The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-23
THE PUBLIC L'YCEUM.
To Be Established In Thiriy-slx Of the
Largest Southern Cities.
NORFOLK TO ENTER THE GREAT CIRCUIT
The Initini steps Taken at n Meeting
Held Inst Night at The Pablo Ii.
brnry building SomethinE About
she Work, Its Objects und Aims
Another Meeting Called.

Through correspondence by prominent
gentlemen In other cities who have seen
| the advantage of 1t, with n number Of
gentlemen in Norfolk Interested in such
! work, 81 proposition was recently made
to organize In Norfolk a Southern Co.
operative Lyceum Bureau, whereby our
citizens might enjoy lectures by the
| best lecturers Of America and Europe
at cost likely to be less than 20 cents
| each. The proposition in brief Is that
branches Of the lyceum be organized In
the following thirty-six Southern cities:
LYCEUMS TO BE ORGANIZED.
Norfolk, Richmond, Lynchburg, Raj
eigh, Wilmington, Charlotte, Columbia,
Charleston, Augusta torganized), Savan-
nah, Macon, Columbus, Atlanta Organ
ized), Jacksonville. Birmingham, Mont
gomery, Mobile, Louisville, Lexington,
Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville,
Memphis. Little Rock, Hot Springs,
Meridian, Vicksburg. Baton Rouge, New
Orleans. Galveston, Houston, Dallas.
Fort Worth, Waco, Austin and San
Antonio. the work having already been
done In several Of these cities
The form Of organizations which the
association will promote is the co-opera-
tive or non-profit order. Among those
who are at the head Of the movement
are Bishop G. 3. Galloway, of MISSISSIPPI
pi; a. Fl. Belo, Of the Dallas and Gal
weston (TeXas) News; the Rev. Sam p.
Jones, Thomas Nelson Page, Governor
Bob Taylor Of Tennessee, William Pres
ton Johnston, Of Tulane University, La !;
J. l.. M. Curry, the Hon. William l.. Will
son. eX-PoStmaster General and now
president of Washington and Lee Uni
versity; Frank L. Stanton, the poet; eX-
United States Senator Patrick Walsh,
! and others.
The Hon. Henry Watterson Is presi-
dent, General John b. Gordon, vice pres
ldent; II. c. Middleton, secretary of the
Southern Lyceum association.
AMONG THE LECTURERS
Who will be brought to the South from
year to year TO these associations be-
sides the leading authors travellers,
scientists and orators Of the time will be
men like DR.. II. Dewitt Talmage, Mark
Twain, Lew Wallace. Hamilton AIabie,
Hopkinson Smith, George Kennan,
THOMAS Dixon, Jr., Dr.. ParkhuSt, Max
O'Rell, Marion Crawford, James Whit
comb Riley. George w. Gable, Russell
Conwell. Maurice Thompson, John Fox,
Eli Perkins, Robert ]. Burdette; men
from abroad like Conan Doyle. Ian Mac
laren, Sir Edwin Arnold. Stanley, Justin
Mccarthy, and others
This large Southern work arises from
the phenomenal success Of the work Mt
| Augusta and Atlanta for the past three
or four years. Augustus lyceum was
organized four years ago, and now the
people hear from twelve to fifteen of
the leading men Of the times at q cost
OF only 16 23 cents admission. Next year
the membership will increase to give an
audience OF about 1000, when the cost
will come down TO about IL cents. The
educational effect upon the community
has been incalculable
a MEETING CALLED.
Last night a meeting Of some OF Nor
folks most prominent and public spirit
cd gcntlemn. to whose attention the
matter OF organizing the lyceum had
been called took place at the Norfolk
public library rooms. on G.anby street
At this meeting, quite largely attended
the Initial steps In the Organization were
taken. and the objects Of l. heartily APP
proved.
1t being the desire however Of those
present to enlist in the cause every lady
and gentleman in Norfolk and the cities
about he., tn" permanent organization
was deferred until the meeting called for
next Saturday night at $50 y. n,., at the
library. that all might have voice in
the election Of officers.
A BROAD PUBLIC SPIRIT.
The broadcast public spiri; was evinced
by those present at the meeting. It
was the evident general desire that
every citizen of Norfolk and her sister
cities should come to the meeting next
Saturday night and have q voice in the
organization Of this really great work
The press was asked to invite them,
and to aid III the work The Virginian
is pledged to do its utmost and will. If
any lady or gentleman in the cities men
toned falls to take part In the organiZa-
ton i: will be their fault alone, fc" they
are here asked and urged to attend the
meeting and the press Is SO advised by
those interested.
y COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
An invitation committee was appoint
ed last night, consisting Of the following
gentlemen Messrs Myers. Sargent.
Sans, Dobie, Bagnall and Glennan, who
nave instructed the press to issue the
general invitation mentioned above.
I'he great enterprise is to be launched
at the public meeting next Saturday
night at the library. although it possible
that a larger hall will have to be Sc
cured in order to hold the very large
audience expected, in which case notice
will be given
IN UNION-STRENGT
The cooperation Of a large number
Will make it possible for our people
TO hear these famous lecturers a n nom
lnal costa few cents. Never was CO.