The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
In THE EARLY DAYS
"LITERARY"DAYS
HERE NO MORE
Famous Friday Night Sessions
Are Events of the Past.
Too Many Other Attractions for
the Younger Generations.
FIRST THERE FIRST SERVED
Young Men Didn't Make Dates
Then; They Went After Her.
Old Time Questions for Debate
We're OyerwOrked.
Famous Friday Night Sessions
Are Events of the Past.
Too Many Other Attractions fol
the Younger Generations.
FIRST THERE FIRST SERVED
Young Men Didn't Make Dates
Then; They Went After Her.

Tho old country Literary Is pass
;r- avyev but memories of it finger
.n,ony those who participated in the
old Friday night school house meet
trgs Several years ago it was an IN
s+itu+ion AGAINST which no other meet
inc could successfully compete. But
.ha younger generation of Kansas
r,rroers is YEARLY having fewer oppor-
tunities Of getting in the literary meet
ing. the practice that enabled the pre-
cadine generation to come to the state
LEGISLATURE and hold its own with the
city representation
state Senator ]. ". Howe OF ADJ
lane now secretary of the state ooaro
~ control. is one of the generation
that Witnessed the .Literary's popU-
laritv wane. Senator Howe was
member and officer in several socle-
ties and in a story based on PERSONA
e,,oeriences. he describes the instltu-
tion in its palmiest days
He writes for the State Journal as
follows: a +v,artv
,.sa Rs ago when we all attehueu any, ny.
participated in the county Lyeeuii he
Those who attended. remember Ine
GOOD times we had. Those VINO never
attended. DO not realize what they
missed Generally speaking tHe 80
ciettes we're called "Literarles' puI
o,ch local society used the WoIA
IT ,,[e,1r, - 10 indicate they We're Just
a ifrtte HIGHER than their nelShpo-s'
~, rnsr together in the school mouse
If the next district HHndreus %
these little country school houses II.
Kansas-and 10 doubt in many othes
erares-yvere the meeting places OF
y
1IstiaUv held on Friday evening anu
- rho event of the week starting
in autumn. when the fall farm Work
was done. and continuing until farm
work started in the spring these IL
ora 1.iess'= were one Of the real joys o.
country life They always drew
cr0wd-rhe only thing that Kept Peo-
ple away was a big blizzard.
hans the "Lyceum Appeared mus
strongly to the boys and girls just pc
--innir7c- to get sweet on each other
YOU know then is the time you me
10 shine before your IDEAL Ahese
bovs and girls gave a good snare OF
the program. although their younger
sisters and brothers. and, occasionally
the older folk were honoreu viii d
that set forth the evening enter 0diii
ment.
To Miss a Disappointment.
To miss one Of these weekly meet
ines was as great a disappointment
as il now is to miss a celebrated drama
that has drawn immense crowds II
New York for six months, or
movie" that comes with a country
wide reputation for "9ne day, posi-
tiveIv one day. only" From all the
surrounding country came the crowd.
Many who lived within mile OF the
Literary walked. others drove
coming from two to ten miles Bug
even lumber wagons were pressed into
service. The young man with his eX-
ira fast driving horse and his Stude-
baker (Studebaker stood for buggy
not automobile. them was always in
evidence especially SO if the buggy
sbone with new varnish or from re-
cent washing. Perhaps he drove a
few miles to pick UP the girl OF his
choice. or perhaps he came direct 10
the school house, with the hope OF
getting an opportunity to take her
home Dates were seldom made IN
advance. then. When a young man
desired a young lady's company. he
went directly to her home. Perhaps
some rival had got there first, but a
chance like that had TO be taken in
those days of no telephones. 1t was
a safe bet that a young man had lost
if YOU saw him driving away from the
young ladys home, with vacant
seat beside him.
Nothing Interfered.
No parties. no political meetings, no
prayer meetings, no singing schools
were ever permitted to interfere with
the ..Lyceum" and even revival meet
inss. Ofttimes held in the little old
red schooIhouse, had to fight to hold
the schooIhouse that evening. Even
better than this seldom was boy OF
girl kept in after school on these
evenings. Everything had to give way
for the Literary" The country boy
would hurry through his chores or
Friday evening, as the greatest pun
ishment that could be melted out &c
him was to be kept home from the
"Lyceum.' The father and mother
never imposed any extra burdens upOr
the young people on that night Il
was, in truth, the real night
The officers consisted Of a presi
dent vice president. and secretary
and program committee. The pro
ton by one or two boys OF
girls The schoolhouse organ
was put in use. and the best singer
of the community would sing n song
Some one or two young men could al
ways be counted upon to furnish
selection on the fiddle" This would
be followed by the reading of tn,
Literary Herald" the Lyceum paper
which was always full of local jokes
dealing principally with humorou
events VI NAA0 WCNhs anu every yuma
man who had the nerve 10 get
sweetheart would come in for nj
share of jibes and roasts by the edi
tors. The Herald" was the main fea
ture Of the program. Perhaps SOM
one would get offended, but seldom
would they as the next week n,
doubt would give them an opportunit,
of getting even" 1t was great sport
The "Herald"-weH written and wei
read was much better entertainment
man the stale vaudeville Jokes W
hear at the theaters now, or the com
- sfnff for which the actors ar