The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-02
SitiG,6iGiIGl,iACiGiGiGiGE
: HER POINT OF VIEW 8.
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Scranton people, as a rule, have to
pay too dear for their whistles. That
may not be an exceptionally elegant
sentiment, but it was Benjamin Frank.
Inns originally and therefore should
be good enough for Pennsylvania.
Everything is costly here; rents, mar
ket produce, amusemcnts, schools, re-
ligion and even the poor-house may
be included In the list Of expensive ne
cessities if not luXurles. Among the
most costly things are the intellectual
ad antages in the way OF lectures end
talks. 1t does not appear to have en-
tered into the head of a Scranton per-
son that famous poet, great speak,
er. popular novelist can be brought
here except as in the interests of
some charity. 1t hasn't occurred to
our most enterprising ladies' that
course of lectures could be patroni2od
unless under the auspices of some
popular movement, mission, a
church, an orphans home or a hos
pital. The idea Of asking people to
buy tickets for series of talks with
out the argument of aiding some OF
the above mentioned objects would be
preposterous. People are not supposed
in Scranton to go TO hear art lectures
or hear talks or readings, except as
they are induced to do so by the plea
of the charity involved. any more than
they could be pursuaded to take a
nauseous pill that w2s not sugar coat
ed or gelatire capsUled. Such things
may be done in other towns, but not
in this. Here they are believed to be
deaf to the demands of the church
trustees for extra funds unless a sup
per worth a half dollar is promised
them for 25 cents. They are supposed
to buy tickets for fine concert or
great lecture largely because Mrs. x
demands that they shall take them
and Mrs. Y is lavish patron of their
particular line of business and must
not be offended. Hence they pay big
prices for the ticket and with surrer-
titious groans say, "Oh, well, it helps
such or such n good cause"
The fact is that the people of Scran-
ton are undcrcstimated as far as the
desire for culture and intellectual ad-
vancement is concerned. They like art
and music and literature for their own
sake, but it is n melancholy truth that
there is such a constant, wearisome,
nagging cry of give, give. give" that
business men and every body else have
grown used to the accepted state of
affairs and naturally ask at once when
approached to buy tickets. For what
is it to be the genefit."
1t would be so much more satisfac-
on1t Of 100
could be instituted ana people could
be encouraged to give systematically
to the charities without the circumlo-
cution of so many lectures and then
bring the famous writer's and speakers
and readers here at merely the expense
Of the affair, and with no idea of a
profit which must be made, thus SELL
irg tickets at lower rates, giving mora
people the opportunity of attendance.
To many who enjoy the best that can
be afforded in an intellectual way, the
sum of Is cents for a ticket, particu-
.arly when the demands are so many g
more than can be afforded. If a
course comprising four or five great
names We're provided at the rate of
from thirty-flve to fifty cents each the
objection would not exist. In most
cities such series are presented week
after week. For instance, there is f.
Hopkinson Smith. He comes high
$3.50 a night; but if only the expenses
were to be counted and nothing needed
to go toward something else it would
be the easiest thing in the world to
bring together an enormous audience
to hear him, for the tickets could be
placed within the reach of the multi
tude. AS 1t is, only a few people can
afford to hear everything of a high
order which comes to the city and
even they find it great drain on their
incomes to meet the demands which
are continually being made upon them.
If only we would do some work for
the pure intellectual reward, and to
be willing to merely clear expenses we
could have course after course of the
finest lectures in the world every win
ter, for we could bring in new ele-
ment, a class which has just as many
aspirations, just as much mental
hunger and taste, as now make up the
representative audiences of the city.
The great difficulty is that we are all
too grasoing. We want to make a lot
OF money, not perhaps for ourselves,
most laudable idea, but which in all
its complications tends to dwarf our
mental growth. BY all means let the
charities, the churches, the poor be
provided for. but also let us have more
intellectual stimulus at popular prices.
Put the rates within the reach of thu
eachcrs-althouGh poor things, they
wouldn't get chance to attend in this
town owing to the mountains of exam
ination papers they have to mark out
of school hours, a task which fully oc-
cupies their nights and Sundays-but
there are other people who do have
leisure for mind Improvement and a
yearning for intellectual uplifting, who
would be glad to receive such a stimu-
lus if it could be brought within their
means.
Sometimes we call it an over-ruling
Providence, sometimes destiny, some
times luck-sometimes we say sit Just
happens" Many of us disdain the
idea of fore-ordination, or that ones
life is apportioned out like a slender
thread, and when the allotted limit is
reached, Atropus, sitting by with
bowed head, swiftly sewers the filament
releasing the soul. Rather generally
we are apt to declare that we do not
believe in the theory that the hour
and the day of mans death is fixed
for all time, but occasionally comes d
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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