Alton Pachard, the popular chalk talker, is entertaining Southern audiences with his unique and excellent program.

“Standard attractions,” is the decree the committees are pronouncing, and “the survival of the fittest” will be the result.

Ida Benfey is adding to her laurels in the South. She recently gave George Eliot’s beautiful story of “The Mill on the Floss” before an audience of nearly four thousand people, in Nashville, as one of the numbers of the Lyceum Course.

W. G. Escott, the popular secretary of the Hillsboro, Texas, Y. M. C. A., writes the following report of the recent state convention held at Hillsboro:

The Twenty-second Annual State Convention of the Texas Young Men’s Christian Association was held in Hillsboro, Texas, March 18-21. The Hillsboro Association made preparation for three hundred delegates but only about two hundred were in attendance. It was said by all to be one of the best conventions in every respect that has been held in years in Texas. The prominent speakers of the convention were Dr. Ira Landrith, of Nashville; Rev. Dr. Carroll, of Dallas, Texas; Dr. T. S. Clyce, president Austin College, Sherman, Texas; Judge John C. Townes, of Texas State University, and Dr. S. P. Brooks, president Baylor University, Waco, Texas. The program was very strong in every particular. The delegates all expressed themselves as being royally entertained by the citizens of Hillsboro. The only thing that could have added to the pleasure of the gathering would have been better weather.

The Texas Lyceum Association met during the convention and met the different Bureaus represented and considered their talent. The following were represented: New Dixie Bureau, Midland Bureau, Slayton Bureau, and The Rice Bureau. After considering all the talent offered, the decision was in favor of the Rice Bureau. The Associations of the state have dealt with the Rice Bureau for several years and their attractions have been first-class and according to representation and the service so satisfactory that the members felt that there could be nothing gained by making a change, so the Association business will be with The Rice Bureau again the coming season. The new officers of the T. L. A. are Samuel Warr, Cleburne, President; J. L. Hunter, Waco, Secretary and Treasurer.