Alfred J. Pearson

              ALFRED J. PEARSON, Ph. D. LECTURER


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10,000 persons present at the Midsummerfestival here.  Dr. Alfred J. Pearson of Drake University, Des Moines, was the speaker of the day and delivered an instructive and inspiring address on 
Scandinavia's Influence on Modern Civilization.
  At the close of the address the vast audience expressed their appreciation of the address by prolonged applause and by three cheers for the speaker.


The Monitor, Sioux City, Iowa.




For terms and dates, address
ALFRED J. PEARSON,
2841 Brattleboro Ave., Des Moines, Iowa





P
ROFESSOR PEARSON, Ph. D., Instructor in Biblical Literature and Head of Department of German, Drake University, has devoted all his time during summer vacation to work on the lecture platform for several years.  As a teacher he has met with great success, and as a lecturer he is an ESPECIALLY POWERFUL FACTOR IN THE AGENCIES THAT MAKE FOR BETTER MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD AND A HIGHER TYPE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP, AND A DEEPER INTEREST IN THE CHRIST LIFE.  A man of profound and ripe scholarship, richly endowed with the 'poetic spark,' with a pleasing presence and much oratorical ability, combined with what is commonly called personal magnetism, he holds his audiences with an interest that never flags.





LECTURES



Realities in American Life
 (Already given on 59 occasions.)


Messages from The Masters
 (For literary clubs.)


Scandinavia's Influence on Modern Civilization
 (Given 30 times.)


Christ, The Ideal of The Ages
 (The result of a course of lectures to Drake students on the life of Christ.)


Ideals for Unsullied Days
 (Commencement address.)


The Old World and The New
 (On travels in Europe.)


Words and The Stories They Tell
 (Popular philology.)




Professor Pearson came to our Chautauqua well recommended, and he lived up to the high recommendations as evidenced by the scholarly address which he delivered, on 
Realities in American Life.
  The theme was handled in such a way as to bring home to the audience many valuable lessons touching ideals in life.  He spoke at some length, but the people lost all thought of time, so completely charmed were they by the ennobling thoughts which Dr. Pearson portrayed.—


Eastern Illinois Register.




At the Chautauqua Thursday afternoon Professor Pearson proved a very entertaining, interesting and instructive speaker.—


Paxton Daily Record, Paxton, Ill.




Professor Pearson delivered his popular lecture on 
Realities in American Life
 to a large and very appreciative audience at the Methodist church last Friday evening.  Mr. Pearson showed himself capable of much dramatic presentation.
The lecture was logical, full of clear wit and pleasing poetry.  This effort was delivered with a conviction of heart that drove home to every mind those excellent thoughts which are capable of uplifting a community.—
The Van Meter Reporter, Van Meter, Iowa.



The address at the Fourth of July celebration last Monday by Professor Pearson was scholarly and interesting.—


Wausa Gazette, Wausa, Nebraska.




Realities in American Life
 is a treat that no one can afford to miss.—


The Semi-Weekly Democrat, Cherokee, Iowa.




Dr. Pearson is gaining renown as a lecturer.  He is a clear, strong reasoner, and his thoughts are logically and concisely developed.—


The Delphic, Des Moines, Iowa.




Dr. Pearson delivered his lecture, 
Words and the Stories They Tell,
 before an audience that filled the lecture room of the church last Friday evening.  As usual he captivated his audience.  The subject is interesting in itself, but he has the faculty of making any subject pleasing.  His lectures are talks straight from the shoulder.  They are full of common sense specked with humor.  Dr. Pearson has now lectured here three times and the large audiences that have heard him each time will be pleased to have him come again.—


The Stanton Call, Stanton, Iowa.




As I have been intimately acquainted with Dr. Alfred J. Pearson and have had occasion to see his work as well as to come into personal contact with the students of the college with which he has been connected, I take this privilege of giving him my hearty endorsement.  He is a man of splendid character and unquestionable integrity.
—A. O. Eberhart, Governor of Minnesota.




Dr. Pearson is the author of 
Helps in the Study of English Classics.
  He has made translations of several Scandinavian poems.  The best among his original compositions are 
The Last of the Vikings,
 
The Song of the Thrush,
 
The Prisoner's New Year's Eve,
 
The Pessimist's Creed,
 
Mars and Minerva.
  Personally Mr. Pearson is frank and open and easily wins respect and confidence.
—The Swedish Tribune-News, Chicago, Ill., Dec. 24, 1907.




Full of facts.
—The Swedish- American, Chicago, Ill., March 4, 1909.




Dr. Pearson is an easy and pleasing speaker, and one who knows how to mix seriousness with touches in a lighter vein and so create an
 interest that never flags all through his discourse.  He can be assured of a welcome and a large audience whenever he comes here.—
The Stanton Call, Stanton, Iowa, May 13, 1909.



