Edward Amherst Ott: introductions

              Suggestions for Platform Introductions Suitable to the Ott Lectures
TOO little attention has been given the subject of good introductions at Lyceum lectures.  Much of the success of a lecture depends on the first impression and sympathy of the audience.  The introduction should do for the lecture what an orchestra does for a play—secure unity of attention and prepare the minds for the reception of the specific thoughts of the evening.

All advertising should be done before the speaker arrives.  No man of good taste likes to be praised before an audience.  The introduction should create a mood for the theme of the evening and link it with local Lyceum purposes.  In introducing Mr. Ott you will please him by making clear his purposes and ideals.  He does not like to be eulogized in public.  Just assume that he can lecture.

We present here a few model introductions that have been developed by people who are experienced Lyceum workers and know Mr. Ott's work well.

Prepared and Published by THE REDPATH BUREAU Cable Building., CHICAGO, ILL.



INTRODUCTION NO. 1
Sour Grapes or Heredity and Marriage
Dear Friends: Your committee, in choosing Mr. Edward Amherst Ott for this number of our course, did not forget the purpose for which we organized our Lyceum course.  We wanted an institution, connected with the work of our schools and churches, to reach all our people and do good.  We arranged with the Redpath Bureau for Mr. Ott's appearance here, not alone because of his long Lyceum history—not because Sour Grapes had been given over 2,500 times—but because we thought you should hear this lecture.

Out of a long experience, as author and educator, the guest of the evening has developed a series of lectures on The Art of Living. Mr. Ott approaches the problems of life and living from the biological standpoint.  The first lecture of this series is called Sour Grapes.  It deals with the subject of heredity, or eugenics, as we now call it.  Mr. Ott was the first lecturer in the Lyceum field on this great subject.  Twenty years ago he began to teach the scientific lessons of race improvement.  In other lectures of this series he deals with the health of the mind, the health of the purse, the health of the community.

Tonight we are to hear Sour Grapes.  Over a million people have heard it in more than 2,500 audiences.  It is a part of the ethical history of America.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first chapter of The Art of Living will now be presented by our guest

—Mr. Edward Amherst Ott.



INTRODUCTION NO. 2
For the Sour Grapes Lecture
Tonight, good friends, we are to have a lecture that has made, and is making, history.  Starting twenty years ago, Mr. Ott was a pioneer in popularizing the science of heredity and eugenics.  Over a million people have heard this lecture and responded to it.  In many states laws have been framed along the lines he advocates.

Sour Grapes is the first lecture of a series on The Art of Living.  The second, called The Haunted House, is a plea for Sanity.  The third teaches the sane use of money, and the fourth deals with community building.  The first lecture may be more interesting if we know that it is but an opening chapter to a life of philosophy.

Mr. Ott may make you laugh, but that is not his mission.  Let me introduce to you Mr. Edward Amherst Ott, the purposeful orator.



INTRODUCTION NO. 1
Haunted House Lecture
Dear Friends: You recall Sour Grapes, the first lecture of The Art of Living series, which Mr. Ott delivered here last year.

Will Your Dreams Come True, or The Haunted House, is No. 2 of these helpful subjects.  It deals with the human mind, its health and hygiene.  If Mr. Ott can impart to us some of the secrets of his own mental grasp as author, inventor, and social citizen our evening will be profitably spent.


If confidence in a doctor helps to cure, he has a favorable opportunity.  Those who heard Sour Grapes have come with great expectations.  Mr. Ott, you speak to an audience of friends.  Friends, your dreams for a return date have come true.  Now enjoy each other.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your Mr. Ott. Mr. Ott, your friends.



INTRODUCTION NO. 2 Haunted House Lecture
In our age of boasted education, sanity is not universal.  We are to have a practical study in intellectual health.  In Mr. Ott's four lectures on The Art of Living this is the second.  He comes with no lesson of mysticism or the occult.  This is an age of light.  Science is dispelling confusion.  His Sour Grapes lectures made many things about race improvement clearer.  Tonight we are to get some suggestions for the individual use.  If Mr. Ott tells us how to earn some money we may be ready for his lecture on The Spenders for next year.

