The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-03-04
Conespondencs = HreuzssAHI
The FleraAa CAausaaaaa.

~ Eono<nC0 u
The EIsrsAs Chausaaass.
The Florida Chantauqna = making quist bat
steady progress Many rev enterpeisss IN The State
are creating more noiss, bat few are laying their
foundations deeperor planning their opsrstions
with more practical foresight A year or two
ago the site Of this Chautauqua was almost mn
known. We looked on our maps Tor "DeFu-
MAX" lake or spring, but failed to find Il. The
place was nothing hat wild waste and wilder
ness. A small sheet Of water scarcely larger
round than good sized race-course. with sparse
and scattered rine growing near its shelving and
circular bank were all the visible attractions
of the place Had any one been bold enough to
venture the prophecy, that within few short
months this wilderness in Western Florida
would become the site of tabernacle where the
highest achievements Of art, music, literature.
philosophy and religious culture would be pre-
sented before multitude Of eager and upturned
faces, such prophecy would have seemed ut
terly absurd Had any one been bold enough to
declare that the circular basin Of water and sand
with its background of yellow pine, would BE-
come an intellectual amphitheatre, where ideas
and spiritual truths would struggle into supreus-
acy, where the comforts and conveniences OF
Christian homes would be found in the very
heart of the woods, and where elegant and ex-
pensive cottages would spring up spontaneously
in places where the stranger would scarcely ex-
pect to find even a log cabin, the outlook would
certainly have been considered somewhat ex-
aggeraied." Still. such IS the fact; and what Is
more, it is only the beginning of greater things
to come. Within the past week there have been
literary, musical and religious exercises, morn
ing, afternoon and evening, in the tabernacle
near the lake. aud the persons attending these
meetings have represented nearly every State in
the Union
The speakers also have been brought here from
the North, South, East and West.
Among the attractions Of special interest We
large chorus class organized by Prof Case, Of
the New York Chautauqua Assembly.
The literary and historical subjects set down
on the programme cover a wide range, and the
evening illustrated lectures on travel are at
tended by large audiences. These evening en-
tertsinments comprise scenes in Japan, China,
India, Egypt and the Holy Land, and are pre-
coed by music, and followed by illumination
on the lake.
The various classes of the Chautauqua circle
are already organized, and the Teachers Insti-
tute holds its sessions this week. The move
ment promises 10 be of great educational value
to the State. The young people are provided
for by Kindergarten" and already new build
ings are completed for the college, the institute
the domtories, and last but not least, the "cook-
ing school,"
The tourist who stops at DeFuniak Springs
for breakfast and sees the mysterious word
"Chautauqua" over the gateway, has little real
zation Of all that is actually going on here or Of
The number of homes that are at present to be
found in the midst of the woods.
In fact, the phenomenal growth of this place
within three years past. demonstrates what can be
accomplished in the face of adverse circumstan-
ces at place comparatively devoid of natural
attractions, where energy and indomitable pluck
have supplied all other deficiencies, and where
the basis of operations and success has been a
well managed railroad! T. 7. & G.