The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-25

South as agents Of popular education,
which have been too long neg ected in
this section. The lecture, the address
says, is one Of the most potent factors in
any good scheme of education, and the
popular lecture or lyceum platform Is
one Of the most beneficial agents of mod
ern times in the education and cultiva-
ton of the people. 1t is bringing the
university to the people who cannot 20 to
the university, by having university
speakers on the lyceum platforms of the
Cities. towns and villages. 1t is bringing
entertainment .and instruction to hun
dreds and thousands of people at a time,
and may be properly called education by
wholesale.
The New England lyceum of the cities,
towns and villages taught the eworld
great lesson in education. By this means
the masses of the people there have be-
come accustomed to look upoa and hear
the leading poets, novelists, historians,
travellers, scientists, moralists, orators
and public men Of the region, and they
have received great benefits therefrom.
Wherever the lyceum went it touched
with the hand of inspirations; it carried
with it to the people the great men of
the time and there is nothing SO inspir-
ing as contact with great men. The peo-
pie Of the South need to come in contact
with the authors, scientists, orators and
public men of this section, and with tie
great men with the rest of the world.
The lyceum is a comparatively new in
stitution in the South; but wherever it
has gone it has naturally carried abound
ing profit.
The Augusta, Ga, lyceum has been in
operation only four years, ..and yet it is
already great success. The people there
hear annually from ten to fifteen of the
leading lecturers, authors, travellers 6, sci
entists and orators Of the time by CO.
operation at as low cost as 16l cents
per entertainment and this cost will be
still further reduced as the membership
increases. The Southern Lyceum Associ-
alton was organized April 10, 1897, to
promote the upbuilding # operative
lyceums in the South as agents of popu-
| such institutions should not be estab-
lished in every city and town Of 1000
| population and upwards in this section.
| This result can be accomplished easily
and at n small cost in the larger cities,
and AS it is the purpose of the Southern
| Lyceum Association to begin at once an
active canvass in the promotion of the
movement, the cooperation of all per
soDs favoring it is cordially solicited
Such persons in cities and towns OF
sufficient size are requested tn begin at
once an effort to secure the organization
of a lyceum in their respective localities,
and to communicate with the secretary.
H. c. Middleton, of Augusta, Ga.
Friends of the movement should NEE.
| and elect the following officers Presi.
| dent, vice president, secretary, treasurer
and board of directors, the last named to
consist of from 5 to II members, as de-
sired, after which a committee should be
appointed to canvass for more members.
Each lyceum is independent in organiza-
ton and the proceeds should be used in
promoting the objects of the undertake
ing, it icing urged on the members OF
each never to go in debt to secure lee
turer.
y list of Southern cities have been pre-
pared rs proper locations for IN lyceum,
and there is no reason why Roanoke
should not he in the circuit. It is hoped
the wideawake and progressive people
of this city will see at once the import
ance of having Il lyceum here, and that
| steps will he taken Immediately to organ
| izc one. The cost to the Individual men,
bers per annum will not be great, and it
will be discovered at once that by proper
management the institution will be self
sustaining almost from the beginning.
There are hundreds of people who would
he greatly benefited by such course of
instruction, while at the same time they
would be more than compensated for the
time and money expended in the pleasure
and satisfaction which the lyceum would
afford them. If the matter is looked into
thoroughly and n lyceum organized, it is
believed in the course of twelve months
or more that Roanoke will have one
of the most ilourishing organizations of
that character in the country.
ELECTRIC BITTERS.
Electric BitteIs is medicine suited
for any season, but perhaps mere gener-
ally needed when the languid, exhausted
feeling prevails, when the liver is torpid
and SlunpiSh md the need of q tonic nd