Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-07-07
WEEK IN CHAUTAUQUA.
CLOSED SUNDAY AFTER A PRO.
GRAM OF ORDINARY
MERIT.
Although Program Was Curtailed
BY Failure of Some of the Best
Attractions to Appear, Yet
it Was q Success.

The weeks chautauqaa program of
the Redpath-Vawter Chautauqua
System closed on Sunday evening,
the various sessions in the big tent
pitched on the school grounds having
been fairly we'll attended. 1t is the
concensus of opinion that the pro-
gram offered this year was much be-
low the standard set by the programs
of previous years, yet it supplied
number of interesting and valuable
entertainments, probably in all well
worth the price and time spent for
them.
Our last issue noted the address of
Congressman c. B. Landis and the
entertainment of Hal Merton, the
magician and ventroliquist on Mon
day afternoon and evening; the talk
by B. f. Stanton, the lecture by DR..
F. E. Hopkins and the concert of the
Royal English Hand Bell Ringers on
Tuesday.
Each morning throughout the week
Prof. B. F. Stanton lectured upon
some social or economic Subject, and
these were found to be the most
substantial and generally praise
worthy feature of the program. He
is a man of much ability and express
ed his thoughts clearly and forcibly.
Wednesday afternoon brief con-
Cert by the Chicago Boy Choir pre-
ceded the lecture on "The Man in
Overalls" by Allen A. Tanner. the
latter being the story of his own ex-
pertences In working with labOring
men and studying their conditions,
containing much of interest and val
ue TO everyone, and presenting the
real facts with reference to the work
ing class The lecture was much en-
joyed. In the evening Sarah Wa
thena Brown and the Chicago Boy
Choir gave concert of ordinary
merit She is splendid harpist,
but the Hour boys who sang did not
compare favorably with other enter
tainments of a similar character
which have been here. The same
evening Charles A. Payne gave his
illustrated lecture on Rome" which
was much enjoyed. The pictures
were good. and his lecture pleasing
and entertaining.
Thursday proved the Jonah day.
On account of the special train of
Carrie Nation of the West Union
chautauqua tearing up the track near
Independence the train bringing the
speakers to Decorah was delayed sew
eral hours. Prof. Stanton spoke in
the morning, and also In the after
noon. and Mrs. VIM. Waterman
kindly sang a beautiful solo. This
threw the afternoon program into
the evening, when DR.. Markley gave
his popular lecture on Heart
Strings and Harp Strings" and the
COle-Steele entertainers gave their
concert. DR.. Markley is a splendid
orator and gave lecture which
contained a message that made
deep impression on all who heard
it. The Cole-Steele entertainers were
not received with enthusiasm, al
though they offered some commenda-
ble numbers.
Friday was one of the best days
of the chautauqua. Both the lecture
by DR.. George r. Stuart on Lop-
Sided Folks" and the concert by the
Royal Hungarian Orchestra were
meritOriOus. DR.. Stuart is known
throughout the nation as one of its
greatest lecturers. and always pleas
es his audience when he comes to
DecOrah. The orchestra instrument
tation and the execution was first
class, and the program rendered by
them was greatly enjoyed
Sunday afternoon Robt. S. Seeds
gave MS popular lecture on HOW
God Makes Soil Fertile" which was
also one of the most enjoyable num-
bers of the week. His happy style.
his good natured. whole souled logic
and humor appealed to everyone, and
he was roundly applauded. The Con-
cert Trio gave concert in the even
ing, followed by Mr.. Albert Arm
strong in his fascinating picture
play Lorna DoOne." the play being
thrown on the canvas by a stereop-
ticon, while he impersonated the
voice of the characters. This was
novel entertainment for Decorah. and
was presented In delightful man