The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-18
The chautaugua.

Councu BluffS N0npare1. Inc
chautauQua-with a small 'c"-un-
questionably is on the tobosgan. Con-
ceived in the interest OF popular edu-
cation and of intellectual development
and spiritual betterment, it has pc
come, at least in too many instances, a
circus without the saving grace of
frankness, a money making device, or,
at best, market day attraction, sort,
of substitute for the county fair, with
out the big pumpkins, fat hogs and
other meritorious features which were.
the delight of old and young before
popular education by the chautauqua
route came along to elevate tastes,
Sioux City Journal: Education is
not more controlling in the work OF
the chautauqua platform than it is up
on the stage There are high stand
ards among lecturers, and the same is
true of men and women who make the
stage a profession The chautauqua
as a means of intellectual develop
ment is much like the sacred con-
cert as an agency in spiritual growth
1 The controlling motive is to draw
crowd and profit out of the receipts.
Chautauqua expenses are 50 large
that attention is compelled on the side
of the hest" attractions Men and 10
men flock 10 hear a speaker who has
made himself notorious. People want
to see such a man or such a woman.
An ex-champion of the prize ring does
- how
he has a better thing in travelling
about as an exhibit Stage people who
are scandalized find the advertisement
to their pecuniary advantage It is
: shame that women in good society
, lionize a disgusting criminal. The
chautauqua platform is not to be
sweepingly condemned, nor is the
Stage to be altogether mathematical
: Deficient discrimination is to be la
t mented and it is sorry contempla
j ton that the intellectual and mora
standards are not higher. Chautauqui
managements profess to be sometime
e more than entertainment committees
s They profess to be working for tn
J. good of their communities without tn
prospect of personal gain in none
sense. But thev want to play even.
$ and SO they fall easy victim to IN
a drawing card. On the other hanc
A stage managements make no pretens
:. that they are in the business for thei
own or anybody's health 1t is bus
ness with them. The people offer
, market for amusement, and they ar
out TO supply the market. Chautauqu
: attractions figure on the same basi
- They are nut on a cash basis, and the
charge what the market will stand
monopoly is put down to the credit
! genius. Chautauqua management
:. should follow suit or quit the gam
: unless. highly actuated. they really ca
- do business on the intellectual and e
= vocational basis. free of false pretens
II is wrong to encourage takers
Prince Alberts or in fighting neglige
~ 1t is especially wrong to encouras
- them IN the name Of bettermens TO I
AZ human race and uplift of soul ]
le draw the moral line thus taut M
mean much subsistence in the cha
tauqua business ana the fs4esaeioii
TO other means Of livelihood OF a co
IS siderable number of affable peopl
es but the merit Of the discrimination 7
or mains. If store is to be set by intelle
ot and education associated with the fu
a damentals Of truth. There is mu'
nd danger to society from what il know
ct, that IS not true, saturated with passi
and prejudice and greed of all
grees.