J. Wight Giddings: lecturer

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J. Wight Giddings Lecturer




J. Wight Giddings



T
HIS BUREAU does not need to give a lengthy introduction to Governor Giddings, of Michigan, as he has won for himself a position among the most brilliant platform orators of the country.  He was a student in Amherst College, class of '82, and has served his State with distinction in the State Senate and as Lieutenant-Governor.  His political life has fitted him peculiarly for the line of subjects he has chosen, and no one can treat of them more interestingly nor more eloquently.  No lecturer receives more flattering commendations in places where he has spoken.  He possesses a peculiar magnetism, and his earnest manner, coupled with his tender human touches and bursts of eloquence, captivates his audience.




The American Lyceum Union




SUBJECTS



The Evolution of the Demagogue
An active experience in public life has given Lieutenant-Governor Giddings rare opportunity to develop such a subject as the title of this new lecture gives scope for.  It is a powerful, instructive, eloquent treatise on the conditions and needs of the hour.  It is convincing in its logic, captivating in its eloquence, and entertaining in its humor, while pointing out the dangers before which we as a nation stand to-day.  It is not a pessimistic view of the condition of affairs, but rather a hopefully patriotic one, having a tendency toward the elevation of our politics, and can but leave an audience with a higher desire and purpose.




Uncle Sam's People



The peculiarities of the American people are set forth in this lecture in a bright, entertaining manner, and their strong characteristics eloquently contrasted.  Full of humor and pathos, this lecture contains many pleasing incidents, skilfully interwoven and interestingly related, each having a bearing on the methods, the habits, the distinctive vagaries of American life.  It touches all kinds of people, revels in an expose of their infirmities, and gives credit to their excellencies.  It is built up in a masterly manner, and engages the attention of the audience from the first word to the last.





Cardinal and King



Everywhere that this lecture has been heard it has been pronounced a splendid effort.  It gives a racy, picturesque view of the life and prominent figures of the 16th Century, and deals in beautiful word paintings and stirring descriptions of scenes and incidents of that dramatic period.  It touches on the events of to-day, and draws effective lessons from the character of our own people.  This lecture gives a delightful evening's entertainment.






Owosso (Mich.) Argus


He ranks with the finished speakers of the platform, and is eloquent to a marked degree, and has a wonderfully distinct articulation.  He is a man of medium size, well proportioned, and is as pleasing to look at as he is to listen to.  He talked just an hour, though it seemed not half so long.




Racine (Wis.) Journal


J. Wight Giddings lectured on 
The Evolution of the Demagogue.
  From start to finish the lecture was simply eloquent and brought forth bursts of applause, and the large and cultured audience was delighted.  It was one of the best numbers on the program of the Star Course.




Benzie Banner


The audience listened for an hour and a half to the eloquent lecture by Hon. J. Wight Giddings, on the French Cardinal Richelieu.  From start to finish the lecture was eloquent.  To be able to pick the meat out of history and serve it up in such an interesting and attractive manner is an art of which few men are master. Mr. Giddings is one of the few.




Milwaukee Journal


His subject, 
Cardinal Richelieu,
 and his lecture were both interesting and instructive.




Clinton (Wis) Herald


Friday evening the Congregational Church was packed with people to listen to the most excellent lecture given by Hon. J. W. Giddings, of Michigan.  As one of the course, by way of variety, nothing could well have been better, or just at this time more appropriate.






Personal Testimonials



A gentleman of character, position, education and refinement.  An exceedingly good public speaker, entertaining and instructive.  He pleases every audience before whom he appears.
— Thomas W. Palmer, Pres. of the World's Fair Committee.




Hon. J. W. Giddings' lecture, 
Uncle Sam's People
 was interesting, well delivered and gave good, wholesome instruction.  He will give satisfaction to hearers and patrons, and will in addition, give them something to think about after the lecture hour is over.
— H. H. Seerley, Pres. State Normal School, Cedar Falls, Iowa.




Mr. Giddings is an orator of rare natural gifts.  Earnest in manner, graceful in gesture, eloquent in speech, thoroughly in touch with his hearers on account of his warm sympathies and lively imagination, he moves his audiences as with a master hand.
— Ferris S. Fitch, Supt. of Public Instruction for Michigan.




Mr. Giddings returns to us this year in compliance with the unanimous desire of all who heard him last year.  Scores of people, even in this much-lectured city, declared 
It was the best lecture they ever heard
.
— Chairman Lecture Committee, New Haven, Conn.




He is a gentleman of high standing and character; a speaker of unusual power and eloquence, with few, if any, equals.  Does not fail to entertain his audience, first by reason of what he says, and second by his manner of saying it.
— Francis B. Stockbridge, United States Senator for Michigan.




Hon. J. Wight Giddings lectured at Island Park Assembly before a large audience, and from beginning to end he not only secured its close attention but received frequent applause.  There are few, if any, abler, more eloquent and interesting than he.  He is all that could be desired on the platform.
— N. B. C. Love, D. D., Supt. of Island Park Assembly.




As a public speaker, he has few equals.
— Robert M. Montgomery, Justice of Michigan Supreme Court.




Giddings possesses that boundless magnetism that absorbs from the beginning.  We might as well own the truth, we want a lecture to 
pay,
 and to do that we must have a man who will attract the people.  Governor Giddings' whole history is the history of the people's man.  Rarely does so strong and thorough a character possess this faculty of winsomeness at the same time.
— Rev. J. Lee Mitchell, Grand Avenue Congregational Church, New Haven, Conn.





