The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-06-12
OPENING TUESDAY AFTERNOON
MARKED IMPORTANT ERA IN
CITY'S HISTORY.
HUNDREDS ATTEND EXERCISES

der and the Program Well Ar
ranged. Judge Edwards Tribute
to Dawson Women.
The formal opening of the Aka
hest Chautauqua on Tuesday after
noon at 3:45 O'Clock marked an i'm
portant era in Dawson's history and
beralded the dawn of better civic
awakening. We were promised by
the management that no town in the
south should have a better Chautau
ma than Dawson and the verdict of
the delighted audiences even this
early in the week is freely given that
the promise has been verified and
that the company has made good in
every program put on. The interior
of the large tent stretched just south
of the court house in which the per-
formances are given, has been made
very attractive with palms and ferns
that show up well against a back
ground of red, white and blue in
graceful drapery. United States flags
placed at intervals give additional
color and inspiration. Mr.. Sewell,
representing the Alkahest Lyceum,
explained in a few words the plan
and purpose of the Chautauqua and
called upon Rev. T. NJ. Galloway to
open the exercises with prayer. Mr..
Sewell next introduced Judge NJ. c.
Edwards as the man who had been
the first to encourage the bringing
of the Chautauqua to Dawson, giving
not only his name to head the list
but substantial help in other ways.
Judge Edwards modestly protested
that he did not deserve the high
praise and CALAMITY gave the women
credit for much of the good accom-
plished in arousing interest. Judge
Edwards was very happy in his
choice of words in stressing the i'm
portance of high class entertainment
for a community and heartily con-
graduated the people of Terrell
county in the forward movement of
bringing to our doors attractions that
have thrilled audiences in the larger
cities. He called upon the people
to rally to this first Chautauqua ever
held in Dawson and sustain the rep
utation of our town and county. In
his expressions of loyalty to home
enterprises and his bursts of patriotic
fervor Judge Edwards was literally
applauded.
At this point Mr.. Hunt Cook, plat
form manager, was presented to the
audience. The directness of his re-
marks and his enthusiasm at once
stirred his hearers to greater inter-
est and better prepared them to en-
joy the rich treat in store in the
grand opening concert by the Neapol-
itan orchestra. We believe every one
present will bear US out in the state
ment that it is impossible to express
in words the rare pleasure expert
enced in listening to these exception
ally talented Italian musicians. They
received great applause from the
audience responsive to the suDllme
melodies so skillfully and delicately
rendered.
Miss Halle Gassaway appeared be-
tween the musical numbers in several
readings and carried the crowd with
her from start to finish. Her selec-
lions were of high order and her
wonderful voice carried thrill to
every part of the tent. Miss CASA
ways pleasing stage appearance and
good nature in responding to so
many encores made her at once
favorite.
With the opening program pitched
on such a high key it was no surprise
at the evening entertainment to see
the large and eager crowd that filed
the tent 1t was a magnificent au-
dience, in numbers and responsive
ness, and reflected much cerdit on
our little city.
Musical preludes by the Neapolitan
orchestra and Miss Gassaway's pop
uiar readings put every one IN me
mood for enjoying to the fullest the
lecture of DIR. H. W. Sears on the
subject: More Taffy and Less Epi-
taphy,' and his hearers were
charmed by his sound philosophy OF
life, as well as the flashes OF delight
full humor that brought forth burst
after burst of applause. In bringing
forward facts to prove his contention
that the world is growing brighter
and better, the speaker paid glow
ing tribute to Woodrow Wilson and
William Jennings Bryan, the mere
mention of the names provoking
such applause as to almost drown MS
voice. DR.. Sears was particularly
happy in his reference to Georgia
and the high place she occupies in
the Union. While in Virginia, Mis-
sissippi and other states there could
be found on the roll Of fame one
name that lowered above the rest in
Georgia could be found four names