Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-04-22
The Florida Chautauaua.

semblies are establishing themselves in
so many parts of our land that few are
surprised to hear that one has Just been
in session in Florida; but very many in
the North do not know what a success
the Southern Chautauqua is and how
heartily the the people of this section
are joining IN the movement.
We are pretty familiar now with the
Chautuaqua idea "that enlightment
is the common privilege of humanity;
that the requirement of knowledge may
be coincident with the discharge of
business obligations. Throughout the
land there are thousands of enthusiastic
workers who, under the wise guidance
of the leaders of this movement and
under the stimulus of wide co-opera-
ton, are acquiring an acquaintance
with the higher things of life and de-
veloping a nobler manhood. 1t was
a bold thing-this attempt to establish
branch of such an Institution in this
new country of West Florida.
The stream of northern travel has
poured into East Florida for the last
ten years, but, until two years ago,
these western highlands were almost a
wilderness. Right here at the very
highest point, where airs are pure and
malaria can never penetrate, was found
a beautiful circular body of water. you
may call it little lake or q large
spring. Here the Chautauquans found
the spot they were locking for. About
the sloping banks of De Funiak Spring
has sprung up a great amphitheater of
cottages and hotels and assembly
buildings, excellently illustrated by the
cut at the head of this column.
A year ago the first meetings were
held here. Various departments of
work similar to those so successful at
the New York Chautauqua were formed
and in the ample theater built to seat
$500, lectures were delivered by prom
inent men North and South. During
the whole of that assembly only one
thing was wanting for grand success
an audience. The North had not
heard of the new institution. The
South fought shy of the innovation.
This year all is different. The assem-
bly, work has been entered upon with
enthusiasm. Visitors from all the
states are present. l want to tell you
little about what has been going on.
At the head of all is DIR. A. Fl. Gillet,
gentleman of refinement as we'll as
force, and a born manager. But need
not describe him, for he is an Ohio
man and probably much better known
to you than to Us Floridians. He has
called to assist him strong force OF
workers from various states. Some,
like the following, have been closely
connected with the New York Chau-
tauqua: Dean Wright, of Boston, Drs.
Hatfield and Parkhurst, of Chicago. and
Holmes of New Jersey, Prof. Cumnock,
the elocutionist, Prof. Case, the music
leader and composer, Rev. G. r. Alden
and his wife, the authoress "Pansy, I"
Miss Ross, who has done such good
work with the kindergarten system, and
Mrs. Knight of cooking school fame.
Now glance at the daily order of ex.
ercises, continued with certain varia.
tons for six weeks:
THE DAILY ORDER.
7:0O--Breakfast.
S:30-Devotional Hour, Tabernacle.
| 9:N-Chorus class, Tabernacle.
Ministers Institute, The Hall.
| Kindergarten, The Chapel
| Cooking School, The Kitchen,
Elocution, Room o College.
| 1l:OO-Lecture, Tabernacle.
PM
| 2'00-Noonday concert
2:30-Lecture, Tabernacle.
| 4:O0-Normal class, Room l, College.
Ministers Institute, The Hall.
| Chorus class, Tabernacle.
5:00-C. L. S. c. Round Table. Tabernacle.
7:00-Primary Teachers meeting, College.
500 Lecture, Tabernacle.
This is only a skeleton program.
During the intervening half hours take
place all sorts of miscellaneous exer.
cises. In fact, the program is alto.
gether too full for one to attempt to
keep up with it all. But the rural WIS.,
itor tries it occasionally. He is rung
out of bed at an early hour. After
breakfast he enters the great taberna-
Gle. Soon begins what you might call
brisk prayer meeting There are
quite number present and almost
everybody has something to say. BY
the time our friend has shaped his mind
to devotional attitude the bell rings,
and before he knows it a chorus has
taken its place upon the platform and
practicing away like mad. AS the last
note is dying away our visitor thinks
he will go out for a walk He looks
about him and finds the auditorium
full of people. Agentleman steps upon
the stage and begins the regular liter
AIRY exercises of the day with lecture
an hour and a half long. Our friend
drops back upon the seat and takes in
what he can, but his ideas are getting
mixed. Dinner clears things up lit
tie and perhaps he has courage to I'M
dcrtake the afternoon program. If he
is tough one he may get through with
it, but he WON'T try the evening lectures;
that way madness lies. We all have to
leave out some. and choose only what
we can best assimilate and profit by.
Very large provision was made this
year for instruction in Sunday school
work. Mrs. Alden, primary teacher
of rare skill and experience, conducted
a class for mothers and primary class
teachers. We can see little the secret
of this lady's success as a story writer.
In the mission, in the home and in the
Sunday school she is not only studying
the chIld's mind, but making herself its
friend and getting into its very heart.
Further than this Rev. r. s. Holmes,
register of the Chautauqua University
and for several years normal class
teacher at Chautauqua, Pennington
and other assemblies, conducted reg
ular Sunday school normal class.
1t is usually taken for granted, and