The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-08-13
CHAUTAUQUA is. OVER.
Continued from Prge ~

WIZ udhSs SECOND appearance must
be better than at his first appearance
or the audience does not think he is as
good as before, but in this case McNutt
was better than last year and he made
good with all who heard him. AS a
special favor he was prevailed upon to
make second short talk in the even
ing which was perfect gem. McNutt
is all right with tho people here.
At the afternoon session the musical
attraction was the Barnards, and they
gave a full program in the evening
which was greatly appreciated by the
audience. Their work is so varied and
they use SO many different instruments
that they did not tire anyone and the
evening passed only too soon.
On Saturday the musical program was
flat failure when the Ohio Quartet
appeared, and it was the poorest attrac-
tion during the week. The young fell
lows who tried to sing failed to make
good with their nonsensical songs and
the audience was really glad when they
retired. No more Ohio Male Quartet
for us please. But what the Ohio would
be singers lacked was fully made up
when Opie Read, the greatest story
writer in America appeared, and he
sent everyone home in a good humor
and dispelled the gloom which the sing
ers cast over the audience. Mr.. Read
is character and after being intro
duced by V. R. McGinnis said he did
not want to deceive anyone into think
ing he could deliver a lecture, but
could only tell stories presenting truths
and morals, and had therefore chosen as
his subject "First One Thing and Then
Another and he said he could always
stick to his text for he could talk about
anything he wanted to. He disclaimed
being teacher or lecturer and was
surely not preacher or lawyer. He
insisted that the world loved stories,
and he is delineator of character and
a remarkable story teller. He is a
master Of humor, wit and pathos. He
told story after story in the quaint dia-
lect of the south which had an unusual
charm for our northern people. AS a
Chautauqua attraction Opie Read is an
unqualified success. At the close of
his talk in the afternoon many persons
crowded forward to grasp his hand and
he enjoyed meeting them for he is a
genial fellow. easy to meet and enjoys
meeting people. Again in the evening
he delighted the audience with a few
short stories and the only regret was
he did not talk longer, but as he re-
marked he preferred to give little of
his talk and have it appreciated instead
of talking the folks to death and having
them disgruntled.
Sunday morning there was a special
religious service, and it is to the credit
of Leon that the big tent was crowded
fn hno fha
by DR.. Enyart, of Cameron, Mo-, and
while it was a long sermon, every word
Of it was enjoyed and no one was tired.
h. L. Lutz added to the pleasure of the
meeting by singing fine solo.
In the afternoon II. Ruthven Nc
Donald, the Canadian basso, made his
first appearance and he maintained the
reputation which preceded him. His
rich full voice filled the big tent and
his songs were rare treat. At the
afternoon meeting he confined himself
to sacred music, but at the evening per-
Torrance he loosened up little, with
the explanation that anything good
enough for week day Chautauqua was
good enough for Sunday and he sang
several humorous songs which delighted
his audience.
The speaker on Sunday afternoon was
Gov. Warren G. Harding, of Ohio, and
according to our notion he is a mighty
fine fellow and big man. Nothwith-
standing we differ in political belief
with him, we greatly enjoyed his at
dress for he did not make political
speech. Gov. Harding is an editor, the
publisher of the Daily Star at n arion,
Ohio, and recognized in his home state
as one of the big men of that state. He
announced that he had changed the sub
ject for his talk from the "Big Stick" to
alexander Hamilton-the Prophet of
Our Destiny" He told of the life Of
Alexander Hamilton in new way, and
praised his work, bringing Hamilton
before his hearers in new light. Hard
ing is an optimist, and we are always
glad to hear an optimist talk and never
knew one who was not good fellow.
Gov. Harding did not jump on the cor
porations but defended them and told
what corporations had done for his
home town back in Ohio. He said the
rather popular idea of the people to
jump on the corporations was all wrong.
II corporation violated the law, then
jump on them, but don't do it simply
because they are corporation. few
people were not pleased with Gov.
Harding's lecture, but they were not
many, for the big audience gave him
hearty applause and the general opin-
ion was that his address was one of the
best heard during the entire week.
The Chautauqua was closed Sunday
evening with an illustrated lecture by
Ernest Harold Baynes, the celebrated
naturalist, who gave very interesting
lecture, the pictures all taken from life
and showing Mr.. Baynes and his pets,
various wild animals, and it was greatly
enjoyed. Mr.. Baynes has devoted his
entire life to the study of animals and
birds and their photographing, and he
has collection of photographs I'M
equalled. He has had nearly every kind
of wild animals at his home and has
tanned them, and then after /, he has
studied their habits as long as neces-
sary invariably turns them loose, when
they can be liberated without danger
to the community.
One feature of the Leon Chautauqua
which is to be commended was the daily
lectures by Harley G. Lutz. 1t is we'll
known fact that at the morning sessions
20 L