The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-28
SOCIETY AND HOME TOPICS FOR WOMEN
MT. Earl Barnes Talks About His Work Which Has to
 Do With Public Opinion As An Asset 10 Conlnunit,
 By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

Among the distinguished lecturers who each season for the past eight years have appeared in Birmingham under the auspices of the board of education at the Central High school lie perhaps none has come before the public with more delightful and charm ing encomiums of praise in his behalf than MT. Earl Barnes. who during the present week is giving a series of lectures in the afternoons on The Psychology of Childhood" and in the evenings on "out Of School Educa- tional Problems.
 MT. Barnes is a man of striking per sonality-a scholar and a think er-a man who has given the best part of his life, in fact, practically his whole life, to study travel and teaching and his knowledge is not confined to any one subject but rather to universal things. the excellent training and splendid advantages he has had placing him in a position to store his mind with unusual and interesting sub jects.
 Mir. Barnes is native New Yorker and was educated in that state. later attending the Indiana State university where he was a college mate and in- innate friend of MT. William Howard Griggs, who has frequently lecturea here under the most pleasing auspices
 After that MT. Barnes accepted the chair of pedagogy in the Leland Stan ford university. where for five years he was a distinguished member of the faculty of that great institution.
 MT. Barnes is one of a group of half a dozen lecturers who are known from the United States to China.
 It is a field quite unique and n tt cverworked- as many others are. MT. Barnes Griggs and MT. Zubbelin be- ing among the most notable expon- ents.
 MT. Barnes has iectured in the uni, versailles of London, Oxford, Manches- ter, Leeds, the Welch universities ard other institutions in England, Scot land and Wales and for year in aG- vance now-including a six weeks ca- gagement at Chautauqua and later tour through the west, including the territory from California to Colorado
 every day is filled for this popular lecturer.
 It isn't easy to present in short story a very definite outline of a great work like MT. Barnes is doing end besides the humble interviewer feels somewhat handicapped when the
 
 Barnes keenly resented the statement when I made it yesterday and in- sisted that he was that only by repu- tation and that he was the lowest brow" imaginable when 1t came to that.
 q was more than pleased when my engagement this season called me to Bir- mingbam," Mir. Barnes said cordially. after our introduction. T had heard from my friend MT. Griggs of the cul- tured audiences and the spirit of hearty cooperation that is dominant in this community and after the two or three initial lectures I have given here I am delighted to say that I find that every thing he has said of Birmingham audi ences is correct.
 My work, you understand MT. Barnes continued, lis a very simple thing having to do merely with the shaping of public opinion. I call it lay preaching. Public opinion is the greatest thing in the world; it is greater than the law, because without public opinion the law could not be enforced. It is as great a public asset as good schools good indus trial conditions and good health.'
 What lines particularly does your work involve?" I asked
 Not along abstract lines. but on lines of vital interest to a community MT. Barnes replied, 'and there are always three things that appeal to everybody: religion, sex and property. and if you want to assist in shaping pun;;c opinion you've got to touch on these three prob lens, these three themes in other words, any striking personalities thar affect the public mind in regard to religion, men and women, or property without too much disturbing vested interests are deeply educational. What's the use of