Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-28
HAPPY THRONC
FILLS GREAT TENT,
IlANDBELL RINGERS PROVE FEA.
TURE OF OPENING
DAY,
DR.. VINCENT LECTURES.
Fun Artist, Ralph Bingham Enter.
tains.
Program for Wednesday.

for Children in the big tent.
1o:45 a. m.-Lecture, "The So
cialized citizen,' B. F. Stanton.
2:3o p. m.-The Commonwealth
Quartette.
800 p. m.-Monologue, "a Mes
sage from Mars" Adrian M. New
ems.
1880 p. m.-concert by the
Commonwealth Quartette.
s:15 p. m.-Lecture, "Lop Sid
ed Folks" DR.. George r. Stuart.
thursdays program.
900 a. m.-seton Indian Work
for Children.
1o:45 a. m.-Lecture, 1.-THE
Schools and Social Problems" 3.
F. Stanton.
2:so p. m.--Music by Mrs.
Brown and the Boys.
500 p. m.-Lecture, "The Need
of the Hour" Judge Geo. D. Aid
en-.
1 1880 p. m.-concert by the Chi
caeo Boy Choir and Sarah Wath-
ena Brown.
800 p. m.-Superb Illustrated
Lecture, "Rome," Charles A.
Payne.
AT an early hour yesterday morn
ing workers We're busy erecting the
big tent, S0X142 feet, at the west end
of Thrill park on Union street which
has been the home of the Chautauqua
Tor three summers.
The weather predictions were un.
favorable yesterday morning to a
pleasant opening day, but the big
tent was packed with an audience es-
timated to be more than six hundred
people. Mr.. John Quincy Robinson
superintendent of the chautauqua, be-
fee introducing the Royal English
Bell Ringers, congratulated Manches
ter upon its well chosen site and the
favorable conditions which warranted
an interesting week of entertainment
and instruction.
Mr.. Robinson has had much eXper
fence as chautauqua manager ant
his crew of assistants made record
. time in erecting the tent and arrang
ing the seats and benches. Adjacent
4 to the center aisle are several hun
drcG chairs which may be reserved al
. cents each. Each holder is entitl
ed to a yearly subscription to the
Chautauqua magazine, the first is
sue of which will appear in October
This magazine will contain articles
penned by the systems speakers and
entertainers. The tent is we'll light
ed and faces toward the east. The
natural surroundings give the ground
an inviting appearance, and the spir-
\ it of chautanquanism pervades the
minds of those who have been to en-
joy this seasons delightful program.
The Seton Indian instructors this
morning opened their entertainments
and classes for instructive nature
study for the children, dividing the
youngsters by the Seton plan of or
ganization. Thoroughly trained and
competent women teachers will in
struct and direct the boys and girls
in Indian lore, endeavoring to incul-
cate honor, fairness, courage and
clean living as portrayed in the char
acters of Longfellow's and Coopers
tales. Legends of Hiwatha will be
told by the story tellers, and also of
natural history, observation and ap.
probation of out-of-doors. For those
boys and girls desiring to purchase
Indian costumes. Gildner Brothers
have shipment of such suits. The
classes meet every morning.
The concerts given by the Royal
English Handbell Ringers Monday af-
ternoon and evening were equal to
an entertainment costing from 20
cents to S1.5O. This company won
gilt edged opinions from the large au-
dience which had gathered together
on the first day of the Chautauqua
beneath the white dome of the big,
canvas tent. The players were at
tractlve in appearance as they form
ed three sides of square on the
platform with III scientifically con-
structed bells before them. Each
bell is played separately. This mu-
sic is not altogether new, although
unique and delightful A quarter of
a century ago a company of Swiss
players visited the United States
and then an English company. The
true story of the bell ringers is as
follows, written by one who knew
their origin:
In the ancient city of Norwich,
England, there stands the noble old
st. Peters church in the towers of
which are hung one of the finest set
of eight bells in all that country. It'll
is a matter of historic pride that no
better bell-ringers could be found
than those who rang here in tuneful
and inspiring concert on Sunday
mornings and holidays. The ringing
of the bells of st. Peters on Christ
mas morning and at the coming in
o. the New Year is one of the most |
cherished customs of the city. Old |
citizens would have regarded it as
calamity if the bells did not ring
and young lovers would wonder what
was the matter. 1t was here that the
Royal Handbell Ringers had their be-
ginning. The bell ringers of this bel
fry were a fastidious and conserva-
tive set of men who usually resented
all Intrusion into their domain but
there was one boy of more than half
century ago named Duncan S. Mil
Ter who was so passionately fond Of
the bells that these old men admit