Evening star., 1896-09-09
A VISIT TO CHAUTAUQUA
The Varied Features of Life at That
Resort.
The Edueational and Religious and
Temporary Population Live.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.

| not be uninteresting. 1 left Washington
about the middle of July, intending to
pass few weeks on the lakes and the St.
/ Lawrence river. Stopping for a few days
| at Chautauqua, I found 1t SO interesting
| that my rtay was heightened into weeks
| and until the close Of the summer session
| of the assembly. My previous ideas of the
I place underwent revolution in presence
| of the facts. Instead of transient popu-
| latton of about a thousand, there was one
varying from about seven to ten thousand;
| instead of numerous rules posted up, for
| bidding this that and the other acts Of
1enslVe to moral or sanitary ScrupuloSity,
| there were bulletins of lectures entertain
T ments. concerts, excursions, collegiate stud
| les, etc. There were no 'donts," no uni
| formed officials to preserve order, no ex-
| ternal sign of government control except
! at the entrance gates, and there only to re-
qulre of each one his petty contribution for
| general expenses
! This payment made the visitor Is freed
| from all demands of the assembly. No ad-
mission fee is charged for the numerous
| daily orations, lectures, concerts, readings,
stereoptican exhibitions, pictorial plays, ,eIec-
! trical displays etc. No collections are
| taken up at church. and all canvassing for
SUBSCRIPTIONS Is discouraged If any one
! wishes to study French, German, Spanish,
| typewriting. cookery, music to take
! university or college study. he pays the
| regular fee of the instructor, but he is not
y. 1
! had expected to find a certain narrowness
| resulting from what 1 supposed to be the
! dominating influence of single sect; what
| 1 did find was genial Iberality, recogniz-
| ing the unity and fellowship OF all Chris
tian Denominations
Ard all seemed content. The Roman
Catholics had their chapel, with its cross
| at the top and it's priest to say mass and
| the Baptists. the Presbyterians, the Metho-
| dists, the Disciples of Christ and others
had each their headquarters for separate
reunions. Exposition was In order, but no
| controversy. Bible classes were taught by
| DR.. Harper, president of the Chicago Uni
| versity (Baptfsp; Prof. Shailer Matthews
| of the Northwestern (CongregationalisD
| and Prof. Sanders of Yale University pres
| byterian)-all learned and brilliant men.
| and all teaching on the lines of the higher
! criticism aid giving intense interest to the
| Bible by giving it its proper geographical
| and historical setting and a thorough liter
| ary analysis. Among the attendants on
| these lectures were many clergymen who
seemed to take a deep interest In them.
| Including in their number Rev. DR.. Wythe
| and the Rev Preserved Smith.
! From visitors poirt Of view the re-
| l:gious element of Chautauqua is unobtru-
| sive, bipartisan and sweetly reasonable.
! the collegiate. learned and diligent, but
the social is paramount in its varied at
| fractions.
The Varied Features.
Seutherners are hegirning to favor the
place. There were thirty-two southern
ladies in the choir and confederate vet
Grams took part in the G. A. r. celebra-
! ton and the raising Of the Union flag over
| the college. Chancel1a Simpson is an Ala
| ba mian.
! The entertainments are varied. numerous
and Of the best kind Concerts were
| bers was composed of proficient musicians,
and was managed by an able leader. who
showed excellent taste in his selections.
The "Stsbat Mater" was produced In the
| best style at one of the Sunday evening
sacred concerts. Marie Decca. soprano:
Mrs: HUFF, contralto. and several other
| sclcists of the same force aided the choir.
The instrumental band was one of the
| best from New York. In short, the mu-
stcal department was excellent. The au-
| diences at the concerts averaged about five
! thousand.
| There were professional readers-from the
eastern cities and England. who were the
best Of their class and who drew large
heuses. 1t Is astonishing how a Single
| person can, by changes of voice, represent
from four to ten different characters and
retain for an hour and a half the absorbed
| attention Of thousands
| What shall I say of the platform orators?
They were the NEST distinguished speakers
from this country. England and Scotland.
hearts Of those who hear them 1t would
be invidious to mention a few. and 1 have
no space to mention them all. Among
the universities and colleges represented
| We're Edinburgh. London. Liverpool Har-
yard. Yale. California. Cornell, Chicago,
| Northwestern, Columbia, Brown. Hobart
and Indiana. Learned essays and elabo-
| rate courses of lectures on all subjects of
general interest from the English acouisi-
tons in Africa to the Roentgen r.ays and
the social and labor problems were deIiv-
cred by experts, who exercised full liberty
| of expression. The Chautauoua pla torn
Is clearing house for well-cons,dered
rions. From the same platform sneak
". George Adams Smith of Edinburgh
| President Eliot of Harvard and DIR. Har
per. PRESIDENT of the University Of Chi
cago.
Great Organization.
Space fails me to notice the admirably
Illustrated lectures on the Roentgen ravs
the picture flags" explained with dry
humor by Black. the pictorial life of Christ
tne Vitascope pictures. being kinetoscope
pictures of life sizes, the illuminated
| steamers on the lake, the electrical a.
plays, ETC., etc. Every day the program
was changed and was full There were
seven principal places for oratory, music
and exhibitions, the amphitheater. the
nail, the museum. the chapel the tempie
the college chapel and the normal hall
and sundry smaller places
~ Sarerui provision is made for children of
all ages, kindergartens and gymnasia. For
young people. gymnasia. delsarte schools a
steam launch. clubs, excursion parties a
oleyeie bicycle school. base ball ground, tennis,
ought to mention the Chautauuua read
ing clubs organized in every part of this
| country, and also in Canada, Mexico Eng
land. Scotland and South Africa. How
many there are of them 1 don't know: but
the members are numbered by the hundred
thousand. They all take 1.-The Chautau
quan,' monthly magazine and read fine
same books Besides the clubs, there are
said to be more than hundred assemblies.
organized like the parent one, and many
OF them cooperating with 1t.
You see what an immense organization It
Is. overtopping the Epworth League and the
Christian Endeavor Society. but working in
| the same spirit and similar lines
The whole machinery works like clock
| work under the skilful and strong hand of
Chancella Simpson. Although the expendi-
| lures are enormous, the financial affairs of
the assembly are reputed to be prosperous.
| The outlay for speakers alone was said to
be 5000 last year. The revenues are made
up of the gate money, an eight per cent tax
| on the gross receipts Of merchants, traders
| and boarding housekeepers the grounds
and q part of the profits on the monthly
magazine. So far as the visitor is con-
cerned. the tax is indirect except the small
| amount for admission. varying from 40
| cents to s.. according to length Of visit
The accommodations for shelter vary
| from tents and summer camp meeting
| structures to costly Villas and a large hotel.
Seven thousand people can be sheltered and
| boarded on the grounds, but as many more
| hn 70 hon nf in, fha