Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-08-22
The Lyceum of Our Town.
By Judge A. s. Peacock.


Wa-Keeney Kansas, away out in
the shortgrass country. Our
town is incorporated and is
therefore, a city, as under the
laws Of this state, villages and
hamlets are unknown, or at best
not worth the trouble attendant
upon organization. Our town is
county seat and has a popula
tioa of seven hundred souls, and
q few kickers. 1t is situated in
the midst of a country three
fourths as large as the state of
Rhode Island but having an
average density of population
of only five persons per square
mile, including the undesirables
aforementioned. And yet, for
all this our town has maintained
a Lyceum course which pays.
Perhaps some other community,
similarly situated, would like to
know how it has been done; may
be now venturing upon a course,
or having gone in the hole may
want to know how to get out.
All of which is within our
experience.
Our town bought it's first
course, consisting of five mem
i bers, four years ago. 1t was
backed by three of the best men
of the place, but the net result
was a deficit of about seventy
dollars plus beginning. The
causes contributed to the none
tary loss may be catalogued as
II
n financially responsible, or in
terested; too little missionary
n work done; too little advertising;
too close organization; and the
\ people had not yet required the
RLyceum habit Also the prices
|lwere too low, and there was too
klittle difference between the cost
Iof five single admissions and the
Iprice of season ticket.
Il twenty-five men signed the
contract for the second course of
Ikive members, each signer being
.1 Considered a member of the
Iiiarger committee and holding
y himself responsible for the
4lnd ready to bear a proportion
tie share of his loss, should any
4 Eccur. They organized by the
lection of a chairman; secretary
nd treasurer; a publicity agent
Whose stunt was the writing of
preSS notices and the dating and
and distribution of advertising
matter; two ticket agents, one
for advance sales and one for
Aoor sales; a doorkeeper and
faur uSherS to preserve order
I'd accommodate patron. Sea-
p tickets were priced at two
liars for adults. in general,
one dollar and fifty cents for
bills of the public schools, re
Hess of size or age. Single
issions were fifty and thirty
cents, respectively. The
spts of the second course
led the committee to reim-
the men who lost on the
Venture, and still have sur
sufficient to pay for the first
Ter of the third course.
price of tickets establish
the second course still
II, but sixth number was
-. ito the third course, with
He'd expense to holders of
tickets, and two extras"
given them during the
Year. The committee is
hized year by year on the
IN aopted for the second
except that to the three
Eentioned officers two
nembers are added to
b Executive committee
Iii hority to add extra num-
he course when the con-
the treasury warrants
81 expense. Now at the
the fourth season, a
exhibit just published
hl papers show receipts
irsements, and a com
III surpluS. Under these
noes it is no trouble to
IN aSible men to sign con-
it is easy to sell tick
lie who know that they
sue received; who know
mes of their money;
that extra dollors
numbers. Give more
re-
gwn everybody, even
nd tho whole Rlanlx