Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-03

AtlltiiIetI NlAAH1AAos ot1AlAldlAOI anu ny
giene.
Usually the same people attend GER
tain center year in and year out, but
the circulation of notice that there
will be lecture, for example, on
Switzerland, will find a general gather
ing of the people of that nation from
all over the city to hear again stories
of the home land. More than once as
pictures of southern Europe are. shown
one can hear in italian or French or
Greek a half sobbing exclamation of
recognition. Six years ago there We're
six lectures given in French by dis
tinguished lecturers from France. Dur
ing the past year a series was given in
German. In this closing year the lee
lures have ranged anywhere from
Shakespeare's gentlemen and the eVo-
luton of the Dutch nation to city adj
ministration and Wagner's operas;
from electricity and magnetism, wire
less telegraphy and the making of coal
tar dyes to crises in American history
and travels through the entire known
world.
And all this. remember, is without
money and without price to any and all
who care to attend. The lectures are
advertised as widely and as carefully
by those in charge as is any high
priced theater attraction by the most
Jealous advertising agent. The news
papers give liberal space, and printed
announcements of each lecture ares
spread far and wide. For each lecture
center a bulletin has been printed, CIV
ing the location of the lecture hall, the
dates of the lectures and the names of
the lecturers. On each Is also printed
the titles of reference books that will
help in understanding the lecture, and
the location of the nearest libraries.
The public libraries enter most heartily
f-fk
books for distribution. Large placard
announcements are put in shops, fac
tories and public buildings, and every
means possible is used to attract the
attention of the people toward the lee
lures.
Not only is the foreign element, but
often the native one-ignorant of the
history and government of the city in
which it lives. So very wisely, on the
two hundred and fftieth anniversary
of the founding of New York as a
municipality, a supplementary course
Of lectures on the history of New York
was given in nearly half the centers.
and in thirty outdoor exhibitions in the
city parks, about 331, 900 people attend
ing. Legal holidays have often been
chosen as lecture days, with the story
of the day told, and birthdays of great
men have been commemorated by spe-
cial lectures. Scientists have gone be-
fore these audiences to tell of new dis
coveries; explorers to tell of the ardu-
Gus journeys they have made; authors
to tell of their work; scholars to tell of
the old world literature; art lovers and
nature lovers with pictures galore to
throw on the screens; physicians tell
ing of the care of the body and its
health with specific instructions re-
garding the contagion of diseases and
the cure of tuberculosis. After every
no of q
the end of certain courses examinations
are held for those who wish them.
In Chicago the free lectures for the
adult population are given by the Chi
cago Daily News. That paper rents
from the Chicago board of education
the assembly halls of public schools in
various parts of the city, and on FRI
day nights throws these open to the
general public when lectures are given
primarily as a form of entertainment.
and secondarily as a means of educa-
ton. The aim is to get wholly adult
attendance but some of the parents
have to bring their children. There are
eighteen centers open every Friday
night from october or November to
June, and the total number of lectures
given a year is now 300.
The Chicago News began this work
in 1902, giving only ninety lectures that
II.
lectures and the attendance have more
than trebled. The halls, rented for the
lectures, seat from 500 to 800 persons,
and being model fireproof, well venti-
lated, well lighted and fitted with fold
ing chairs, they are attractive centers
for appreciatlve audiences to gather In.
The speakers are citizens of Chicago
who volunteer for the good work, and
all expenses incidental to this move
ment are borne by the News
A few, too few, cities have followed
New York in having public lectures for
adults in connection with the school
system. A lecture bureau was main
tanned for awhile in connection with
the Boston school committee, but was
discontinued. The superintendent OF
schools in Philadelphia has recommend
ed the adoption of this lecture system,
and the matter has been brought up In
Toronto. The Rochester Teachers assoc
citation is conducting a course of lee
lures, aided financially by the board or
education. The course this year in
cludes special lectures for teachers and
lectures on literature and music. Other
cities have free lecture courses in no
way connected with the schools or their
educational system, on the order OF the
Cooper Union of New York. with It's
free lecture system open for the masses
since 1852 and it's free classes In art,
applied science and literature. The
Goodwin institute of Memphis is one
of the latest additions to the free lee
ture halls of the country.
Some other municipal school systems
NAV realize as New York has done that
the words Of Daniel Webster have
potent meaning: ION the diffusion or
education among the people rests the
preservation and perpetuation of our
free institutions. Make them intelli-
gent and they will be vigilant." The
adult mind hungers for instruction just
as keenly as the young one and
through lectures the busy people of the
work-a day world can best be reached.
copyright, 1909, by Frederic J. Hastin)
Tomorrow-The Library of Congress.
see mothers, as they gather around