Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-27
GREAT SOUTHERN CIRCUIT 
 Public LyceumS To Be Organ : ized in Southern Cities. ss--4lsi4t
 BIRMINGHAM ON THE LIST Association for Promotion of Lyceum Organ
 izaton-Leadng Authors, Travellers, Ora
 tors, Scientists at Nominal Cost.
Augusta Chronicle:

Augusta Chronicle:
 An association has just been formed spf which Hon. Henry Watterson is pres- sident, Gen. John B. Gordon, vlce-presi- sdent, H. c. Middleton, secretary, of Au- sg1sta Lyceum, secretary, and number of prominent and patriotic men as scoppany of directors and advisors, to push the organization of permanent lycaums in the south as means of popu- lar education.
 The form of organizations which the association will promote is the co-opera- tive or ion-profit order Among those who Ire at the head of the movement are those mentioned Bishop c. B. Galloway. of Mississippi; A. H. Belo, of the Dallas and Galveston, Tex. News; Rev. Sam P. Jones, Thomas Nelson Page, Gov. Bob Taylor of Tennessee, William Preston Johnston, of Tulane university, Louisi- ana: J. L. M. Curry, Hon. William l.. Wilson, x-pcstmaster-g general ard now president of Washington-Lee university; Frank L. Stanton, the poet; ex-United States Senator Patrick Walsh and others.
 Tine association will in a few days pub fish an address calling the attention of the people of the south to the value of the lyceum as a means of popular educa- tion, and requesting the organization of public lyceums on the cooperative or non-profit plan in circuit comprising the leading cities of the south. The ad- dress will emphasize the value that the lyceum has proven in New England where the people at large for two gen. eratiors have been put in touch with the leading thought of the .age-literary, scientific, etc, with the declaration that this powerful influence has been too long - neglected in the south.
 The association will undertake immedi- ately the organization of cooperative Lyceums in the following cities, hoping to have the circuit completed by Decem- Der 1:
 .-- Richmond Norfolk, Lynchburg, Ra.- leigh, Wilmington. Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston, Augusta, (organizeD, Savan- nah, Macon, Columbus, Atlanta, Cor ganized), Jacksonville, Birmingham, Montgomery Mobile, Louisville, Lexing- ton, Chattanooga, Knoxville Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Hot Springs, Mer- idian Vtcksburg, Baton Rouge, New Or leans, Galveston, Houston, Dallas. Fort Worth, Waco Austin and San Antonio.
 It is not intended that the same au- thors, lecturers, etc., shall go to all these places, as some of the larger cities will probably require men not feasible in the smaller places for some time. Among the men who will be brought to the south from year to year to these associations, besides the leading authors travellers, scientists, orators and lecturers of the time will be like Dr. T. Dewitt Talmage, Mark Twain, Lew Wallace, Hamilton Mabie, Hapkinson Smith, George Ken nan, Thomas Dixon, Dr. Parkhurst, Max O'Rell. Marion Crawford, James Whit comb Riley. George w. Cable, Russell Coriwell, Maurice Thompson, John Fox, Eli Perkins, Robert J. Burdette, men from abroad like Conan Doyle, Ian Mac laren, Sir Edwin Arnold, Stanley, Justin Mccarthy, and others when they visit this country-in fact any of those who are giving any of their time to this Ly ceum work. In this way the people wils come itno contact with the leading men of the times. Such lectures as these, when they come through the south spas- medically, cost for admission for the people to hear them, from S1 to $2. By a regular Lyceum organization upon a system similar to any library organiza- tion, this price is brought down to the minimum. depending only upon the size of the membership of the different Ly- ceums.
 This large southern work arises from the phenomenal practical success of the work at Augusta and Atlanta for the past three and 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 a cost of only 16 2-3 cents ad- mission. Net year the membership will increase to give an audience of about l 000, when the cost will come down to about 12 cents The educational effect upon the community has been incalcu- fable. During this time people have heard a large number of such men as Russell Conway, Lyman Abbott, Rich ard Malcolm Johnston, George Kennan, Hopkinson Smith, Max O,Rell. Thomas Nelson Page, Henry Watterson, James Lane Allen, George R. Vending, Rob- ert J. Burdette, pr. George c. Lorimer, Murat Halstead, etc.
 The Atlanta nizpd Ia ct year, has given a course this year, at a cost of only IS cents, and this is the first year. The officers announce that the Grand Opera House, one of the largest auditoriums, and doubtless the finest in the south, has been packed at every lec- ture and entertainment, and in addition to giving their members admission and reserved seats at a total cost of only IS cents, money has been put into the treasury with which to get other lectur- CTS. Next year the officers say the asso- citation will have membership audience of between 1000 and 1,500 people and in less than three years 1000, which will bring the cost down to about 10 cents per lecture.
 Y 1Esrhe same result can be and will be at- taned in all the ciis,S named The op- eration of the association formed fer the work is entirely relisanthrepic, without firameial benefit to ,he association or any of its members. The address will call upon the people Interested in intellectual rtainmert in these cities to take steps at offce to secure cooperation organiza- thgn. and to correspond with the secre- - tary, MT. H. c. Middleton, at Augusta. TheySwill be furnished with circular lit- efatpre for distribution and given every possible assistance in pushing and per- fecting organization Mi. Middleton will also visit such cities as 1t may be nec- essary for him to do in order to start the organization movements.