Any more excerpts would be great. If you could post some of the etiquette rules, we could probably use them here....

I have yet to see a really good book on the Lyceum circuits -- they were far superior to television, got people out of the house, brought people shows about the Mystic East, paid Thoreau's bills, got Oscar Wilde to the Wilde West, and made the time pass with entertaining charlatans and experts. The lecture circuit and the debating society are now practically confined to universities and special events, more's the pity. If the Internet brings that back (except, alas, for the getting out of the house part, then it will have earned its keep).
yours, Peter T.