Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-25
BIC MEN TAKERS
FOR CHAUTAUQUA
Held Criticism Directed at Sec
rotary of State Bryan Is
Unjustifie
New York Times.)

4, 1874, a group of clergymen and Sun
day school teachers held the first
chautauqua meeting. This summer
chautauquas are being held in 5000
American cities and towns; it is esti-
mated that by the end of the season
in September 100000 will have paid
their admissions to chautauqua tents
and auditoriurns, and that approx
mately $7,50Q,0O0 will have been dis
bursed as gross expenses for the hold
ing of chautauquas. Such is the popu-
larity which has been attained by the
chautauqua, the most American thing
in America"
The meeting of 1874 was held at
Chautauqua. n. Y, it being from this
place that the subsequent chautauquas
have borrowed the name. At Chau-
tauqua, y. Y, the chautauQua institu-
ton, the direct result of that assem-
blage of 40 years ago, is carrying on
many activities on an extended scale.
1t will hold a 10th anniversary week
beginning Aug .. This week will be
preceded by a musical festival week,
also in honor of the anniversary.
The chautauqua institution has no
connection with the rest of the 5000
chautauquas. These, in turn, are split
into groups and individual units. The
two main divisions are system or cir
cult chautauquas and local chautau-
quas.
There are 10 system chautauquas.
which control circuits of towns in
which chautauquas are given, of these
circuit towns there being 2,400. These
system chautauquas are independent
of each other and in many instances
are competitive in attempts to book
towns
In addition there are GOO local chau-
tauquas, these chautauquas being own
ed and managed in individual towns,
each being Independent and having no
affiliation either with the circuit chau-
tauquas or with the original chautau-
qua, the chautauqua institution.
1t is the circuit chautauquas which
are chiefly responsible for the large
amount of advertising which the whole
chautauqua movement has obtained as
result of the appearance of Secre-
tary of State Bryan on the platform,
most of Mr.. Bryan's lectures being
given in the tents of circuit chautau-
quas. He has, however, also spoken
at local chautauquas and has appear
ed-though not since being secretary
of state-at the chautauqua institu-
ton.
Chautauquadom as a whole is by no
means pleased with the kind of adver-
Using which has come from the dis
cussion of Mr.. Bryan's lectures. The
average man on the street has been
under the impression that the secre-
tary of state was as excellent a press
agent as the chautauqua movement
could desire. But talk with chautau-
qua officials last week produced the
news that the rose of this advertising
has very distinct thorn.
The chautauqua men say the diff
Guilty is that the newspapers have feat
ured to such an extent the yodlers and
magicians who have CHANGED to be on
the programs with Mr.. Bryan that a
large number of people who are un-
familiar with chautauquas have got
the Impression that these offer only
species of vaudeville show, whereas it
Is explained that the success of the
chautauqua has come largely from its
Informative features and its more SER
ious side. I'VE are uplifters,' is a
saying in chautauqua circles.
Although Mr.. Bryan's chautauqua-
nizing has been SO much commented
upon, a glance at the list of men and
women who have appeared upon the
chautauqua platform. or are appear
Ing this summer, proves that the sec
rotary of state is by no means the
only person OF spotlight prominence
who has felt the call of chautauqua
The roster OF those who have spoken
at the chautauqua institution includes
the names of Ulysses S. Grant,
Rutherford b. Hayes, James A Gar
field. William Mckinley. Theodore
Roosevelt, William H. Taft, James
Bryce. Robert NJ La Toilette. Charles
E. Hughes. b. B. Odell, Marcus A
Hanna, Earl and Countess of Aber-
deem. Henry Drummond, Lady Henry
Somerset. Maud Ballington Booth. SUI
san b. Anthony. John B. Cough. Fran
ces e. Willard. William James. Lew
Wallace. Edward Everett Hale. Thorn
as Nelson Page, George w. Gable, ia