The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-19
LYCEEM FOR RALEIGH.
Such an Institution win Probably be
Organized at an early Date.

Organized at an Early Date
II il possible to hear in Raleigh all
the great lecturers onu the country ana
time ut - cents and less.
In Augusta, Georgia this is done at
IL 9-10 cents in Charleston, $. c.. at
1915 cents, and in more than twenty
cities of the South at less than % cents.
All the cities mentioned have co-opera-
tive lyeeums 1t is probable that Z
similar association will be organized
here.
Mr.. II. c. Middleton. secretary Of the
Southern Iyceum Association, arrived
in the city yesterday. He wishes to
get Raleigh to found a lyceum, and to
enter the Southern circuit. The associa-
ton was formed last year to promote
the organization of lyceums through the
South as aids to popular education.
Mr.. Henry Watterson -, its president;
General John Il. Gordan, vice-president;
Mr.. William H. Wilson. Senator Patrick
Walsh, of Georgia, and others the drec-
tors
The association issued an address last
year calling attention to the value of
the lyceum as an educational factor and
pointing to the vast benefit in a popular
educa tional way that the New England
lyceumS had been to that section. Since
that time twenty odd cities of the South
have been induced to found these instr
tutions7- Richmond. Norfolk, I4ynchburg,
Wilmington. (where DR.. Peyton Hoge
is at the head of the association; Char
lesion. Savannah, Macon, Columbus,
Brunswick. Jacksonville, Atlanta, Ashe-
vile. Knoxville. Birmingham, Nashville,
Memphis, Louisville, Owenshoro. Nicks-
burg, Little Rock and San Antonio.
augusta and Atlanta started assoca-f
tions several years earlier
The method of organization and con-
duet is very simple The lyceum is simp-
liz Il permanent. cooperative club Of
200 300, 400 or more who "club to-
gethcr,m pay 50 annually to the board of
directors of the society and get lecturers
with the fund-snending the whole fund
for that purpose. With $50 members
eight lectures land entertainments. in
cluumg music of am educational char
acferl, can be given, and as each member
has two seats Mt every entertainment.
this makes each admission to the mems
her cost him only 3tT cents 16 adj
mission for the annual fee of So. With
800 members, 10 entertainments can be
given bringing the cost to - cents each
30 admissions for the S5l: if 400 mem
bers, Il entertainments, still further re
ducing the average cost of each. etc
In Augusta the membership is 600, Civ
ing 1S entertainments: in Richmond
something like 700; in Atlanta 500 tlim-
itetll: IN Nashville about TOO. etc With
very large membership il win thus be
seen, ii is possible to bring the cost Of
hearing the best lecturers in Raleigh to
very low point Each lyceum is a
local affair. independent from all other
similar associations, and governed by
local board entirely The work Of
the Southern Association this year and
last year has been supported financially
by the Southern Lyceum Bureau q
large lecture agency of Louisville, Ky,
hut has no connection with that agency.
nor has any lyceum, all being independ
enf societies.
IT is possible. therefore. If an associa-
fion Is organized here that such men
MS Justin Mccarthy. George KEENAN,.
Hamilton Mabie. and others of that class
win be heard here this winter ne -
cents-lf a club ef 800 is formed: or mt
about 20 cents If the Climb membership
can be run mp 10 $50 or 400. It is usual
for the lectures 10 be heard only by
members or those presenting members
cards. making the attendance exclusive.
though the books would be open 20 all
persons who might wish to enroll MP to
specified time. A number OF leading
men here viii probably take hold of this
matter for the public good.