The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-18
A LYCEUM ron SAVANNAH.
An Effort to Put the City in the
Southern Lyceum Circuit.

southern Lyceum circuit.
An effort will be made to put Savannah
in the lyceum circuit, now being formed
to comprise the leading southern cities.
The following call has been issued:
Savannah, June II.
All persons interested are requested to
meet with us tomorrow (Friday) night
at $50 o'clock, at the Savannah Guards
armory to form the Savannah public ly-
ceum. This is in Pursuance of a request
of the Southern Lyceum Association,
that Savannah join the circuit of public
cooperative lyceums comprising the
principal cities of the south, and now
being formed, by which lecturers, authors,
readings and other lyceum entertainments
of the best class are heard at a nominal
cost--frequently as low as from 10 TO 20
cents. 1t is important that Savannah
shall undertake this literary movement
and join this circuit.
The call is signed by George j. Bald
win, Alex. r. Lawton, John Screven, b.
A. Denmark, William Garrard, j. IL. Es-
till, Frank G. Bell, T. M. Cunningham,
William d. Harden, Chas. F. Pendergast,
Pleasant A. Stovall, George II. Cam. r.
j. Num-, D. Hops. Otis AshmOre, Ar
thur j. O'Hara, James Y. Fair, d. r.
Thomas, George A. Mercer and William
Harden.
The purpose is TO form a purely public
lyceum, similar to the New England in
stitutions, that have been so successfully
conducted for half a century, and that
have recently been organized in Augusta,
Atlanta, Columbus, Norfolk and Whining
ton in the south. All profit for individuals
or society other than the lyceum will be
eliminated, and all the funds will be used
IN ftan .1.sak 8 sg,r.
The work In Augusta was started four
years ago. The institution has 800 mem
bers for the coming year. and the lectures
cost the people only 1625 cents each. In
Atlanta the first public lyceum course was
organized last winter, at a cost of only
is cents for reserved seats.
An association was formed in April of
which Hon. Henry Watterson is president
Gen. John B. Gordon vice president and
Hugh c. Middleton, founder of the Au-
gusta lyceum, as secretary, to secure the
organization of similar institutions in the
thirty-four leading cities of the south
The work of the association is in the ma
ture of a public service and the associa-
ton derives no benefit from the organiza-
lions. Each lyceum is local and indepen-
dent when organized.
1t is purposed to elect officers and or
ganize the Savannah public lyceum to-
night. Then the canvas will be made for
citizens. 1t is not thought the matter
will be difficult after it is understood
Mr.. Middleton, secretary of the Lyceum
Association, is at the De Soto.
This effort" he said, 'is merely to get
lyceum organized in our large cities on
the right basis, when they will succeed
without difficulty The New England
lyceums are public cooperative affairs and
run themselves. All our southern cities
have had disastrous experiences with lee
lures on all other basis. In Augusta up
to four years ago we bad tried many plans
to permanently introduce the lecture, all
meeting failure Finally it occurred to US
to make 1t public co-opera-
tive institution In itself instead of trying
to make money by it for our libraries and
other institutions. From a lecture at
tendance of less than 100 four years ago
we have now an attendance of 1000. The
lectures cost the people-the members
only, 162s cents each, and there is a pros
| pect of further reduction. Atlantas lee
| ture audience numbers about 100 up to
| 1896, but last year they averaged 1900 in
| the public lyceum"
| Savannah can surpass Augusta. II is
| a mere matter of population. You know
| Augusta is cotton factory city, and I
] am sorry to say the 1900 or 1900 factory
| operators are not able to attend the lee
| lures. If Augusta can have 100 members,
| Savannah can also. You ought to get 400
this year, which could bring the cost to
! 16 2-3 cents per entertainment to those
joining
The Augusta lyceum, Mr.. Middleton
said, runs itself, year after year. All diff
| ficulties Of canvasses, ETC., after organiza-
ton are removed. Additional membership
comes of it's own accord. All the fund
| from fees as well as door receipts being
| put In lectures and their expenses, the
more the members, the more the lectures.
| etc. or the better their character and the
| less the cost Of each entertainment"