The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-27
The Lyceun.

| announced tudt the AyCcu1u VI tudC city
had attained a membership of 500 600
admissions); that on account of the in
creased membership the course would
this season be given in the opera
house, and that it would consist of
eighteen entertainments given at an
average cost to members of 1873 cents
for eachad mission. This is after four
| seasons.
Something like this we are try
ing to do for Wilmington. We nave
| had some prejudice and much indiffer-
ence to overcome. But we have labor
| ed on until we are now justified in an
n~ouncing four numbers Of our course.
In October we will have General John
B. Gordon in his new lecture on The
| First Days of the ~COnfederacy." Our
| people still remember his lecture on
1.-THE Last Days of the Confederacy"
as one of the most brilliant n moving
pieces of oratory ever heard in this
city. His new lecture is on a theme Of
equal, if not SURPRISING interest, and
as a lecture is said to be fully equal
to the other.
| w. Mabie, a stranger among us, but a
In November we will have Hamilton
man whose reputation for charm of
style, breadth of scholarship and
strength of thought place him among
the foremost writer's and lecturers of
the day. He lectures or such subjects
as Literature and Life" Books and
Business" Couture for Today"
American Society and Literature"
We hope to introduce many more such
distinguished strangers to our COM
munity.
Later in the season we will have
George Kenon, the distinguished Sibe-
rian traveller, who will lecture on one
of the subjects whose special investi-
cation has made hin famous, such as
RUSSIAN Political Exiles," "Siberian
Convict Mines"
These men all come high. We could
easily give twice the number Of lee
lures with the same money, with men
Of good reputation. But we think our
people deserve the best and we are de-
termined that they shall have it. The
three lectures would represent the world
of history (and that the history dear
est to our heart), the world Of letters
and the world Of travel But as it is
the mission of the Yyceum is to educate
we felt our people should be instructed
abou their own state, and so have ar
ranged to ave Professor J. A. Holmes,
our state geologist, deliver his lecture
IN "The Resources Of North Carolina"
" oSSN W IN - GIN
all over the state.
If we stop here, our member will
each have two admissions to four
lectures for S., 00, making the cost of
each admission 62R cents to lectures
that would ordinarily cost Is cents or
$1.00; and they would at the same time
be laying the foundation of an institu-
ton which is to give them far larger
returns in the future. But there is no
reason why we should stop here, and
we have no intention Of stopping with
our present attainment. We should
easily double our membership and SO
double the number of u entertain
ments and thus diminish the cost of
each to our members.
There seems to be an impression
abroad that there is no particular use
joining h Lyceum, as n can go
when he pleases by paying admissions.
IF this were true, it would not be
treating us fairly. We are working for
the public good, and can only contract
for what We have the means to pay
for. We are not dealing in futures. So
the directors have definitely decided to
have no general admission. Members
may get extra admission for members
Of their own family at reasonable rates,
and nOn-residents of Wilmington can
get admission at suitable prices, but
the only way for the Wilmington public
to hear these lectures is to become
members of the Lyceum. 1t is Only on
this perfectly fair and cooperative
principle that we are able to establish
this institution upon a permanent
basis.
Within the next thirty days we hope
! to Cub the present membership, and
will then make the unce of
other lectures for this season. We have
a long and varied list Of attractions to
select from n are determined to
maintain the highest standard Of ex-
cellence. We invite all of our citizens
who desire to get the benefit of this
seasons course for themselves Or their
families to give their names to one Of
the undersigned officers or directors.
In our canvass we have not been able
to reach ladies except through some
gentleman of the family. Where there
are no gentlemen in the family, or
where they are not interested, ladies
may drop a caro- direct to the presi-
dent or secretary, or may see ony of
he directors. Let it be m
/ that every dollar goes directly to Sc
curing more and better lecturers and
that there are no profits to any person
| or organization.
PEYTON H. HOGE,
President.
GEORGE ROUNTREE,
Vice President.
| W.. A. R1ACH,
Secretary.
D. L. GORE,
| Treasurer.
ROBERT STRANGE,
II. MACRAE,
JAS. H. CHADBOURN,
ROGER MOORE,
p. B. MANNING,
Directors.
To Build NO Hospital at Asheville.
Asheville, N. c., August 24.-The Cit