Dr. Alfred J. Pearson is winning a reputation as a lecturer and platform speaker.  He has delivered a great number of lectures during the winter, and will appear on the Chautauqua platform this summer.—


St. Peter Herald, St. Peter, Minn.




Widely known and greatly in demand as a lecturer.—


Iowa-Posten, Des Moines, Iowa, April 16, 1909.




The brilliancy of Dr. Alfred J. Pearson held a good-sized audience at the Emmanuel church last night and those who attended were given a rare treat.  
Scandinavia's Influence on Modern Civilization
 was the theme of the scholar and he was thoroughly conversant with the subject.—


Rockford Morning Star.




Full of facts and interesting.—


The Lindsborg Post, Lindsborg, Kansas, March 3, 1909.




Dr. Pearson is widely known in literary circles.—


Minneapolis Journal, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 4, 1907.




If you did not hear 
Realities in American Life
 you missed a treat.—


Albert City Pioneer, Albert City, Iowa, Dec. 11, 1908.




The lecture was pronounced the best number of the lecture course this season.—


Stanton Call, Stanton, Iowa, Dec. 24, 1908.




The audience enjoyed the spicy wit and jolly humor of the speaker.  His lecture, 
Realities in American Life,
 is rich in gems of poetry and philosophy, and kept the audience in a pleasing mood throughout the evening.—


Marquette Tribune, Marquette, Kansas, March 4, 1909.




Dr. Pearson's lecture last Wednesday evening was extremely interesting and entertaining.  The lecturer has a fine voice.  His command of language is fine.  It is accurate and exact, yet full of poetical touches.  His stories and illustrations are pertinent.—


The Lindsborg Post, Lindsborg, Kans., March 10, 1909.




United States Legation, Stockholm, Sweden, March 21, 1893.




His Majesty was pleased with the translation (Pearson's) of his poem 
Östersjön.
  Taking a seat and bidding me be seated at his side, he read the translation out loud to me, every word, from beginning to end, stopping now and then to make a favorable comment.
—W. W. Thomas, Ex-Minister to Sweden-Norway.




Executive Department, St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 15, 1906.




I unreservedly recommend Prof. Pearson to the favor of the educational men and women of the country.  Any courtesy which may be shown him, I shall greatly appreciate.




Very respectfully,
John A. Johnson, Governor.



St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 27, 1906.




He is a gentleman of fine physique, excellent personal address, ripe scholarship and character above reproach.
—J. W. Olsen, Ex-Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Minnesota.




Captivating and enjoyable.—


Hemlandet, Chicago, Ill., March 2, 1909.




A delightful talk.—


Lewis Atherton, LaCrosse State Normal, Wis.




Dr. Pearson has made a wide study of our social and political life, and this, combined with his keen sense of humor and affable manner, kept his audience intensely interested throughout his lecture.—


Bay City Times, Bay City, Michigan.




Much appreciated by the Reno County teachers as well as by many towns people.—


Hutchinson Gazette, Hutchinson, Kansas.




Well received.
—F. O. Cotton, President La-Crosse State Normal, Wis.




His address (before Story County Teachers in Iowa) was eighty minutes long and full of life and power.  Dr. Pearson has a strong personality, and is forceful, convincing and entertaining speaker.
—I. J. Scott, County Superintendent.




Greatly appreciated.  Interesting and instructive to the teachers and full of helpful suggestions.
 — H. A. Wright, County Superintendent, Stafford County, Kansas.




A splendid address.  It was a masterful plea for genuineness in life.—


McPherson (Kansas) Republican.




Dr. Pearson's lecture at Valley Springs, S. Dak., was highly praised by everyone present.—


“Augustana.”




An able speaker.  His lectures are interesting and instructive.—


Times-Record, Aledo, Ill.




Professor Pearson's address gave the most universal satisfaction of the lectures given to our teachers the past three or four years.  He is a clear thinker and forceful speaker.  His address is filled with philosophy and humor.
—George Edgecomb, County Superintendent, McPherson, Kans.




Dr. Alfred Pearson delivered the Commencement address at Bethany College last spring.  His address was well received.  It was replete with good thoughts presented in a fasicinating manner.  He is a magnificent speaker that holds his audience without effort.
—Ernest Philblad, President Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas.




The most interesting feature of the program (Luther League Convention at Algona); a brilliant speaker.
—Kossuth County Advance, Algona, Iowa.




Realities in American Life
:  Many things for both old and young to reflect upon.—


“Augustana.”




The Commencement address was delivered by Dr. A. J. Pearson.  His subject was, 
Ideals for Unsullied Days,
 and the large audience gave close attention to his excellent discourse which contained much wit, wisdom and good advice.
—Vernon County Censor, Viroqua, Wis.





Enjoyed immensely by all present.  The subject is a timely one.  He succeded in keeping his audience in good humor and all who heard him would gladly hear him again.—


Rev. Edward Stark, New Windsor, Illinois.




