The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-07-08
The Original
Chautauqua
A Very Interesting Description Of
the Famous Chautauqua and
its Plan and Scope.

its Plan and Scope.
Paper Read Before the Chdutduq.ta Circle.
It has occurred to me that as MEM
bers of the Chautauqua Circle 1t might
be Interesting to many of you to know
q little of the country round about the
original Chautauqua and some of the
beauties of the lake, named Chautau-
qua, upon which this little city of sum-
mer is situated, so trust today [ may
have a certain claim upon your pa
tience and forbearance in the fact that
L may state many things already known
to you in my endeavor to tell you of
Chautauqua, as it appeals to me, of the
be auties of the lake and surrounding
country, where passed the first twen-
tyfive years of my life.
The first Chautauqua Assembly, at
Chautauqua, New York, was two
weeks gathering in the woods of per-
sons interested in the improvement of
Sunday school methods and was in
spired by Louis Miller of Akron, O.,
aud John II. Vincent, then of New
York. The meeting was held in the
year 1874. Here was the seed of the
Chautsuqua idea planted, which was
destined to grow into system of pop
ular education recognized the world
over as one OF the greatest educational
movements of the age. In the time al
latted can only refer briefly to a few
of the many avenues for entertainment,
pleasure aud profit to be found at Chau-
tauqua.
To one coming to Chautauqua from
the West, via the old Lake Shore Road
{now the New York CentraD you part
from your train at Westfeld, New
York, prosperous little town of about
three thousand inhabitants, situated
half way between the cities Of Erie and
Detroit, and seventy6ve miles from
Buffalo. You are now one mile from
Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie ant
six miles from Lake Chautauqua, whicf
is seven hundred feet above you ant
fourteen hundred feet above the leve
of the sea, it being the highest body o
water on the globe traversei by a lin
OF passenger steamers. At Westfiel'
you take the electric car, on Ole of tn
best equipped trolley roads in this coun
try, aud 20 east to Mayville, a beauti
full little village at the head of LAX
Chautauqua and three miles from tn
Assembly grounds. After leaving West
field the trolley line travels constantl
up great hills for the first three mile
until it reaches ridge, where you ca
see Lake Chautauqua's waters in from
of you, while behind you, three mile
away and one thousand feet below 20
magnificent panorama limited onl
where the waters of Lake Erie seem
meet the clouds, beyond miles of bea'
tiful shore line as far as the eye ca
reach. At this ridge, or watershe
many years ago stood an inn, cale Il
Half Way House and known as Blu
tons Inn Of which Judge Tourgee b.
written his story entitled Buttons II
which 1 notice is in the library heI
From this ridge it is but moment
ride to Mayville, when you take t
steamer for Chautauqua. Right he
I desire to say that it would be difficr
to find a better line of steamers tn
those of the Chautauqua Steambo
Co. The Company operates eight
nine large, well-equipped steame
with comfortable cabins, orchestra q
everything for the passengers comic
Leaving Mayville the steamer hea
due east across the lake and ia abe
ten minutes lands at Point Chautauq'
Here indeed is one of the beauty sp,
and contains the summer homes
many Buffalo and Pittsburg peoE
Leaving Point Chautauqua tae stea
er's course is almost directly sou
across the lake, where in few y
ments you are at the pier at Chaut
qua. The pier stands at the apex
broadly triangular plot OF thickly-Wo