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Bolton, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1841-1901

"The Harris-Ingram Experiment"


Several necessary committees were organized and George Ingram's gospel of
Helpfulness found another practical expression. The Educational Bureau
was not a gratuity in any of its departments, as small fees were charged
in all the evening classes, which were crowded with old and young. For
twenty consecutive Saturday evenings in the winter season, a four-fold
intellectual treat was furnished at $1.00 for tickets for the entire
course.
By 7:30 o'clock in the evening the Central Hall was packed to the walls,
no reserved seats were sold, and the rule was observed "First come, first
served," which brought promptly the audience. Season ticket-holders had
the exclusive right to the hall till 7:25 o'clock, when a limited number
of single admission tickets were sold. A large force of polite ushers
assisted in seating the people, and in keeping order. At 7:30 all the
entrance doors were closed, so that late comers never disturbed the
audience.
The musical prelude, or orchestra concert of thirty minutes closed at
7:30 with a grand chorus by the audience standing; following this,
precisely at 7:30 was the half-hour lecture-prelude on some scientific
or practical subject. Among the topics treated were "Wrongs of
Workingmen, and How to Right Them," "The Terminal Glacier," "Sewerage and
Ventilation," "The Pyramids," "Wonders of the House we Live in,"
"Architecture Illustrated," etc.


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