The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-04-10
CHAUTAUQUA PROGRAM
WILL Be INTERESTING
AND INSTRUCTIVE

This summer Caldwell is to hold its
hrst Chautauqua, and it is none too
early to be giving the matter at least
an occasional thought Later this
paper will tell you in detail just what
is to be offered in the way of various
forms of entertainment during Chau-
tauqua week. But it is a new thing
here, and, naturally, there are many
who are not just certain as to what
constitutes a Chautauqua. One need
not be ashamed of this fact, even
though the Chautauqua movement, as
described in a recent article in this
paper, is forty years old this summer.
The average person who has not liv-
ed in a community that supports
Chautauqua knows but vaguely its
purposes, its methods and the breadth
of its results. And as yet there is no
question that it will be the most inn
portant event in our city this year,
it is to the advantage of all to learn
just a little bit more about this new
thing (new here, that isl that is to
be brought into our community.
Many really have the idea that
meeting, thinly disguised, perhaps,
Dhl d CAMP n IlIlGlCSS.
Now don't ridicule or grow sarcastic,
you people who know it to be new
form of street fair-a sort of deo-
dorized carnival. Don't laugh at those
other notions-for your idea is just
as absurd as theirs. And possibly
there is third class who will growl
out that no sensible person even inn
agined Chautauqua to be anything
like either of these institutions. But
you, too, are wrong Ask any plat
iormist on our program this summer
about his or her experiences in the
towns having their first Chautauquas,
and you will find that these ideas are
abroad
But this thing-if we may use that
term-that our progressive people
are bringing here this summer is
neither of the things mentioned. 1t
is the livliest, sanest festival of snap
py interesting, worthwhile enter
tainment ever devised. Get the idea
out of your head that the program
will be dry and tedious. Chautauqua
managers flee from people who have
that sort of thing to offer. The
Chautauqua programs are built on a
recognition of the fact that people
are human beings, flesh and blood
mortals who long for the bright and
interesting, who have lips built for
smiles, eyes keen for the beautiful
and unusual, and brains thirsty for
we'll seasoned sense, and facts with
flavor. There will be Rctures-Stop
that runaway, some one! Now don't
stampede at the word, lecture" You
have a mental picture of solemn-vis-
aged man standing up in front of you
with a chart, lot of bilious-looking
bottles, and a pointer. Tush! That
isn't a Chautauqua lecturer. That's
a goblin. They don't put COLLINS on
Chautauqua programs. You'll find
the lecturers to be the cheeriest,
friendliest, laughter-loving fellows
you ever met they know all the
best stories going, and they'll do their
best to show you that sense and
smiles 90 together. They are men.
who have been called to the lecture
platform because they are students
of men and affairs and are competent
to delight you with their oratory for
everybody loves to hear an accom-
plished orator., entertain you with
their sparkling wit, and broaden your
views and life with their logic. That's
what Chautauqua lecturers are. Later
on, we'll tell you more about the men
who are to lecture here-who they are
and what they have done, and some
unusual events of their lives.
And music is always a very prom
inent feature of Chautauquas. Not
the patent-medicine, street-corner
fakir ''music"-but music. No, not
the incomprehensiDle sort that seems
to the unframed ear to be meaning
less tumble of vocal shrieks or in
strumental whanging either. That's
just the thing Chautauquas are whip
ping out. They are placing before
the audinces artists who are people
izing" the best music. That's
the way New York critic recently
expressed it in telling of this demo-
cratization of the most elevated and
beautiful music, classical, romantic or
modern, played or sung in our great
cities. Good music brings beauty and
sunshine into the home of the indiv-
idual soul. And you'll get good music