The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-08-20
Flashlights OF Chautauqua.


BY NANCY c. MORROW.
A good time to reach Chautauqua is in
the evening about nine o'clock. At this
hour the rush is not So great and the vast
building at the pier, brilliantly illumi-
mated with thousands OF electric lights,
bids a cordial welcome to all Chaulauqua
visitors. One might imagine, for time,
he has reached the gates OF Paradise, for
there is only one way by which he can
reach the Mecca Of ofknowledge and this is
a narrow way. He must also be sure he
will be accepted by making needml
preparation. However when he has
reached the other side, he may become
suddenly aware he has not yet reached the
celestial regions, for there, coming to-
wards his companion is a badge of au-
t1ority in brass buttons and silver star
whose owner asks somewhat burskly il
any soliciting for cottages has been done.
This intrusion does, of course, siartle the
the visitor, but imagine his surprise
when informed that be has been the in-
nocent transgreSSor causing all this con-
fusion by asking his friends to give the
address OF their cottage to two travelling
companions who may wish to hunt them
up. And, having had it fully demon
strated that "it is not all gold that gilt
ters," he is ready to follow out into the
shaded avenue on a walk of flag stone
and not on the golden streets Of the ce-
lestial city. But his better judgment
helps him to forgive all such iutrusions
upon a real Chautsuqua welcome, when
he considers this haven OF rest is still
terra firma, in the land ofnegatives where
people are human and invariably wish to
taste OF the forbidden fruit and when he
comes TO know these faithful officers of
Chautauqua law and Of the onerous du-
ties that devolve upon them, he sees a
happier side aud the jewel of integrity
shining clear and bright beneath the
badge ofauthorily. But the best night
ofall to reach Chautauqua is Saturday
night This gives an extra Sabbath on
The Assembly grounds, and where is the
person, who having spent one Sabbath at
Chauiauqua, does not wish to spend
second, yes, ana even a month OF Sab
baths, ifsnch were his privilege. Imbued
with the true Chautauqua spirit OF "Not
for self, but for ALL the visitor, with
thousands ofothers, i ready 10 "get all
he can, keep all ne eau and give all he
can OF the good that is about and within
him. BY love all gladly serve one an
other, forgetting their own surroundings,
and Sabbath at Chauianqua seems
gait way to Heaven-a real type of the
eternal Sabbath. The wood and welkin
are still resonant with the winged Choir
listers chirping their mathis when wor-
SLIPPERS begin 10 wend their way to the
hall in the grove for morning devotions
or to the several denominational head.
quarters. At eleven o'clock the vast
auditorium is well filled with a cosmo-
politan congregation, and one begins to
wonder il Heaven will b. anything like
such an audience when you find your
neighbors consist ofa Baptist from South
Dakota; Methodist from Missouri; a
Lutheran from Michigan; Catholic
from Louisiana; a Presbyterian from
Tennessee; an Episcopal from Ohio;
Dutch Reformed from New York and a
COngregationialist from Pennsylvania,
besides hosts of others of different
christian organizations all forgetful of
self and ready TO ascribe to Him all
praises from whom all blessings flow.
The singing upon such occasions is be-
yond description when some old familiar
bymn is sung and all earthly cares for
gotten. And surely heaven and earth are
full OF the glory of the Lord of Hosts as
the congregation joins "with the angels
and archangels, and with all the company
of heaven" in lauding and magnifying
His glorious name. But the crowning
service of the day is the c. l.. 5. c. YES
per service in the Hall at ) o'c. An at
tempt 10 descripe such meeting is bur
to fail, and the best we can do is to invite
all-both young and old-to visit Chau-
tauqua and prove the truth of this state
ment.
Continued next week.