The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-30
over TEN THOUSAND.
Attendance at the Chautauqua Has
Been Large.

At the business meeting of all
stockholders in the Topeka Chautau-
qua assembly being held at the
grounds at Vinewood park at o'clock
tnls afternoon several important ques-
tons are up for disposition. First is
the election of new board of direc-
tors, then will come a decision as to
where and under what conditions the
ChautauQua is to be held next year
Several plans are under discussion. 1t
is almost certain that the assembly
will be organized this evening on a
permanent basis. AS to where it will
De held next year, there is talk Of
making a permanent home in the
grounds across the street car tracks
from Vinewood owned by Mr.. Wilson.
Permanent buildings would be erected
and a regular Chautauqua and in
stitute park laid out here. There is
also talk of making the present
grounds on Vinewood hill a perman-
ent camping place. Still another plan
and one that has many friends among
Chautauqua people. is to locate the
permanent grounds at Garfield park.
This will be done if the city will grant
a time lease on the park.
Miss Viola Troutman, the able and
hard working secretary of this years
assembly, is very much gratified over
the interest taken in the work this
year. "An especial feature of the
Chautauqqua this year." she said to-
day, has been the large number of
people who came out to the grounds
and camped this season. There are
seventy-five tents in use here right
now by about AIS people This Is a
larger number of tents than were used
at the Ottawa assembly, this year.
and that, you know, Is the mother of
Kansas Chautauquas. Then the at
tendance at the special lectures at the
council tent has been splendid. The
talks on cooking by Mrs. Julia Wiley
have been better attended than that
of any other department. The history
talks by DR.. F. F. Stephens and Mrs.
Margaret Hill McCarter and the trav-
ell talks of Mrs. Jessie Mckenzie
Walker have been interesting and val
liable features"
Miss Troutman could not at this
time estimate the admissions for the
ten days of the assembly, but 1t is GER
tain that they will total well over
10000.
Wednesday was the big day in point
of attendance, there being about 1000
present in the afternoon to hear ex-
Senator Benson, and a still larger
number at night to hear Shungopavi,
the Moqui medicine man, whose feats
of magic and wonderful legends of the
ancient history of his people proved
feature of the Chautauqua. He was
dressed in the blanket costumes of his
posing figure on the platform.
One of the very best numbers of the
entire course has been saved for to-
night when Walter M Chandler, the
New York lawyer, will deliver his fam
GUS lecture, THE Trial of Jesus From
a Lawyers Standpoint" There is ev-
cry promise of a large attendance at
tonight's session. Norton's band and
orchestra will furnish the music.
stroll through the camp ground
even in the heat of the day is an in
teresting sight. There are three streets
now in the town Of tents. Besides the
six headquarters tents for the various
societies working in conjunction with
the Chautauqua there are seventy can
vas homes occupied by Topeka people
during the ten days of the session.
These tents are thoroughly equipped
with every necessity for comfortable
camp life. Besides the board floors,
chairs, hammocks and beds, there is a
kitchen outfit at the rear of each tent,
and an inspection reveals little or moth
ing missing from the culinary outfit.
The campers talk and act like people
who have enjoyed a very pleasant out
ing.