The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-07-27
BIG CROWDS; BAD
ACCOMMODATION
Chautauqua at Whidbey Is
land a Commercial
Success.

IHe NOFtnWeSC CudutauQua AS
sembly, now in its fifth annual ses-
sion at Maxwelton, WILDLY Island,
will close next Sunday night. Some
of the Wenatchee contingent in at
tendance are: Mrs. Judge Mccoy,
Mrs. Annie Hall, Mr.. and Mrs. w. A.
Thompson, Mr.. and Mrs. John Scott,
A. N. Corbin and wife formerly of
Wenatchee), the Human and Tor
renee families of Cashmere, and
Mrs. w. H. Bibelow.
About 600 people are camping on
the grounds, but the largest attend
ance is on excursion days when some
big celebrity is advertised to speak.
1t is estimated that fully 5000 Wis
itors were on the grounds last Sun
day to hear the famous evangelist,
Billy Sunday, preach. Possibly a
third of that number were present
the day previous when Gov. Folk of
Missouri was advertised as the head
liner. Next Sunday Rev. Sam Small
will be the drawing card.
This assembly on WILDLY Island
is typical of the new idea now in
vogue mostly through the east. The
old mother Chautauqua in New York
was run strictly on educational and
religious lines. Any one not inside
the grounds on Saturday night could
not enter until Monday. The Sab
bath was a day for devotion and rest
No especial celebrity was advertised.
After other Chautauquas sprang
up in various parts of the country,
many of them found it difficult to
steer clear of financial rocks. Many
more were absolutely wrecked. Then
it was that old ideals were more or
less displaced by the modern COM
mercial Chautauqua. Celebrated
men like Bryan, Tillman, LaFOllette,
Sam Jones and Booker Washington
were engaged to speak and big ex-
cursions arranged from all surround
ing points. Grounds were made at
tractive from the picnicking stand
point. The biggest drawing cards
were advertised for Sunday pro-
grams. AS a result, the old fash
toned semi-camp meeting has every
where been displaced by the up-to-
date commercial Chautauqua.
Such an assembly is the one now
in session on the Sound. Gu Whid-
by Island a swamp has been drain
ed, the cat tails cut down, pavilion
with a capacity of $500 persons was
built, and other accessories of the
modern Chautauqua installed. This
being the first season, it could not
be expected that every convenience
would be anticipated or sufficiently
provided. Possibly success was not
expected in the degree received. At
any rate, the people have been poor
ly taken care of. One lady from this
city who has always been used to
grounds last Saturday night and was
made to sleep in a little tent with
family containing several children.
Her only bed was a little hay cover
ed with some newspapers. Many
others were unable even to secure
these accommodations and slept out
in the open. Eating places are still
more defective. It is simply impos-
sible to get anything fit to eat on
the grounds. But on Sunday, it was
case of starve unless you had
brought your lunch with you.
The regular attendants who are
camping on the grounds do not all
take advantage of the religious and
educational opportunities offered.
The morning Bible class is held in
small tent where not over twenty
could be seated. 1t is never crowd
ed The physical culture class for
women is frequented by about fifty
ladies every day. The regular lee
| lures on educational topics are heard
by thirty to forty people. But the
afternoon and evening concerts by
the ladies eight-piece orchestra are
well patronized.
The regular campers are made up
mostly of church members and min
listers who are pitching their tents
on the grounds and taking a summer
outing in this manner.