The Washington herald., 1910-03-20

MRS. |. G. PICKETT
Widow of Famous Southern
General to Lecture.
CIVIL WAR EVENTS HER THEME
Daily Talks on Keith Circuit VIII
Embrace Battle of Gettysburg,
mac, and Other SI<irmishes with
Which She Is Intimately Familiar.

Mrs. Lasalle corbeli Pickett, widow Of
the famous Confederate leader, Gen.
George E. Pickett. who led a charge at
Gettysburg that will ever have a place
in history. has accepted an offer 70 90 on
the stage.
She Will appear on the Keith circuit.
giving daily talks entitled Twenty Min
utes in History" These will embrace the
battle of Gettysburg. the battle between
the Monitor and Merrimac, and other
events of the civil war, with
which Mrs. Pickett became intimately
familiar.
AS a Chautauqua lecturer, in the last
few years she achieved distinct success.
Ovations were given her wherever she
appeared and veterans OF both blue and
gray Wed with each other in doing her
honor.
She has been the recipient Of letters
from governors and others in high public
station commencing her work in the most
cordial terms and urging her to continue
Il because of the splendid results It was
having tending to remove the last vestige
of sectional feeling.
Finally Accepts ofReF.
Mrs Pickett said yesterday she had had
this offer from Mr.. Keith under advise
ment for some weeks and in finally ac-
cepting II had acted upon the advice of
friends. Her first appearance under the
contract will be in Boston on March q
There was a period in tie evolution
OF the stage" she said, when amuse-
ment was the sole object OF the mimic
art People went to the theater to see
show merely for the entertainment af-
forded.
For a number OF years change has
been gradually taking place in the view
point of theater patrons. With the ever
quickening OF public intelli-
gence has come a deeper interest in the
real things OF life as portrayed upon the
stage. While the romantic. the anus
ing. the spectacular have not lost their
charm. there has been developed an
added desire for that which appeals to
thought
Notes Different Plays.
The age-worn strife between the
money center and the circle beyond the
rim of gold. where dwell those who are
down and out reached a crisis In latter
day conditions. and The Battle found
place among popular plays-not as deeid-
ing any question involved IN the awful
problem, but as presenting a few OF It's
many phases. The growing evil OF en-
forced and often false confessions Of
those arrested for crime aroused indig-
nation, and The Third Degree was put
against injustice incorporating In the
guise Of legal procedure. Subtle forms
OF mental responsiveness began to at
tract attention, and The Harvest Moon
shone IN golden splendor over the his
trionic world.
In line with this movement TO make
the stage an educational influence Of
wide extent. the management OF Keith's
theaters purpose to devote a few mo
ments OF their programme TO the con-
sideration Of realities-events that. hap
pening in the past. extend to the present
and reach forward to the future. In re-
Spouse 10 their request, have consented
TO give a short talk on history, treating
of events and characters that may ap-
peal 10 youth by the novelty OF the I'M
known and 20 age by the charm of the
once known and half for
gotten.
VIII UpIift Stage.
Though instruction Is not the prime
object of theatrical performances. the in
depreciation OF a serious subject may
lead from laughter TO thought. and help
of effort
'Life Is made up of smiles and sighs,
Of laughter and tears, OF heights of as
piration and depths of failure which may
be no less sublime. In so far as the
mimic life of the stage reflects the great
world-life 1t fulfills IT'S highest mission
and becomes a dominant force In the
development of intellectual and moral
power
Mrs. Pickett was sitting at table in
her room. On the wall at one side OF
her hung the portrait of her husband.
Gen. George E. Pickett, in his Confed-
crate uniform. wreathed in evergreen,
which she keeps perpetually verdant, the
Confederate colors at one side, with the
lines: THE warriors banner takes its
flight to meet the warriors soul" On
the other side was the portrait Of her
son, Mai George E. Pickett. u. S. A.
painted in the colonel's uniform which
he wore when on the staff of Gov. Tyler.
of Virginia. She was answering the piles
of letters and kilograms of congratulation
which had come 10 her in response to the
announcement Of her new departure. Her
work has been greatly varied. including
the writing of books. magazine articles.
and stories, editorials, &c.
Interested in Career.
In reply to questions, she showed tele-
grams from governors of States. presi-
dents of colleges and many others high
in public and educational life. all indI-
eating the deep interest with which Mrs.
Pickett's professional career is observed.
Mrs. Pickett has given hundreds of lee
West, and the high eneomiums of both
public press and private hearers abun-
dainty testify to the success Of her work,
there being not a dissenting voice any
where as to the beauty and power Of her
lectures in both composition and delivery.
AS to her own attitude to her public
1t is well shown by the pleas
ure she feels in an incident that occurred
after one Of her lectures In Missouri, a
graphic description of which was printed
In the papers of that time. Among
the crowd who pressed up to take her by
the hand were two old men, formerly
one in the Southern, the other in
the Northern Army. Unlike most vet
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