Milford chronicle., 1912-02-16

~ Shall our town have a Chautauaual
lhat is the burning question of the mo-
ment. A proposition to establish and con.
duct such an institution in our town is to
be presented by a representative Of the
Chautauqua Association of Pennsylvania at
an approaching meeting. This is an or
ganization chartered as a 'non-pro6t cor
porauon' for the purpose of extending the
Chautauqua movement into the communi-
ties of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania and adjacent territory. The finau-
ciers who are backing the organization are
soldiers of the common good" who are
anxious to be of service to their fellow
man. he Director of the Association is
Or. Paul NJ. Pearson. of Swarthmore Col
lege, widely known for his lecture-recitals
and Tor his organizing ability. With him
are associated a number of experienced
Chautauqua workers. The Association is
organized in an efficient manner to ac-
compllsh the big purpose it has undertaken,
and the personnel of its staff insures that
its standards will be the highest.
This Association proposes to make it
possible Tor our community to have a
Chautauqua 1t will be a matter of sur
prise to our readers to learn that there
are more than one thousand such institu-
tons IN our country, mostly in the middle
west, where there are frequently two or
three to the county. These Chautauquas
AeIA6N AAOih tllN Sllldi olBdIlEdAlOUs uOlHlu4
an assembly of three or four days, to the
great Chautauqua Institution at Chautau-
qua Lake, N. Y, where twenty-five thou
sand people spend season of sixty days.
A COMMUNITY NEED SUPPLIED.
This widespread adoption of the Chau-
tauqua proves that it fills a real need in
the II ; OF the people. As matter of
fact is the only unbiased non-sectarian,
non-i artisan platform in our land. No
where else can the great questions of our
day be presented so frankly and so freely.
The speakers on the Chautauqua platform
are of all creeds and no creed, of all par
ties and no party. They are simply men
and women with a message. and the Chau-
tauqua affords them on untrammeled forum
for its utterance The opportunity pre-
sented by the Chautauqua platform has
been appreciated by our greatest men.
Roosevelt calls Chautauqua ''the most
American thing in America" because of
its unfettered liberty of discussion Bryan,
La Toilette, Champ Clark the late Senator
Dolliver, Senators Gore. Cummins, BristOw
and many other moulders of public opinion
have found the Chautauqua one of the
best avenues through which to reach the
ear of the people.
But the Chautauqua is not all serious.-
not all lectures and instruction. 1t stands
for the sacrcdness of laughter. It min
to lives overburdened with cares and
labors. While it instructs, it >entertains
while it makes men think. it also makes
them laugh. And it stands for music
good music and lots of it the hest music.
rendered so perfectly that the popular
audience forgets its inherited prejudice
against the classics. Thus, while it en-
tertains, it also elevates. Chautauqua ap-
propriates every device for Frightening and
broadening life. hence moving pictures. so
potent for veal or woe, are invariably a
part of its program. The films used are
carefully selected, some of them made to
order. presenting bright, clean comedy, in
teresting travel scenes as well as purpose
pictures.
GREAT LECTURES AND DEBATE.
The Chautauqua which it proposed to
establish in our town will offer a superior
program of lectures. music, readings and
entertainments. Only a hint of the pro-
grams richness can be given here Among
the lecturers who have been secured are
Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson, the hero
of Santiago and brilliant Congress nan !
from Alabama Henry w. Wilbur, an un
usually gifted Quaker preacher; William