The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-28
BIG FACTOR FOR
POPULAR J !! CULTURE
FREE ENTERTAINMENTS AT NEW
AUDITORIUM INDoRsED.

| !
A Central Organization Suggested to
- Provide the Necessary Funds and
to Lay out the Programs Music.
Would Be the Leading Feature OF
the Courses ..5s 81 ....s +:
The suggestion that, the free use OF
the auditorium building offered once
a week by the Northwestern National
Life Insurance. company might be
made the basis for the organization OF
splendid public lyceum which would
provide wholesome entertainment and
popular EDUCATIONAL facilities for
adults has met with hearty ndorse-
ment. 3,H IS: e. Is Is :sfS4t
i think the plan is a splendid one
said Professor. Maria Sanford. One
Of the serious flaws in our: educational
system is that we turn out from our.
schools great throngs Of young people
wholly or partially awakened to their
own intellectual posi- bilities and pro-
vide them no means for their con-.
tinued development. Even, those album
dainty able financially to: provide adj.
vantages for themselves need direc-.
ton, and there are many whose ex-
penditures to satisfy their desire for
the higher life must be restricted. The
only solution offered for. adult educa-,
ton is the public library, and there
are many well educated people who
have not yet solved the problem OF
adyantageo usly using books unaided.""
IT think properly planned lectures
and courses would double the useful
ness Of the, public library for adults.
for they would stimulate study IN use
full lines. The two factors could work
together admirably in doing q great
work for the city. I think the people
are ready and eager for such oppor-
ception=o of such.a plan can readily be
| answered by the experience of ST. Paul
with course Of popular lectures
given this winter thru private gen
crosby at the Bethel. The, patronage
has grown to such, an extent that now
/ it taxes the utmost capacity Of the
building. This is not for "a few lee
lures, but for, a course covering the
whole season. is&' .:rS IA &
Eyes, decidedly, approve Of any
4 move in this direction, and will give
4 it my heartiest support. !" Y. <...l.E (.
4 4: Teachers Club Approves.
4 The Teachers clubsideal has been to
aid in all movements looking to the
betterment OF citizenship. and Mrs.
Harrison, president of the club, ex-
pressed her belief that the club could
be numbered among the active: sup
I porters of popular 5lyceum plan. The
club has several times given sinnpor-
1 tant lecture courses at very low prices,
er program Of this sort, fine lectures
for a merely nominal fee. The very
| ready support given to such plans and
/ others of a similar: nature carried out
4 by the Improvement league answer
y the objection made by some that It
is by no means certain that there
would be a sufficient patronage to
warrant the necessary outlay Of time
i and money :. !. - 4. -
I The experience Of other cities in
! similar lyceum plans Is that they have
been welcomed eagerly and in Mime
4 apolis the lecturers and musicals pro-
vided at the settlements and other
! social centers in the crowded districts
always draw big audiences. Mime
|iapolis. is very m UGH behind most, cities
i Of its. class in~the provision it$rnakes
i for adult education and this plan gives
promise Of filling "a noticeable gap In
the intellectual life Of the city. Tn
many cities the board = OF education
provides courses Of popular, education-
al lectures and the desire has been
frequently expressed that some SINH
lar plan should be put into operation
i In Minneapolis. The plan of a CEN
;, trail lyceu1n would be much easier to
manage anu IIlS SAQSllSc -tSWOQN Ue
much less, so this plan might well OBJ.
Viate the need for the other provision
J for free lectures in a city no. larger
than minneapolis for a. considerable
period at least. BEL 81 =*;S. &
The university affords excellent ma.
4 teriafEt to draw son for: ecturers, in its
}, scienti ffc, historic conomic and liter.
; ary departments, and many = of the
university men have In the past gWer
much time and thought to the prob,
lem Of popular lectures and swoulc
!, welcome an opportunity Of helping tt
I build up an increased interest in. ane
s knowledge Of these, topics. which car
be handled satisfac orilyt from. the lee
|ture platform. II ssi:t Il $3.50 s:,,..$, i,
It is generally agreed that the back
!, tbone Of any entertainment plans
should be musical, both because public
interest. in this form OF culture Is al
q ready more developed than in an.
t other line and because Of it's i'm
: portant and refining Influence and. a
9 a. 8 means 4 ..fof n giving i WHOLESOME
q pleasure. Once. successfully /, in
e augurated co-operat ton In carrying 4
: forward: in the most valuable kind q
9 q way might reasonably be explecte'
n Of the organizati ION. whose purpose
y f1ndam entally education. -