The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10

- lSSU-9l, talked 10 llU audiences, VINO
paid s2S7O70 to hear and see him. He
took back to England a net profit of $780,
900. or $1,000 lecture. This was nine
teen years after he found Livingstone but
he had just explored Africa a third time
and great was his fame.
Charles Dickens came here in 1867 in
some trepidation because of the fun he had
had at our expense in american Notes
and Martin Chuzzlewit." He caught cold
and endured the continuous discomfort of
what he called 1.-The true American ca
tarrh." but he gave seventy-six readings,
the gross receipts of which were s22S.000
and the average $4,000 an evening. After
every expense was paid his personal net
profit was fI9. 900. or $685. in our money.
as pound sterling was worth 81 at that
time His gain would have been larger if
he had been willing to accept United States
currency. Doubtful of it, he converted
the currency into gold. then at premium
of 1914 per cent.
These records, Stanley's and Dickens's
have never been equaled on the lecture
platform, although among the lions that
have come to roar upon our shores since
then have been many of distinction. The
foreign invasion has been steady and, we
may assume. profitable. for most Of the
visitors, having once confronted American
audiences and escaped with their lives and
checked the count at the box Offices have
been eager to return. But it is interesting
to note that the really Barnumesque earn
ings are not of the gilded present, but of
fifty-five years ago in the case of Dickens
and thirty-two in the case of Stanley. 1t
Is easily possible that few modern celeb
rites may have got more out of single
lecture or short series than the two here
mentioned. but none has come up to them
as regards sustained performance and total
winnings
Popular taste. say those enterprising
lecture agents who have to appraise it.
runs In cycles. The successful manager
has to be as good judge and interpreter
of shifting currents as a weather fore
caster. James B. Pend, whose father, the
Major, managed the tours of Henry Ward
Beecher, Matthew Arnold Mark Twain,
Bill Nye and many others, recalls that
before the war there was a long period in
which explorers and travellers were upper
most. This was the era of Peary Cook.
Paul Rainey. Buffalo Jones, Amundsen and
Commander Evans. who told the story of
Scott's tragic effort to reach the South
Pole. Concurrently there was, as Mr. Pond
views 1t. literary CYCLE" with visits from
Masefield. Alfred Moves. William Butler
Yeats. Lady Gregory and others This still
continues. but was most marked just be-
fore the war.
Before. during and since the war every
lecture manager Of large ambition has
tried to lure George Bernard Shaw to the
United States, and some of them haven't
given up yet. although 1t is understood now
that Shaw will never come any more than
Rudyard Kipling viii return. OF all the
foreigners who could enrich themselves
and their agents by merely dropping across
the Atlantic and opening their mouths
Shaw is regarded as the surest bet We
know of one specific offer made to him of
$500 apiece for eighteen lectures. which
he could easily give in a month If he chose,
and probably he has received higher bids
Shaw says he can't see any reason why he
should come to the United States In addi-
lion he regards himself as too elderly and,
more important. he doesn't need the money,
which. no matter what one hears to the
contrary. is what brings most of the gifted
aliens here.
George Moore. after resisting American
Establishments for half a lifetime, had
agreed just before the war to come to
America. but the submarines put him off.
and as he b now 50 years old 1t Is doubtful
if we shall see him in the flesh. The war
also stopped Maurice Hewlett from coming.