Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-07-09
Audience Somewhat Trimmed in the
Afternoon Following Previous
Strenuous Day Of
4th Of July.
THATCHER ORCHESTRA IS FINE
Big Crowd out to Hear J. Alden Lor-
ing on Through Africa With
Roosevelt"
THATCHER ORCHESTRA IS FINE
(From Saturdays Daily.

(FrOm Saturdays Da1ly).
The aftermath of the Fourth thin.
ned the attendance at Chautauqua
yesterday afternoon. After the pre-
vious strenuous day, people needed
and were inclined to take rest. The
tent was only sparsely peopled to
greet the James Thatcher Orchestra
at the afternoon session. This COM
pany of talented musicians will be
the musical attraction until the
close of Chautauqua. The orchestra
consists Of nine pieces. Quite nat
urally the harp attracts consider
ale attention, for harps are not as
common as they were in the days of
David the king. Without doubt,
however, the harps we have in our
day are superior to the ancient
make, and their playing would COM
pare favorably with the music of the
ancient temple. Webster City will
have opportunity to hear some good
harp music these closing days of
the Chautauqua.
In their first appearance the
Thatcher Orchestra created a good
impression. Almost fairy-like was
the effect of their music as heard
upon approaching the Chautauqua
grounds. Their program was first
class, and it fittingly closed with
the famous overture from, poet
and Peasant" The inclusion of, such
La number indicates the nature Of
the music we may expect from this
orch stra. The orchestration of the
witching music was very pleasing,
and the audience showed its appre-
citation. Lovers of good music will
want to hear this organization much
during it's tarrying in Webster City.
The afternoon program Of Friday
fell to platform manager, Arthur
McMurray, who presented in mono
logue the chief characters of Harold
Bell Wright's novel, "That Printer
of Udell's.' Mr.. McMurray is good
platform manager. He keeps well
oiled the machinery of the plat
form, for he knows his business and
does it promptly and we'll. 1t is not
so we'll known that Mr.. McMurray
is also good elocutionist. and that
his fort lies in the difficult art of
monologue.
Yesterday Mr.. McMurray took
nine principal characters out of the
novel and set them vitality upon the
Chautauqua platform. Those who
had not read the book got the heart
of Mr.. Wright's preachment, and to
those who were familiar with the
story Mr.. McMurray's recital was an
interpretation. The monologue set
the characters in good perspective.
but perhaps Mr.. McMurray excell-
ed in the delineation Of the charact-
er of Adam Goodrich. the wealthy
misanthrope OF the tale.
Something OF touch Of sadness
came over the audience at the close
OF the afternoon program when, in
behalf of the local management, Mr..
McMurray announced that there was
now but little possibility that Chau-
tauqua would pay its way this year.
The margin has always been close,
but this year there Is going to be
a deficit. The shortage Is likely to
be in the neighborhood OF $500. Bad
weather is largely to blame for this
condition. In addition to this, not
nearly so many season tickets were
sold this year. Mr.. McMurray made
an appeal for advance subscriptions
for season tickets for next year. A
goodly number of advance subscrip-
tons were secured.
4 1t seems clear that Chautauqua
ought not to be allowed to die In
Webster City. II 1t dies. something
not SO good will certainly take it's
place. and an uplifting influence
will have gone out Of the commun-
ity's life. Hitherto Webster City
has maintained high traditions by
supporting the best, and 1t does not
seem possible that the best people Of
the city and neighborhood will now
allow Chautauqua to pass out of ex-
istence. Perhaps the Chautauqua is
not held at the best time of the
year. Would the assembly be more
successful II 1t were held nearer the
center OF the city? There ought to
be some successful way out of the
present difficulty. The friends Of
the Chautauqua movement should
rally to the support of the local as