The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-19
WARTIME LECTURERS.
what They Were Paid and What They
Talked About.

graphs, an interesting bundle OF old let
ters. Holmes, Curtis, Longfellow, Wen
dell fhillips, J. G. Holland and Bayard
Taylor are half dozen out OF the many
tnat lend revitalizing touch to the yell
loWeo paper and faded ink. They all per-
tain TO leeturing and were written during
the civil War to tie secretary OF an organ
izatlon that had many counterparts, which
pore the Titles of lyceums, young mems
associations and the like. Their purpose
was TO lead before the public, in course
OF lectures, the lions of the day.
william ID. Seward, writing from Wash
hgton, pleads In excuse that my engage
ments Obliged so early return to this
place II shall be required at Washing
ton, writes Fernando Wood. and Wash
ington again cl&ims the presence of Holt,
the Judge advocate-ge neral whom the
trlaI OF Llncoln's assassins brought into
prominence. Henry Winter Davis "duties
are TOO engrossing." with my present
engagements" says Charles Sumner, AZ
care not promise myself" Reverdy john
sons outlook is certain ito keep me in
work Edward Everett mas mot accepted
any invitations to speak the ensuing sea-
son !; ex-Presldent Franklin Pierce de-
ehnes without explanations. and Wendell
Phllllps, in scrawl that speaks of more
haste than his assertion of the fact at e
close, with half promise thrusts the
whole consideration of the matter year
forward.
These men, however were not strictly
or the lecturing phalanx that Emerson
undoubtedly led. Of those to the manner
born few were more sought after, perhaps,
than John b. Cough and Henry Ward
beecher. Coughs agent was forced to an
nounce by circular that he was booked
Tor months to come, and one of Beecher's
secretaries states on the eve of the preach
er's return from his memorable trip TO
England: There is pile of letters foot
high waiting his arrival, all of which re-
late to lectures"
Another favorlte was the comedian.
James H. Hackett, who found time out
side his theatrical work for occasional
readings. he was man of ability. He
essayed RIP Van Wlnkle" before Jeffer-
son. and the latter in his autobiography
names him first in enumerating ''the most
successful comedians" He was much in
demand, but difficult to pin down to a
definite date, and there are several letters
In his nervous, old-tashioned hand anent
his engagement in Buffalo. He was
averse to allowing these readings. TO Sim
terfere with my better interests elsewhere
upon the stage, which prefer to the lee
ture-room." He makes an interesting
confession as to his profess ional rewards.
He had received, it seems, an offer of 500
from Albany, compensation which, he
asserts, approached nearer TO such as l
can obtain by foul. nights acting upon the
stage"
1t was something of surprise and with
an ungallant impulse TO count the years
that we find a firm, mature, business-lke
communication from Anna Dickinson.
Buffalo she terms her "favorite stopping
place in Western New York"
None OF these letters is perhaps valued
more than one written on dainty. mono
grained notepaper, in the effeminate
chirography of Henry w. Longfellow.
lit would give me great pleasure" writes
the poet, from Nahant, ''to accept your in
vitation if ever appeared in the character
of lecturer. As do not, must decline
Two letters are by John Gilbert Hol-
land. He writes a better business letter
than most men of letters, and these two
pertain to business only. His subject, he
announces. will be "The National Heart"
Bayard Taylor. too, confines himself
closely to the matter in hard, In the two
letters written by him from Kenneth
square. Russia and Fer People" he pro-
poses as his theme.
Oliver Wendell Holmes and George
William Curtis proved difficult fish to land;
the correspondence Of the Autocrat covers
three letters, and that of Curtis five. Cur
It's letters in the main bear the superscrip-
ton, North Shore, Staten Island.' 1t is
now known that this period of life was
one from which he escaped as from a
plague-ridden city, yet no hint of impa-
thence is Swallowed in these letters. Even
the trifling details reflect that gentleman
attribute, the ''heart of courtesy" which
this first gentleman of America SO marx
eddy possessed. Knowing as we do that
he found his own path thorny, there is a
touch of irony in his subject which he
doubtless appreciated. 1t Is entitled THE
Way of Peace"
The effort to secure Holmes was futile.
In one letter he turns for Buffalo u compli-
ment which human nature ever hears with
compIacency. Nothing" asserts the doc
tor, "but the distance is in the way, for
assure you 1 always found your audiences
among the brightest and pleasantest ever
met" His final declination is rather
model in its way. with its genial and dis
aiming frankness. 81 have got tripped up
at starting" he says, in breaking his en-
gagement by reason of sickness. II hate
to d1sappoint an audience as much as any
lecturer can. l have strong personal mo-
lives for carrying out my plan Tor that
lecturlng trip during that vacation. Moth
ing but necessity would have forced me to
relinquish it, and that l am sure will
prove a sufficient apology"
The prices paid these men are interest
ing. One hundred dollars was considered
munificent hire for lecture by the asso-
citation and equally so, it is likely. in many
instances, by the lecturers. Both Cough
and Beecher could ask and easily get $3.50.
Holmes, Agasslz, Wendell Phillips, Gen.
eral Butler and Edward Everett valued
their services at 500, Bayard Taylor was
satisfied with $50 and George William
Curtis with a modesty that is exasperat
ing, rated himself in the $50 category,
with Manton Marble, Benjamin +. Taylor,
Bishop Clark and Charles Carleton Coffin.
The subjects treated were with rare ex-
captions pertinent to the struggle then i'll
progress. Thus we have 'The Southern
Whites" "The State of the Country"
THE Way of Peace" 1.-THE National
Heart" and 1.-THE Crisis of the Nation. !"
The drama of the present was too absorb
ing for interest in things literary or philo-
sophic.-Buffalo Express.
Weight of American Coins.