The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-19
HAPPY Days Glide
by at Chalfadqda


Special Correspondence Of The Tribune.
Chsutauoua, n. Y, Aug. IL
IT HIS HAS REEN gala week at Chautauqua,
week ot special days and celebrations
u so numerous that II is next 60 impossible
for the uninitiated TO follow them all "
has been A week peculiar TO the institution and
a time when all loyal Chautauquans desire most
20 he here. From now until Recognition day
Chautauqua viii he the mecca OF thoussnns OF
pilgrims who know no other Alma Mater than
these classic groves. To the students OF the
reading course, the passing under the srcnee
and through the Golden Gate is more than mere
ceremony. To them II means four years OF
study that could he attained in no other way
and four years Of intellectual Improvement.
The festivities began with Old First Night,
and the twenty. y.sixth anniversary ot the hrS
meeting ~ the assembly was observed with un.
usual enthusiasm. The old sonss were sung ana
the men who have been here year after year
told the customary number o. stories and noted
the growth and progress of Chautsuqua. bsnop
Vincent. the founder oi the institution. was
sadly missed. ard amid silence snd deep feeling
his cablegram from switzerland was read The
bishops message was: Remember the NOME
history Of Chautaqua. Turn remembrance INTO
| resolve, and make the future greater and nooler
than the past"
The next evening came the initiation of the
| class ~ 1905. The performance is ALWAYS bur.
| lcsque. and this wear II was more unique ana
| freakish than The whole affair was splendid
| burlosque on "Thc Chautauuuan" and the sub
| iects ot the c. l.. s. e. reading course for the
| coming year. The object Of the evenings fun
was TO show that Chautauqnans can appreciate
| a joke as we'll as fine lectures Every one
| entered into the spirit NJ the occasion and II
was a time Of great hilarity. In the street
parade the, hooks To he read in the course this
| year were represented by four floats Allied with
! digntares disguised as Nero, Dante, virgil
| Charon, Cerberus the emperor ~ Germany. the
Lorelei and other characters found in the Italisn
! German course. Had these persons Of ancient
| times appeared on the scene, they would hardly
! have felt hittcrcd hy the modern conception and
| representation NJ them.
| The most beautiful of all these special occa'
| sions is the Illuminated Fleet. This is a sight
| worth travelling iar to see. On that evening all
| the larger steamers, the smaller ones, private
| yachts sailhoats and even rowhcats, lavshly
| decorated with colored lanterns NJ all sizes and
| shapes are collected in front Of the Assembly
| Town, and for an hour or more manoeuvre back
| and forth, making the lake a mass Of brilliant
colors. Great honfres built along the shore,
and the soarchlights bring into relief objects all
| over tho grounds.
| No one wore more consequential air this
week than the children ri Chautauqua. The
| programme called for "Childrens Day., and
| the little folks were OH hand to do their par.
| Early in the evening there was a parade of the
different clubs through all tho PRINCIPAL streets,
| followed hv an entertainment in the Amphi.
thcater, The children had been well trimmed.
| They sang their songs stspped mnuet and
went through their drills without a bitch. and
then invited all % a reception in the Hall Of
| Philosophy, where they proved themselves the
most bospitable hosts and hosteSsos and dis.
pcnsed lemonade 70 their guests and themselves
| to the satisfaction of every one present
Grange Day brought the largest crowd of the
season. and the rain alone prevented IL from
| being the greatest dav Of many seasons The
| governor Of New York state, Hon. r. r. Odell.
was the orator Of the day. and greeted with
the Chautauqua salute.
The musical event ~ this year was the rem.
| dorinG If the oratorio "Messah" by the choir