New-York tribune., 1906-08-01
THE SUMNER CHAUTAUoUAS.

From all over the West, and especially from
those char teristic and influential gatherings
known as Chautauquas. come reports Of speeches
and lectures by men of national reputation in
science, literature and especially in politics and
religion, or, at least, religious thought. All of
these gatherings are modelled more or less after
the famous New York Chautauqua, from which
they take their name and from which they de-
rived their w;ginaI inspiration. They are
schools ,f lcsrning, philosophy, religion and
patriotism, combined with the allurements Of
shady groves boating upon take or river, tennis,
and, in fact, all summer sports and pastimes,
the latter. however being relegated to their true
place and subOrdinated in interest to higher
pleasures and higher ideals of living. OF course,
1t is easy, and especially easy for the city born
and bred, accustomed to the glamour and fasci-
nation If the ceaseless round of gayeties and the
sense Of touch with the best there is in the
theatre, opera and other forms of urban pleas
IRE and intellectual interest to sneer al these
gatherings where the participants, even in their
summer outings, take life more seriously than do
the corresponding classes in the cities For in
stance, at one of these Western Chautauuuas-
that at Hastings. Neb.-we read that Senator
La toilette talked for three hours and half the
other day to an audience of eight thousand per-
sons, passing in review during that time much
of the legislation of the recent session Of Con
gress and naturally expOunding his own we'll
known theories as to rate legislation and other
matters
1t may be admitted that it is rather DIFF
fcult to fancy an audience OF eight thousand
New Workers. moved by no general impulse ex-
cept that of personal improvement, listening
thOughtfully TO Senator La Toilette. or perhaps
to any one else, for three hours and n half of a
summer day, but an attempt to make such com.
parison will show not a few points in favor Of
ETac%i Thoro ic
pressive in the earnestness OF character and
breadth Of intelligence which go TO make these
queer Chautauqua courses of the West to
which a contemporary referred the other day
Such men as Senator La Toilette. Vice President
Fairbanks Justice Brewer, of the Supreme
Court, and many other men Of prominence are
frequently among the speakers at these courses.
and men of corresponding leadership in the
pulpit in the university and at the bar are also
to be heard in the Chautauquas scattered all
over the West. These men are invited to speak
before these intelligent and earnest audiences.
not TO exploit themselves or 10 further their am
bdons, whatever they may be, but because the
people wish 70 form their own opinions at first
hand Of them and TO hear them present the
causes or themes with which they have become
identified in the public mind. 1t is probably true
that Senator La Toilette, for instance. owes
much of his popularity In the West IN bis
speeches or lectures before such audiences os
that which he addressed at Hastings. Neb and
a man who goes 70 the people and expounds his
views 70 them and meets with their approval ia
always a man TO be reckoned with.
On the other hand, these and similar audiences
all over the country are not readily carried away
by mere plausibility on the part OF a speaker. or
even by genuine eloquence. An excellent illus
tratiOn Of the attitude of these summer audi
tors toward the speakers who address them
was furnished the other day in the case OF Sen
a;og Iillmans speech at Elloree S. G. A Bap-