The Globe-republican., 1910-05-19
EDUCATING A NATION.
MANAGER HoRNER OF THE RED.
PATH CHAUTAUQUA.
Over a Million Miles Of TraveI--$25,-
600 Spent for Advertising.

WV oPoHt TOT AuvcrtteinQs
1 The Lincoln State Journal Of April
discusses at some length the plan
and scope Of the Western Redpath
System, whose manager, Mr.. Chas. F.
Horner, has his office in the Burr
Block Of that city. The wyiter Of the
article explains that the independent
Chautauquas all over the country have
been forced to abandon their projects
because the receipts have been insult
ncient to warrant them in continuing
to hold annual assemblies. 1t is
pointed out that what Is eyerybody's
business is no body's business" and
] that lack Of careful buiness manage
Nnent has compelled readjustment Of
method In the conducting "the peoples
university"
Mr.. Horner II credited by the Journal
with being one OF the originators of the
"oircuit plan" The season Of 1910 Is
the fourth for the Western circuit and
will be the largest ever attempted by
any management anywhere. Between
seventy and eighty assemblies will be
held in five states. In every case the
original Chautauqua idea-refned and
uplifting mental and moral education
and entertainment-wil be main
tained.
The Journal is quoted In part:
Already Mr.. Horner and his corps OF
trained assistants have mapped out
the safest and best route for each of
the two hundred and fifty persons,
who will have part in the seasons
work. This Is not so easy in view of
uncertain train schedules and the LA
bility to washouts, floods and natural
hindrances. To obviate this possible
difficulty substitute route are studied
out and when each man reports for
duty he is furnished preferential and
an alias routing.
To give one an idea of the magni.
tude Of the systems plan it is neces-
sary to give but few figures. The
total mileage to be travelled by the
people that make up the system for
1910 will be more than a million miles,
the equivalent Of two trips to the
moon and then three times around the
earth. $4,000 will be paid for railroad
and automobile travel And yet the
average move from place to place will
not be more than seventy miles.
But aside from the routing of the
talent, which has been reduced to such
a system as to make it a marvel of de.
tail, there is small army of Office
people and attaches all of whom are
| essential
To properly conduct seventy-five
assemblies thirty agents have been
assisting Mr.. Horner for several
months in selecting the towns where
the demand seems to warrant the
holding of a Chautauqua. Here con.
tracts have been made for the sale OF
the required number of tickets, ar.
rangsments have been made for a
proper site to pitch the big canvass
auditorium. advertising has been ar.
ranged for and hundreds of details
have been worked out.
Eight supsrintendents or platform
managers are employed. There must
be eight cashiers, sixteen gate keepers,
thirty-two ushers, forty or more tent
men, three travelling auditors, three
or four advertising managers and a
couple Of press agents to say nothing
Of dozen bookkeepers and stem.
ographers.
Thirteen car loads of advertising
matter will be sent out by mail and
express-more than one million
pieces.
Over fifty thousand letters will be
mailed before the close Of the season
mot bad thing for Uncle Sans cot.
fers,
Advertising will be purchased from
two hundred and fifty newspaper
Twelve carloads OF tents, sea-, and
necessary equipment will be kept on
the move and ten different railroads
will be patronized.
The Man Behind the Plan.
And now what OF the personality OF
the young man whose genius this
clock-work system is due? 1t will be
interesting to know that measuring
his age by the birthdays he has cele.
brated, this Napoleon of detail Is
barely on the shady side Of thirty
years. but measured by his experience
he Is old beyond his years.
1t requires superlative degree OF
optimism and an unbounded confidence
In human kind to enter into contracts
aggregating 100000 year in advance
Of the opening OF the season; to In
vest thousands more In perishable
equipment that must Withstand the
fury Of the elements; to arrange for
the expenditure of other thousands In
transportation and all the while bank.
ing his judgment upon his ability to
please the public and give them what
they need and want.
Yet this is literally what Mr.. Hor-
ner does and he makes 1t go. Perhaps
the controlling factor of Mr.. Horner's
personality lies in his ability to Judge
people and to surround himself with
efficient, able assistants. To them he
imparts his own confidence in his pro
jects and infuses them with his own
virile ambition and earnestness. Tai
ent, agents. employees, all are person
ally devoted to him ana would 60 to
any length to assist him. OF the hun
dreds Of men who have been connected
with him at different times he holds
the warmest respect and admiration
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