I continued my way around the lake, and across the street to the famous Lyceum. A lyceum was where people would come and listen to people talk back in the day. Where we have TV and movies, they had people to speak. It was not unnatural for people to show up a Lyceum and listen to the great orators of the day for hours. In fact, there is a story about Pres. Lincoln and the Gentleman he was running against actually talked for 4 hours with a break for dinner at 6:00pm. this type of listening ability is almost unheard of today.
After seeing the lyceum, my mind began to wonder to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Transcendentalism. Ralph Waldo Emerson went on a speaking tour through out the US, and it is rumored he made it down to St. Petersburg in the mid 1800's. I sat looking at the Lyceum in front of me and Mirror Lake behind me, and it put everything into a surreal mood. Can we really imagine someone as important as Emerson entertaining 1000 people as he spoke about the wonders of transcendentalism? I don't think we can.
For more info on Transcendentalism see: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1437888/lessons_ontranscendentalism.html
- Check out the whole saga from the beginning - http://crherman.blogspot.com/2009/07/walking-across-pinellas-county-i.html
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