Brieflets



A very witty lecturer.—


Milwaukee Journal.




Hon. J. W. Giddings is an orator.—


Toronto (Ont.) World.




Mr. Giddings is a brilliant and captivating speaker.—


Battle Creek (Mich.) Journal.




The speaker and his audience seemed from the beginning to be mutually attracted.—


Brighton (Mich.) Argus.




It was an eloquent effort, interspersed with telling hits and anecdotes, and was listened to with rapt attention.—


New Haven (Conn.) Palladium.




Mr. Giddings glided from the humorous to the classic; then into prosody, with all the art of superior oratory.—


Sault Ste. Marie (Mich.) News.




Mr. Giddings was forceful and eloquent.  He was frequently interrupted with applause, and was given an ovation at close of address.—


Lansing (Mich.) Journal.




The best heard in Burlington in many years.  Mr. Giddings has a splendid presence on the platform and is at all times interesting.—


Burlington (Wis.) Free Press.




Made an immediate reputation for himself as an orator of fine ability.  He has a decidedly graceful carriage of body, and his manner of speaking is pleasing and persuasive.—


Detroit (Mich.) Tribune.




Mr. Giddings is an eloquent speaker.—


Milwaukee (Wis.) Evening Wisconsin.




Those present considered him a great orator.—


Paw Paw (Ill.) Times.




Ere he had spoken five minutes he had won his audience completely.—


Baraboo (Wis.) News.




Mr. Giddings started off so suddenly on his subject that everybody gave a little start, and then were tickled to death with the rest of the lecture.—


Canton (O.) News-Democrat.




As an oratorical effort it would have been complete, but it was not alone in sounding phrases and finished rhetoric that it excelled.—


Croswell (Mich.) Jeffersonian.




A more eloquent speaker has never been heard in this city.  His address is magical, his expression wonderfully bright and crisp, his manner perfect in grace, and he made an impression on his audience that will be a lasting one.—


Menominee (Mich.) Enterprise.




There was a large crowd present, nearly every chair in the Tabernacle being occupied.  Mr. Giddings is an eloquent talker and has a splendid stage presence.  His lecture is carefully prepared, scholarly in a high degree, clothed in diction of the highest order and replete with rhetorical gems.—


Canton (O.) Repository.






Praise From The Press



His subject, 
Uncle Sam's People,
 was treated in a most admirable manner.  The lecture abounds in wit, humor and pathos, and is replete with vigorous common sense.  His language was exact, expressive, elegant; his manner, vigorous, pleasing and magnetic.—


Norway (Ia.) Current.




Of the lecture by Hon. J. Wight Giddings last Friday evening, but little need be said.  He fully sustained his reputation as a lecturer of high order, and his portrayal of the characteristics of 
Uncle Sam's People
 was listened to by a large audience with entire satisfaction.—


Morrisville (Vt.) News and Citizen.




Mr. Giddings has the magnetism and earnestness of the popular orator, and his lecture abounded in eloquent passages, happy turns of speech, clever sarcasm, and bright humor, yet there was an underlying current of earnestness to which the sparkle and dash were mere accompaniments.—


Ypsilanti (Mich.) Ypsilantian.




The lecturer is a man of fine presence, possesses a strong musical voice and is a cultured orator.  He wittily touched off the fads and foibles of the American people, told amusing anecdotes, recited one of Whitcomb Riley's touching poems, paid a glowing tribute to true womanhood and true manhood, and gave a quotation from Shakespeare in a manner equal to Edwin Booth.  The lecture was worth all it cost.—


Shenandoah (Ia.) Sentinel.



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As fine a lecture as was ever given in this city.  Every person who heard the lecture speaks of it in words of the very highest praise.  From the moment he stepped upon the stage he held the audience spell-bound by his eloquence.—


Viroqua (Wis.) Republican.




The lecture by Ex-Lieutenant Governor Giddings of Michigan at the opera house Monday evening, was as fine a lecture as ever was given in Waupaca.  The subject of his discourse was 
Uncle Sam's People.
  Every person who heard Mr. Giddings, speaks in the highest praise of his eloquent and entertaining address.  The lecture committee made no mistake in their selection this time—


Waupaca (Wis.) Republican.




Last night at the Opera House Hon. J. Wight Giddings entertained the Oxford people with an eloquent, sparkling, instructive lecture on 
Uncle Sam's People.
  He set forth the peculiarities and traits of the American people in a bright and masterly manner.  While he found a great deal in them to commend, he also found a great many things in their make-up to condemn.  From the moment he stepped upon the platform to the close of the lecture he commanded the undivided attention of all.—


Oxford (Mich.) Trader.





J. Wight Giddings, Ex-Lieutenant-Governor of Michigan, filled fifty dates for the American Lyceum Union during the season 1901-2, and from every place we have heard nothing but the highest praise and commendation.  We consider him one of the most interesting and altogether satisfactory lecturers that we have ever handled, and we take pleasure in recommending him to any and all committees who desire to place upon their list a lecturer that they can be sure will fill all the requirements.



DIRECTION OF THE CENTRAL LYCEUM BUREAU213 Walnut Street, HARRISBURG, PA.JNO. S. ARNOLD, Manager


THE CENTRAL PRINTING & ENGRAVING COMPANY OF ROCHESTER N.Y.