Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-07-16
CHAUTAUQUA PROVING
A GREAT SUCCESS.
All Delighted With WauSau, Rothschild Pavilion
and Surroundings

The first Chautauqua ever held in
Marathon county was that which was
opened at RothSchild pavilion OF
Friday, July 18th. The day was in
every way favorable so far as the
weather was concerned, and the con.
census of opinion was that the payil-
ion and its surroundings could not be
eXcelled for convenience and comfort
anywhere in the country Every en-
tertainer took occasion to say this in
no uncertain way ana to pay the city
all kinds of compliments.
DR.. Gunsaulus was loud in his prais-
es of Wausau and was very much sur
prised to find such a building in a
city of this size as the pavilion, and
said that in no place in this country
could better conveniences for hand
crowds at ChautauquaS, than
was had right here in Waussu.
He believed that our people had every
thing to make ChautauquaS immense
ly. successful. This is true, as the eX-
perjence of the past week has shown.
The pavilion will take care and seat
all who may desire to hear an enter
tainment, and the Wausau Street
Railroad company, with its tracks
running within ten feet of the pavil-
ion, demonstrated that it can take peo-
pie to and from the park without any
long waits. So well has the company
arranged the running Of cars since
the pavilion opened that only at times
have the cars been oVercrowded, and
many times it was not the company's
fault for the people would crowd
when there were empty cars ready to
go as soon as filed cars were out of
the way.
On Friday night, when George E..
Colby was giving his cartoon lecture,
Wausau never experienced worse
electric storm. 1t was clap upon clap
of thunder and one continued flash of
lightning. Those in charge explained
that the pavilion was a very safe
place in which to be when such a
storm was in progress, as all its iron
girders which supported the immense
building were grounded. There was
wind with the storm; a building was
struck by lightning near by and the
fire which followed caused some ner-
vousness, but all was quieted by the
announcement by NJ. c.. Ewing that
the fire was a mile away. There can
not be stampede sufficient to hurt
any one at any time, for it is only
necessary to open windows and doors
and the building can be emptied in a
few moments. 1t is practically fire
proof and this was apparent to all
and highly commented upon.
At O'Clock, Friday, A. G.. Schmidt,
secretary, introduced S. B. Tobey,
president of the Chautauqua, who is
also Supt. of our city schools, who de-
livered the opening address, which
was brief and to the point Mr.
Tobey introduced Prof. Maynard Lee
Daggy, the platform manager, who
gave brief history of Chautauquas,
starting from their beginning, 80
years ago, which was very interesting.
The opening number was a prelude
by the Jess Pugh company. This
company was here Friday and Satur-
day, and gave two entertainments
each day. 1t is composed of three
persons and the programs consisted of
baritone and soprano solos, vocal
duets, dramatic and humorous read
ings, piano and violin solos, and they
gave the greatest satisfaction through
out. DIR. Ernest Wray Oneal, pastor
of the First M. e. church of Chicago,
followed with a lecture on popular
Fallacies." This is spoken of as
among the best lectures of the Chau-
tauqua, and has been talked about
ever since. 1t was to be regretted
that more were not present to hear
this eloquent man.