Tonight, Mr. Ott, we welcome you to our community as a friend.  Mr. Edward Amherst Ott, ladies and gentlemen.



INTRODUCTION NO. 1 The Spenders or the Ballot of the Dollars
Friends: The Lyceum is a great institution.  A great lecture is a sociological event.  Mr. Ott reaches about 250,000 people each year.  He starts people thinking.  We know that his lectures have influenced our community for good.  We are learning that living is an art worth studying.  The third chapter of the continued story is called The Spenders.  After hearing Sour Grapes and The Haunted House it is difficult to believe that Professor Corsen of the Ohio Educational Monthly is right when he says that The Spenders is Mr. Ott's greatest lecture.  If it is, we are to have a very helpful evening.  Patrons, your friend the purposeful orator is back.  You wanted him again.  Mr. Ott, your friends of ― greet you once more.



INTRODUCTION NO. 2 The Spenders
Mr. Ott has installed a new Lyceum habit.  In the past we always talked men and personalities in the Lyceum and wanted new people each season.  So far as one man is concerned, we now want messages and complete development of ideas.  This community is interested in The Art of Living and is prepared in mind for the lessons on the ethics of spending money, of which we are to hear tonight.

Mr. Ott, we know you have seen many audiences in every state of the Union since you were here.  You have wandered far and seen strange faces.  Just feel that you are back home, among friends.  Friends, the purposeful orator again.




INTRODUCTION NO. 1 A Fortune for you or The Story of a City
In these times when every city has its commercial club, or board of trade, or civic organization, it is worth while to hear one speak on city building who sees a different city every day and can compare each one with all the others.

Mr. Ott, in his lecture on The Story of a City, follows the logic of his other addresses in The Art of Living series.  He approaches this subject from the biological standpoint.  Having heard his first lectures, it will be interesting to note the correlation of ideas.  As I see it, a man well born, Sour Grapes born, and with his Haunted House in order, and his money sanely controlled, should be a good citizen in any city.

As this is Mr. Ott's last lecture in The Art of Living series, a personal word may not be amiss.  I am sure you want him to know what his lectures have meant to us.  We are better people than we were.  We could not take his advice and pick out better parents, but some of us have been better parents.  We have kept free from community brain storms and some of us have learned to use our money to better advantage.  We hope he will add another lecture to the series, for we do not want this to be a positively farewell appearance.  Mr. Ott, we welcome you.  You have many friends in our community.  We are glad to hear you again.



INTRODUCTION NO. 2 The Story of a City
The fourth and last lecture of The Art of Living series tonight!  We say that with regret.  I know you want me to tell Mr. Ott what these lectures have meant to us.  Your attention and response will show your attitude and the lecture will sense it no doubt.  We have picked out good parents, set our minds in order, spent our money wisely.  We are a very fine audience.  We have done everything M. Ott recommended since he was here.  Now, what next?  As individuals we are about perfect.  Now, with such a body of picked troupes, what battle shall we wage?  The purposeful orator will deliver the valedictory of this course of lectures and tell us how to build an ideal community.



SUGGESTIONS
Advertise Mr. Ott's lectures, the themes.  They are vital, important, interesting.  Get your people to discussing them.  Ideals are bigger than men.  The fact that Mr. Ott has a good voice and is a master of the platform—an orator of power—enhances his value, but the real value is in his philosophy of life.

Stage.  As Mr. Ott always appears in evening clothes, set the stage with a parlor setting.  Give him footlights and a bright house.  Set the stage with a small stand at the right in front and two chairs well back.  He wants the center of the stage open—free.  He appreciates a beautiful stage and surroundings.

Send reports and press comments to the office of the bureau.

Yours truly,
REDPATH LYCEUM BUREAU, Cable Bldg., Chicago, Ill.