The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1900-07-06
CHAUTAUQUA
The Big Stone Lake Assembly
II Grand Success.

The Big stone Lake Assembly
II Grand Success.
A Splendid Program or Enter
tainment, and Large Crowds
in Attendance.
The second annual assembly of
the Big Stone Lake Inter State
Chautauqua, which commenced
June Goth, is proving as was ex-
pected, the growing power of the
Chautauqua movement, and al
though the Assem- bly, has been in
progress but a few days so far
there are already a far greater
mum Der Of people encamped up
on the grounds than there were
at any time last year, and the
program Of entertainment is
fully equal if not superior to the
splendid program of last year.
On Friday, the opening day, one
of the main attractions was a
lecture in the afternoon by Jerry
Simpson, or "Sockless Simp-
son." the populist ex congress
man from Kansas. While Simp-
son cannot be termed a great
orator, he has clear and direct
style of presenting his thought
and argument before an audi
ence and commands their atten-
tionand interest. His subject was
"Where are we at?" and was de-
voted largely~to the dangers and
difficulties that confront US as a
nation, from the inordinate greed
of individuals, of trust and COM
binations of capital, and what he
termed new danger in expan-
sion, danger that we as nation
were getting away from the de-
claration of independence and
the constitutional government Of
the fathers. The speaker made
a very able presentation of the
arguments in vogue against ex-
pansion, protection and the poll
ciesof the present nationaladmin-
istration.
In the evening a great feature
was given in dramatic recital
by Miss McClaran, entitled ''The
Sign of the Cross" In this class
of work Miss McClaran is ac-
knowledged to be peerless, and
her rendition of this drama was
of enhancing interest. The pic
ture Of ancient Rome, the voluptu-
Gus wickedness of the court OF
Nero and the Roman life of that
age, the merciless persecution of
the Christians of the early church
and their heroic fortitude in
martyrdom were depicted in the
most realistic and thrilling man
ner, aud with an artistic skill and
power that indicated that the
lady was we'll entitled to the
fame which she has earned in
this production.
On Saturday DR.. Thomas Mich
olson gave one of his great lee
lures on Bible criticism, and to
those interested in bible history
and bible study, DR.. Nicholson is
the great attraction of the Chau-
tauqua. A student, thinker and
critic, he gets from the Word the
vital meaning, and places before
his audience in logical sequence
and eloquent diction the results
of his research.
On Sunday the Chau tauquans
had the pleasure of a lecture by
DR.. Nicholson, and most elo-
quent sermon in the morning by
DR.. D. r. Fox, a Congregations
minister of one of the great
churches of Chicago, whose elo-
quent words were an inspiration
to the large audience. On Mon
day evening DR.. Fox gave his
lecture s'How | made fortune.
The Fourth at Simpson Park
was q great day. A fine pro-
gram of exercises had been ar
ranged for, and an immense
throng of people from the sur.
rounding towns came to enjoy it
One of the great attractions was
the Hon. j. p. Dolliver, the Iowa
congressman, who has q national
repu tation as an orator, and who
lectured on the Nation of Ameri.
ca. The address was q patriotic
and inspiring review of the past
and a sublimely hopeful faith in
the future progress and prosper.
ity of our country and the great
principles it represents. Both
at the lecture and in the evening
when Robertson gave his great
stereopticon lecture THE Briton
and the Boer," the large auditor
ium was crowded with people,
who thoroughly enjoyed the en-.