He succeeded in instructing, inspiring and entertaining his audience all at the same time.
—O. E. Gunderson, County Superintendent, Northwood, Iowa.




More of a treat than most of our people had anticipated; far above the ordinary lecture.  Enough wit and humor to make it interesting to all, and the humor deep enough to satisfy the more earnest and thoughtful.  Ideals of life are presented in such a way that it ought to inspire all who hear the lecture to lead a nobler life.
—Rev. E. G. Knock, Lincoln, Nebraska.




On last evening the teachers were treated to one of the best lectures of the year.  Dr. Pearson draws his illustrations so clear and acute that he holds the attention of his hearers indefinitely, and I unreservedly recommend the lecture and lecturer to all.
—Chas. A. Wright, County Superintendent, Fairview, Oklahoma.




Received with enthusiasm; in fact, it is considered one of the most splendid lectures ever delivered here.
—Olive M. Walk, County Superintendent, Tribune, Kansas.




An excellent lecture, the teachers of the county were delighted with it.  Prof. Pearson is considered a speaker of unusual ability.
—McPherson Freeman, McPherson, Kansas.




Forceful Delivery; a most interesting and inspirational lecture; elicited much praise and insured him a warm welcome should he return to us in the future.
—Laura M. R. Gow, County Superintendent, Chariton, Iowa.




Dr. Pearson's lecture 
Messages from the Masters,
 delivered before the Lucas County Teachers' Institute, 1911, Chariton, Iowa, was an inspiration to those who listened.  Taking for his study selections from Browning, Shakespeare, Tennyson, Whitman and others, the speaker revealed the lesson of life which each contained, showing the optimism, courage and good cheer which reaches out to influence all mankind.  In a forceful manner Dr. Pearson analyzed the central thought in these various poems.  His lecture encouraged closer association with the poets, strengthened confidence in fellow man, aroused desire for selfbetterment and created the impulse for worthier efforts in the future.  An evening with 
Messages from the Masters
 is time profitably spent.
—J. E. Roberts, Superintendent of Schools, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.




Prof. A. J. Pearson delivered his lecture, 
Messages from the Masters,
 to our teachers at the Wapello County Institute this summer.  The lecture was thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed by all present.  Prof. Pearson is a pleasing and entertaining speaker, and the 
Messages
 seemed to be a happy selection.  We considered it a treat and have no doubt that the teachers gained a clearer and broader conception of the poems than they had before they heard Prof. Pearson's address.
 — Elizabeth Burgess, County Superintendent.




We had Prof. Alfred J. Pearson with us on the occasion of our Rural School Commencement, June, 1911.  His address was masterful and wholesome, appealing to all for purity of thought as well as its scholarly execution.
—E. M. Jones, County Superintendent, Council Grove, Kansas.



Prof. Pearson gave two addresses before our Teachers' Institute.  His lectures were very entertaining as well as instructive.  The teachers all spoke very highly of the lectures and the able manner in which they were delivered.

—F. N. Olry, County Superintendent, Denison, Iowa.

Dr. Pearson delivered a pleasing address before our Teachers' Institute at Presho. It is a treat to listen to him and his lectures are both interesting and profitable. The is alive, sympathetic, rich in experience, and gives his hearers something to keep.—Cynthia Ina Sutley, County Superintendent, Oacoma, S. Dak.

The address before the Rural Graduates, June 24th, by Alfred J. Pearson, was full of interesting and instructive thoughts expressed in plain but Beautiful language. In spite of the intense heat he held the entire audience by his pleasant manner of delivery.—Della Griffin, County Superintendent, Bedford, Iowa

Mr. Pearson is enthusiastic, entertaining, and instructive on the lecture platform. He inspires interest to the end.—Marion H. Dampman, County Superintendent, Corning, Iowa

He is a graceful speaker and well worth hearing. He treats his subject in a masterly way.—W.E. Hocking, Secretarty of North Dakota Chautauqua Association, Devil's Lake, North Dakota.

Dr. Pearson's lecture was instructive and entertaining and was well received by those who heard it.—Sid J. Backus, County Superintendent, Algoona, Iowa. 

Much appreciated by all. His lecutres sparkle with wit and humor and at the same time contain much that is inspiring and uplifting.—E. R. Stoddard, County Superintendent, Maquoketa, Iowa

Of great interest to the audience. Highly plesing to the immense congregation.—McHenry County Journal, Velva, North Dakota.

Dr. Pearson's lecture was greatly enjoyed. The general style was that of a droll humor mixed with serious and poetic flights.—Sioux Falls Daily Press.

The feture of the evening was the address by Dr. Pearson.—Kewanee (Ill.) Daily Star Courier.

One of the finest addresses that have been heard in this city.—Monmouth (Ill.) Daily Review.

Prof. Pearson impressed all who heard him with his ability and his address was a carefully studied one.—Madrid (Iowa) Register-News.

Two strong lectures.—Devil's Lake World.