332 KEroBiis ON the state of science. — 191G. 



lectures are no longer novel, there is increasiiig difficulty in obtaining 

 new and good lecturers, and there are many counter-attractions, e.g. 

 kinema, other lectures in the same town, &c.' (Stockport Science 

 Lectures Committee). 'Decreased: representatives on public bodies 

 either have not the time (thi'ough commercial claims), or the interest, to 

 devote any attention to the matter ' (Chelmsford). ' I should say 

 decreased with the quality of the lecture. Good lectures are rare and 

 generally well attended ' (Plymouth). 



The whole matter is admirably summed up by Mr. D. B. Morris, 

 Town Clerk, Stirling, as follows: — 



' Comparing the position of matters now with that of thirty years 

 ago, the popular lecture does not now occupy the place in public esteem 

 which it did. For this there are various causes. With the better type 

 of young persons, attendance at continuation classes, with their 

 organised schemes of study, takes the place of attendance at popular 

 lectures. To the non-studious the picture-house is the habitual place 

 of resort. Many of the films there shown are such as would be 

 exhibited at a popular science lecture. 



' As regards older people, some find that life has to be lived more 

 strenuously nowadays, and rest or quiet recreation are sought in the 

 evening rather than anything distinctly intellectual. The great popular 

 interest which used to he taken in natural history arising out of the 

 " evolution " controversy, and inspired also by the writings of Darwin, 

 Wallace, Huxley, Lubbock, Kingsley, and others, has passed entirely 

 away. Such interest now centres in subjects like wireless telegraphy, 

 aviation, and, at present, all matters connected with the war. 



' Serious students will always be found to attend courses where 

 educational value is to be got, but popular lectures will not succeed 

 unless illustrated by kinematograph, lantern, or experiments, or by all 

 three. The element of entertainment must be present, which implies 

 novelty. Arrangements might be made with local picture-houses to 

 have a fortnightly or monthly scientific evening, which would take the 

 form of a popular lecture with illustrations. Tickets, containing a 

 short syllabus of the series, could be sold at cheap prices, a local 

 organisation assuming financial responsibility. ' 



(11) Can you suggest any course of action to follow in order to 

 increase public interest in science in your district by means of popular 

 lectures ? 



The chief needs referred to are : (1) a supply of trained popular 

 lecturers; (2) co-oi-dination of effort of educational institutions. Univer- 

 sity Extension Committees, Municij^al Corporations, Trades Councils, 

 and similar bodies ; (3) adequate advertisement and interesting Press 

 notices; (4) lectures dealing more especially with subjects of present-day 

 interest, or relating to the needs of the district; (5) endowment of 

 popular science lecturers so as to enable lectures to be provided at a 

 moderate cost; (6) the use of the kinematograph in science lectures. 



Many coiTespondents seem to think that popular lectures are neces- 

 sarily of the instructive kind and intended to induce people to take up 

 courses of study at educational institutions. They have little faith in 

 such a means of increasing the number of students, and rightly so. 



