The Norfolk Virginian

To Be Established in Thirty-Six of the
Largest Southern Cities.

NORFOLK TO ENTER THE GREAT CIRCUIT
The Initial Steps Taken at a Meeting
Held Last Night at the Public Library
Building--Something About
the Work, Its Objects and
Aims-
Another Meeting Called.

Through correspondence by prominent
gentlemen in other cities who have seen
the advantage of it, with a number of
gentlemen in Norfolk interested in such
work, a proposition was recently made
to organize in Norfolk a Southern Co-
operative Lyceum Bureau, whereby our
citizens might enjoy lectures by
the
best lecturers of America and Europe
at a cost likely to be less than 20 cents
each. The proposition in brief is that
branches of the lyceum be organized in
the following thirty-six Southern cities:

LYCEUMS TO BE ORGANIZED
Norfolk, Richmond, Lynchburg, Ral-
eigh, Wilmington, Charlotte, Columbia,
Charleston, Augusta (organized), Savan-
nah, Macon, Columbus, Atlanta (organ-
ized), Jacksonville, Birmingham, Mont-
gomery, Mobile, Louisville, Lexington,
Chattanooga,
Knoxville, Nashville,
Memphis, Little Rock, Hot Springs,
Meridian, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, New
Orleans, Galveston, Houston, Dallas,
Fort Worth, Waco, Austin and San
Antonio, the work having already been
done in several of these cities.

The form of organizations which the
association will promote is the co-opera-
tive or non-profit order. Among those
who are at the head of the movement
are Bishop C. B. Galloway, of Mississip-
pi; A. H. Belo, of the Dallas and Gal-
veston (Texas) News; the Rev. Sam P.
Jones, Thomas Nelson Page, Governor
Bob Taylor of Tennessee, William Pres-
ston Johnston, of Tulane University, La.:
J. L. M. Curry, the Hon. William L. Wil-
son, ex-Postmaster General and now
president of Washington and Lee Uni-
versity; Frank L. Stanton, the poet; ex-
United States Senator Patrick Walsh
and others.

The Hon. Henry Watterson is presi-
dent, General John B. Gordon, vice-pres-
ident; H. C. Middleton, secretary of the
Southern Lyceum association.

AMONG THE LECTURERS
Who will be brought to the South from
year to year to these associations, be-
sides the leading authors, travelers,
scientists and orators of the time will be
men like Dr. T. De Witt Talmage, Mark
Twain, Lew Wallace, Hamilton Mabie,
Hopkinson Smith, George Kennan,
Thomas Dixon, Jr., Dr. Parkhurst, Max
O'Rell, Marion Crawford, James Whit-
comb Riley, George W. Cable, Russell
Conwell, Maurice Thompson, John Fox,
Eli Perkins, Robert J. Burdette; men
from abroad like Conan Doyle, Ian Mac-
laren, Sir Edwin Arnold, Stanley, Justin
McCarthy, and others.

This large Southern work arises from
the phenomenal success of the work at
Augusta and Atlanta for the past three
or four years. Augusta's Lyceum was
organized four years ago, and now the
people hear from twelve to fifteen of
the leading men of the times at a cost
of only 16 2-3 cents admission. Next year
the membership will increase to give an
audience of about 1,000, when the cost
will come down to about 12 cents. The
educational effect upon the community
has been incalculable.

A MEETING CALLED
Last night a meeting of some of Nor-
folk's most prominent and public spirit-
ed gentlemen, to whose attention
the
matter of organizing the lyceum
had
been called, took place at the Norfolk
public library rooms, on Granby street.
At this meeting, quite largely attended,
the initial steps in the organization were
taken, and the objects of it heartily ap-
proved.

It being the desire however of those
present to enlist in the cause every lady
and gentleman in Norfolk and the cities
about her, the permanent organization
was deferred until the meeting called for
next Saturday night at 8:30 p. m., at the
library, that all might have a voice in
the election of officers.

A BROAD PUBLIC SPIRIT
The broadest public spirit was evinced
by those present at the meeting. It
was the evident general desire that
every citizen of Norfolk and her sister
cities should come to the meeting next
Saturday night and have a voice in the
organization of this really great work.
The press was asked to invite them,
and to aid in the work. The Virginian
is pledged to do its utmost, and will. If
any lady or gentleman in the cities men-
tioned fails to take part in the organiza-
tion it will be their fault alone, for they
are here asked and urged to attend the
meeting and the press is so advised by
those interested.

A COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
An invitation committee was appoint-
ed last night, consisting of the following
gentlemen: Messrs. Myers, Sargent,
Sams, Dobie, Bagnall and Glennan, who
have instructed the press to issue the
general invitation mentioned above.
The great enterprise is to be launched
at the public meeting next Saturday
night at the library, although it possible
that a larger hall will have to be se-
cured in order to hold the very large
audience expected, in which case notice
will be given.

IN UNION-STRENGTH.
The co-operation of a large number
will make it possible for our people
to hear these famous lecturers at a nom-
inal cost--a few cents. Never was co-
operation more necessary or more profita-
ble.

The attendance at the next meeting
will demonstrate whether public spirit
and intellectual desire are alive in Nor-
folk. The Virginian feels--yes, knows,
that they are, and that the meeting will
be indeed an evidence of it.