The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1899-11-11
AT CHAUTAUQUA.
IWyVs1FTER weeks of intense heat,
IlHAM drought and dust, it was our
WAN good fortune to be carried
Tho oo,,+if,,1 Ctoto nf

IbkS~AN| good fortune to be carried
through the beautiful State of
Ohio, smiling like garden, to that
now historic place known as the Chau-
tauqua assembly grounds. We reached
the little city of jamestown, which lies
on the southern borders of Lake Chau-
tauqua and spent the night there, wait
ing for the boats that ply between that
place and the Assembly grounds every
two hours in the day. The day was
bright and the air perfect; the little
lake set like a beautiful gem in the
land which slopes down on all sides to
meet the waters edge, danced in
the sunlight. There are numerous
beautiful summer resorts where the
boats touch, and many summer
homes owned by wealthy New York
ers. Celeron, in close touch with
jamestown and connected by trolley, is
quite resort on summer openings,
there being theater, geological gar
den on small scale, a shoot-the-chute
that carries the rider out into the lake
and suddenly sinks, leaving him to
scramble back to land as best he can.
To us it seemed rather dear fun, as in
order to ride down again it was neces-
sary to mount innumerable stairs, drag
ging the car up the steep incline, and
then the ride was so short and so soon
over. 1t reminded us very forcibly OF
the Chinamans description of the to-
boggan, 'Tsit-walkee two mile
backee."
The little steamers are very pleasant
and often the trip on the lake is enliv,
ened by an Italian band that produces
such music as is born only in the Italian
soul, mingled with the strains of 'She
was bred in old Kentucky" and other
Southern airs. These last, by the way
were immensely popular, even as fal
north as Canada, and cake-walks were
also quite the rage.
The approach to Chautauqua is en-
chanting. 1t lies along the shores o
the lake, empowered in trees that com
to the waters edge and which SCENE
Ito US to enjoy perpetual sprilgtime
a 81 E
The cottages are, many Of them, very
artistic and beautiful and bear the I'M
mistakable imprint of 'home." In
deed an air of perfect comfort and en-
joyment pervades Chautauqua. One
may do as one pleases, wear what one
pleases, and in all things consider his
own comfort so long as he does not in
fringe on the rights of others. Some
people lay aside hats on going there,
and only don them when they take the
steamer or train for home, and no one
remarks it or thinks anything about it.
On landing we registered. paid en-
trance fee and received card with our
names written on it, which we pre-
ser ted to the gate-keeper, wearing the
uniform of the officials, who punched it
and handed it back. This formality is
gone through every time one goes out
or comes in the gate.
The grounds are fenced in and there
are three or four gates, each guarded
by an officer in uniform, whose duty il
is to punch these tickets. On Sunday
there are no boats or trains, and no one
is allowed to leave or enter the grounds
except in cases of emergency. This
year special permit was given to Ro
man Catholics to attend services al
jamestown. This at first would seem 8
severe restriction, but after one has en-
ioyed a Chautauqua Sunday he would
not change it. The peacefulness and
rest are beautiful beyond words. The
vesper service at p. m. Sunday is one
of the most impressive and beautiful
1t always is held in the "Hall in the
Grove" an open building modelled
after a Greek temple. From there
one has a charming view of the lake
kissed by the sunlight, while fife fresl
green foliage around the hall soften
and subdues the light. The sounds o
bird-voices come in upon the calm ant
peace of the scene and add to the har
mony. The robins are part owners o
Chautauqua, as they are never mo
Tested, and being very numerous, adj
greatly to the charm of the place
From literary standpoint, of course
Chautauqua is delightful, At ever
hour in the day there is something in
structive and helpful-lectures upon lii
erature, art, music, science, travel an
problems of the day. There were man
beautifully illustrated lectures upon for
eign countries and our own land, Aus
tralia, New Zealand, the Philippines
Mexico, the Yosemite and Grand Cano
of the Colorado. A lecture by Mr.. Rot
inson on the Philippines confirmed u
in our anti-expansion ideas. though tn
general sentiment at Chautauqua wa
greatly in favor of it. The choir is
great feature, consisting of from tire
to six hundred voices beautifully traine
by DIR. Palmer, who is remarkable 70