The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-12

Tuesday afternoon fourteen dele
gates representing almost every VII
lage Improvement association in the
county met at the home of Mrs. Il. l..
Wyman, Manchester Tor conference
Many things of vital interest were
considered and all voted to have these
conferences repeated.
One of the things discussed and APP
proved of by all was a County lyceum.
The White Entertainment Bureau OF
Boston was represented by Mr.. Britt,
and communications had also been
received from other first class enter
tainers and eminent men. The scheme
is TO have a company or lecturer
come to the County and spend from
four to six successive days in the
County. The White Entertainment
Bureau practically cut the prices OF
their entertainments in two. Ernest
Harold Baynes, who is one OF the
ablest and most entertaining natural
lists in America, says in part regard
ing this lyceum, in response to a let
ter from Secretary, 81 think that your
idea of a County Lyceum is a bully
one and ! hope that | may be able TO
take part in it. / will offer you my
lowest possible terms because ] see
in your proposed course o good OPP
portunity for spreading the gospel OF
bird protection and love of animals
generally" Mr.. Baynes was asked
whether he would speak to the child
rem either in the forenoon or after
noon of the days that he was to give
the evening entertainment. The idea
is to give the pupils in our public
schools the opportunity of hearing
these fine naturalists. They have
tried this in some places and here is
what the Superintendent of schools
in Concord, Mass, says after telling
Mr.. Baynes of the organization Of
three-bird clubs which they had form
ed in the schools and the splendid
work done by these clubs for the
birds: 81 believe it is honestly due
you that | should say believe your
three lecturers given here last winter
have done more to inspire the boys
and girls with a sensible attitude
toward animal nature than all the
teaching we could possibly do in the
schools, and | congratulate you upon
the success in actual results from
these three lectures"
Mr. Baynes is willing to come to
the County for five successive nights,
give FIVE talks to school children and
five entertainments, giving practical
ly twelve lectures for $50. He says,
II often receive that fee for single
one" In view Of this he says, II
should reserve the privilege of max
ing the subject "The Attraction and
Protection of Wild Birds" a feature
of one of the two talks in each town.
This is in accordance with my hope
to have New England take an active
part in the great national movement
for the protection of our native wild
birds"
The other matters that were TAX
en- up at this conference were:
No. .; The Pilgrim Girls, musical
number
No. 3: A Monologist, such as the
Man from Home.
No. 4: Mr.. ID. H. Winslow, subject,
Humorous Experiences in Road
Building.
No. 5 A composite program made
up of all the villages that go into
this lyceum. Each village is to fur
nish about 20 minutes on the compos
lite program. They are to give the
best. most interesting, or funniest
thing they can produce in twenty min
utes.
If there are any other organizations
that were overlooked because of the
haste with which this was gotten to
gether on account of the closing OF
the dates of these entertainments
that care to go into this course kindly
communicate with ]. A. Scheuerle
Manchester, VT.