LYCEUM (Latin, from the Greek Lykeion the great gymnasium of ancient Athens), a school of higher education preparatory to the work of the university; and in a secondary sense, a public building or hall in which lectures of a scientific and informative nature are given. A later meaning of the word, which has, in the United States and Canada pretty nearly sup planted its more primitive significations, is that of an association for literary and educational improvement. The American Scientific Lyceum was the idea of Josiah Holbrook of Derby, Conn., who, in 1826, organized the '
It and the State and town lyceums bequeathed to the American people educational, literary and other associations, lecture bureaus, scientific societies and a nation-wide interest in the study of science. From one end of the land to the other men prominent in educational, literary, ecclesiastical and political life took an active part in the lyceum movement, and the larger cities were as active and enthusiastic in the work as the towns and country villages. There was scarcely a New England town that did not have its lyceum organization. In this work Boston led the way, and its lyceum was pre sided over for several years by no less a per sonage than Daniel Webster. Down into the closing years of the 19th century the activity of the lyceum continued to hold aloft the banner of self-instruction through lectures, debates, classes for study and mutual help, essays, con versation and public readings and recitations. Weekly meetings were generally held and home talent, for the most part, supplied the program free of charge during the first 15 or more years of the life of the lyceum. About this time some of the more flourishing of the town and city lyceums began to pay the traveling ex penses and even to
offer a small fee for the services of some bright particular star of some other lyceum. Concord paid Daniel Webster $100 for a lecture and Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thoreau were in demand as attractions for special lyceum events. The custom of paying lecturers once established, a galaxy of lyceum stars soon appeared in the horizon. Among these were Starr King, Theo dore Parker, Horace Greely, Edward Everett Hale, Henry Ward Beecher, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Agassiz, Lowell, James T. Fields, George W. Curtis, Edwin Whipple, Wendell Phillips and Charles A. Dana. It was about this time that the professional lecturer made his appearance. Emerson led the way, being immensely popular and may be said to have created the profession. He was soon followed by John B. Gough, Willits, Curtis, Whipple, 0. W. Holmes, Bayard Taylor, W. L. Garrison and Fred Douglas. The most brilliant names in the history of American oratory began to appear on lyceum programs; among them being those of women lecturers who were later on the road to achieve national reputations. Lucy Stone, Anna Dickinson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Mary Livermore were among the *burning brands') of these early days of lyceum activity and enthusiasm.