Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

dispute or any sort, although / have
known of several occasions when he has
been very badly treated. Nor will be al
low us to engage in dispute over receipts
and settlements on his account"
Other Popular Lecturers.
who Is next in popularity among Amer
lean lecturers?" 1 asked Mr.. Wagner
Maud Ballington Booth" he answered
promptly. Although she does not speak
so often as Mr.. Bryan, her receipts will
average, quite as much as his, and every
dollar she earns is expended in her prison
relief work. She is a noble and a beauti-
full woman. and the greatest favorite upon
the American platform.
Mrs. Florence Maybrick. who was re-
Gently released from a British prison
after serving fifteen years sentence on a
charge of having poisoned her husband,
is proving to be a very successful plat
form speaker. She is winning great popu-
larity. She has made good impression
everywhere. She is a woman of remark
able talents and character. She has a
fine stage presence, an admirable deliv-
cry, and has a message to the American
people which is intensely interesting. She
speaks for prison reform. She has visited
twenty prisons in the United States, has
thoroughly inspected every one of them
and makes personal references to them
in her lectures, which brings the subject
of prison reform directly home to the
people.
DIR. Frank Gunsaulus of Chicago and
DR.. Hills of Brooklyn retain their popu-
larity and are always in demand for all
the dates they are able to fill. l could
double the number of their engagements
every year if they would permit me to
do SO. and they command the highest
prices.
Gov. ]. Frank Hanley of Indiana, how
ever, is the best all-round lecturer among
public men," continued Mr.. Wagner. IF
he were absolutely unknown the strength
of his lecture would make him a success
and give him an unusual reputation the
first season. He spoke at a large num-
Der of chautauquas last summer on The
Patriotism of Peace and has the dis
tinction of receiving more return invita-
lions than any man who has ever been
on our list except Mr.. Bryan and the late
Sam Jones of Georgia.
Objections to Tillman.
81 understand you have dropped Till
man.
Yes we had to drop Senator Till
man. said Mr.. Wagner. I'VE declined to
act as his agents any longer because We
cannot approve his methods or his man
ners or language upon the platform. He
is always in demand he always draws large
audiences, and has made a great deal of
money lecturing; but wherever he speaks
he creates a sensation and a controversy,
and sometimes a riot is threatened. He
provokes the public temper and often his
audiences are furious with him. The COM
mittees always complain of him and
everywhere he speaks there are public
protests against his language and be-
havior.
There is a unique lecture course at
Kewanee, Ill.," said Mr.. Wagner, sup
ported by President Hewitt of the West
ern Tube Works. That company en-
ploys 300 men and does a great deal for
their instruction and entertainment. They
have an auditorium seating exactly that
number of people. in which they have a
course Of five lectures every season. He
engages the best talent he can get and ad-
mission is free to employees of the COM
pany.
There is an endowed lecture course
at New Harmony, Ind, the old Rappite
Community founded by Robert Dale
Owen. Some prominent member left
legacy which yields sufficient interest to
pay for ten or fifteen lectures a year.
The admission is free, although 5 and 10
cents are charged for reserved seats.
That and one at Concord. N. H, are the
only endowed lecture courses 1 know of
in America"