Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-07-03
Chautauqua a Big Success.

Despite the discouraging effect of
our recent devastating storm upon
many prospective attendants, the Chau-
tauqua which opened last Tuesday
afternoon has been complete success
both in the way of attendance and also
the satisfaction given by the various
programs.
The star attraction of the course, so
far as celebrity goes, was Capt. Hob
son, who opened the course. Although
he was trife late in commencing his
address he spoke for about two and
one-half hours and held his large audi
ence until the end. Capt. Hobson is
an eloquent, sincere and persistent ad-
vocate of large navy, and while we
believe him to be an extremist in his
views on the naval and military pro-
gram for this country, we believe that
it is well for our government to keep
watchful eye upon the Japs,. not so
much in fear of an invasion of this
country but to safeguard our rights
and interests in the orient. Capt. Hob
son is the highest priced lecturer en-
gagged by the Redpath system and
commands salary of $4,000 for an
engagement of twelve weeks.
DR.. Thos. E. Green has many ac-
quaintances and admirers in Cresco
and his lecture on ''The Signs of the
Times" on Tuesday evening was pol
ished, forceful and entertaining, rich
in ideas and information. His COM
parsons regarding the size, population
and resources of our country were
original and placed these matters be-
fore his hearers in new and most
comprehensive manner. In DIR.
Green's opinion the greatest "yellow
peril which confronts our country is
the lethargy and self-satisfaction en-
gendered by the vast wealth and re-
sources of our country. Nations do
not die of old age but of heart-rot
largely caused by over-weening and
-powering wealth.
Opie Read, on Wednesday evening,
attracted the largest crowd of the
Chautauqua so far, the big tent being
almost completely filled in spite of
shower, and the big audience felt well
repaid for their attendance. His lee
ture, First One Thing and Then
Another" is well named, being in the
main series of those character stories
which have made Mr.. Read famous,
told in his inimitable way, each with
its own particular moral, and tied
together by some good wholesome
moral philosophy which showed Mr..
Reade to be careful and honest stu
dent of mankind and human nature.
The applause with which his sharp
thrusts at the U. S. Senators and
tariff which enables an American man
ufacturer to sell implements cheaper in
foreign countries than at home, showed
that the republican party's recent
declarations on those subjects do not
meet with much favor in this locality.
We have been unable to hear the
other speakers, but understand that
their lectures have been we'll received.
The Barnard family orchestra gave
good satisfaction on the opening day.
Their selections were neither trashy
or classical, but of the higher class of
popular music which met with favor
from all.
The Ohio male quartette on Wednes-
day pleased the audience with their
work. Individually the members of
this organization possessed no remark
ably fine voices but this did not prevent
some fine quartette singing, while
their humorous selections pleased that
portion of the audience, always in the
majority, who pay their money simply
that they may laugh.