A large audi
ence was present and a fair estimate
placed the net proceeds at not less
than 800. The same company un.
der the same disinterested manage.
ment went to Port Jervis and there
gave an entertainment, advertised
to be for the same purpose, which
was likewise generously attended.
No accounting for the proceeds Of
these exhibitions has ever beer
made to any official of the Lyceum
and not one penny of the money, a
great part of which was certainly
obtained by the Representations
made as to the object for which il
was being raised, has ever beer
paid over to it's treasurer. What
terms polite society might apply t.
such methods we do not know, bu
in legal phraseology, there can bC
no question but that they would b,
characterized as obtaining money
under false pretenses, and then EN-
bezzling it. This is plain Anglo
Saxon, but we think wholly justifia
BILE under the circumstances, anC
certainly exculpates the Lyceum of
ficials from any suspicion that the!
have been in any wise injudiciou
in their expenditures. The publ
should give support to reading
room, and it would be an adjunct t
both the churches and schools, l
one were properly maintained ant
patronized. Why cannot this b
done There are certainly peopl
enough in the village able, VIII,
should they not be willing to emu
late the creditable example of tn
gentleman through whose generos
ity the Lyceum is enabled to ope
its doors during this winter.
We will be glad TO afford space i
our columns for a public discussio
lof this important matter.