Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-17
CHAUTAUQUA.
The Doubtful Benefits Accruing from the
Literary COurse-What the Man
agement Has Done in Nine
Years.

tho most difficult schemes in the world
80 ,boron0hIy encompass and complete
u. understand is the "Chautauqua idea, /"
N csIItd. IL is manifold in form, and,
like the agile flea of the Hibernian,
wben one imagines he has 1t cornered,
beboId. il is absent. For the past week
Tho enthusiastic Chautauquans have
been undergoing preparatory" inter,
mediate, "'juniOr, "'senlor, Norman,
and advanced normal examinations;
and TO what end? No man knows
The question was asked OF one OF the
sufferers, and the reply came:
I'VE get our diplomas when we COM
plete the course.
MAnd of what particular utility is q
Chautauqua diploma, IS It OF any assist
ance in procuring position As a teacn-
er. or a business situation.
Nh hut il shows that the holder has
COMPLETED the Chautauqua course
Snr6 replies would parsayze Plato.
\ Chautauqua diploma recalls Fal-
.t1f>s conception of honor. What Is
bHnor"'' said he, who hath it? The
man who died a Wednesday. Will it
FII the nurse" No. Will it mend a
Imbo No. Will it feed the hungry:
No. Then away with il, I'll none OF II. .
And ~ the wicked knight struggled
along through the world, and was never
SHOWN to refer to the subject again. As
he managed to extract a considerable
uuautitv of enjoyment from existence
without possessing honor, 1t Is fair to
presume that one or two people at least,
Who are not Chautauqua graduates,
will 90 down 10 the grave happy. 10
their proposition, however 1t would be
difficult 10 obtain an assent on the as
~pmhlv grounds. 1t were rank treason.
\ large number of of the students are
school teachers when at home, and
come here, at the close of the trying
duties of the year worn out and displrlt-
ed in need of anything but more study
or work. Instead Of taking the rest their
system require they religiOusly tackle
the course, and attend daily on an
average four lectures of two hours each,
beside two or three classes. This kept
up for a month, together with the ne
ce>>arv study, somehow does not rest
one very much, and the students wax
Thin er and paler. instead of improving
i'm physical condition ~ they should i'll
this locality remarkable for purity and
healthiulness ofatmOSphere, and beauty
OF surrounding.
Thi~ course of reading is no doubt
good, but this j. not the time Of year to
engage i'm literary struggle, and be-
sides, any work on English literature
marks out a course, perhaps several,
equally valuable. The study of ancient
and modern languages occupies place
on the card, and brings up a question
over which philosophy diSagrees.
TIE measure of proficiency obtained
from thirty days application to the
study of six or seven tOnguaS cannot
be otherwise than small, and ii l. eX-
trench doubtful whether the advan-
tage derived is commensurate with the
labor expended. After the adjourn
ment of the assembly, any attempt to
pursue the studies without an inStruc-
/ tor will result in disaster, as anyone
knows who has made the attempt. The
lectures of the assembly are undeniably
and unqualifiedly good, and the speak
ers, the best in the land. Thus much
for the Ostensible object of the circle.
The real aim and intent of the idea
L
close observation and diligent inquiry,
slightly different from what might he
understood upon casual study of the
prospectus.
\ Chautauquan will assert with
solemnity and sincerity that the grand,
underlying principle Of the scheme is
| love. This is beautifully sentimental,
but vague. 1t may be love for weak,
suffering humanity, and it may be love
for the current coin of the
| Republic. Judging from the
manner in which the eagle on the re-
verse side of dollar screams, when
laid hold Of by those at the head of the
! procession, and the schedule of prices
/ which obtains, l should say the latter
I hypothesis were nearer the truth.
! Those hearts must indeed be as big as a
| gas balloon with love for their fellow
men, who will tax visitor forty cents
| per day, or 3 per season ticket for the
| privilege of living here. They are hui
manitarians indeed who levy ten pei
| cent. assessment on the boarding
| houses.
The "Chautauqua idea in its practi-
! cal operation has given life situations
and good salaries To ten or dozen men
who would, if they depended on their
talents alone, never attain positions Sc
far above mediocrity as to render them
at all conspicuous; it has given glory to
men who had plenty of wealth, but
lacked renown; it has elevated the price
of realty from $50 per acre to $50 per
foot, and it has made corporation
which started nine years ago with q
capital Of nothing, immensely wealthy
1t has also granted some diplomas.