South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-23
THE CHAUTAUQUA AND PUBLIC
PREJUDICE.


OF the patrons through acquaintance,
is an old saying. and South Bend is
proving no exception TO the rule. one
needs but attend the sessions at Kiefer
field and witness the larger audiences
than assembled any previous year. TO
readily observe the effect that past
chautauquas have had upon the South
Bend mind It may be that each year
Arrangements do seek TO provide bet
ter attractions, but the cultivation of
human appreciation through years OF
service plays a part quite as important.
This has been proven time and again.
In cities where chautauquas have
been running for decade or more, it
has frequently been question OF
how 10 handle the crowds. more than
how TO fill the tents.
II is because like every new thing,
the chautauqua always starts off with
a lot of prejudice against it. Com
muni-ies are so afraid they Will hear
something likely TO yank them out of
their old ruts Frank DiXon's lecture
on Taking stock of a Town" We'd
nesday night, would scarcely have
brought out "A thimble full of people
three years ago, but this year the tent
was pretty we'll hlled Sylvester Longs
lecture Tuesday night on Hungry
People" would have brought out only
those interested in dietics, the first
year OF the chautauqua, out since then
south Bend thinkers, and the willing
10 learn. have through succeeding
chautauquas. had their wits sharpened
until they do not take announced sub
jects so seriously. and are able 10 find
something good and entertaining in
everything For lasting benefit 10 a
community we will take stock any
time in a seven-day chautauqua each
year as against any number of Billy
Sunday campaigns. and this is not dis
counting Billy Sundays good work
either.
Besides they are less expensive.
everybody. with the least disposition to
acquaint themselves with the advanced
thought OF the age, can afford season
admission. True. Billy Sundays sal
vation was free. yet for every man.
woman and child that hit the trail, 4"
il cost someone about 81 TO cover tab
ernacle. salaries of assistants, and
free-will offering TO the preacher. This
also served as compensation for those
who listened without "treading the
sawdust," it must be confessed. and
for four or five weeks, and yet we in
sist that for lasting benefit TO the COM
munity, a seven-day chautauqua prac-
ticalizing the mind and clarifying the
thought, has the sensationaliZing in
spiration OF revivalism beat in a dozen
ways Given the same crowds that
Billy Sunday was able 10 draw through
curiosity. and exaggerated religious
zeal and chautauqua appealing to
the head as welf as to the impulses.
would set the community several
leagues ahead of Sundayism, and it
would be there 10 stay.
And what is more, behold the SUI
peFiOr democracy! The tendency OF
revivalism is to establish a theocracy
20 substitute for democracy, rather
than TO advance that means of COM
munity salvation. which we already
have. You need not agree with all
that you hear at a chautauqua. and
what matters IL? Ii is generally that
with which you disagree that makes
YOU think. and therefore serves YOU
best. There is no one about the chau-
tauqua grounds 20 copsign YOU to per-
dition If YOU happen to entertain diff
feient views from those of the man on
the platform. Besides YOU needn't be
afraid OF being crowded off your seat
by the ultra -aristocratic, for having
learned that chautauQuas do not cap
italize wealth, and pander to it. for
S100 or $500 free-wil contributions
they are regarded as too cheap. and
seldom attended by the society bound
millionaires or their imitators The
chautauqua is a great university OF
useful knowledge where the great So
called middle class of people; those
who are doing the worlds work. meet
10 have their stock of growing intel
ligence and ideals recharged, and pre-
pare 20 practicable them.
We speak thus OF the Redpatt
chautauquas. like the one in progress.
here in particular, even more so thar
the original Chautauqua institution Al
ChautauQua. y Y. or the like OF tn,
Wtnona assembly at Winona. Their,
is more OF the secular and less OF the
q Sectarian about the Eedpath courses
Soutb Bend needs 20 get away from
the idea that because the Y. NJ. e. A
is a sort Of sponsor for the season. il
is any aftermath Of Billy Sundayism
or that it is religious propaganda OF
any sort. except perhaps to such ex.
tent as religion and intelectuaHsn
may be synonyms. 10 is a good thine
for the town in every possible way
and should be encouraged with al
sorts OF prejudice retired TO the limbo
South Bends chautauqua was under
way before Billy sunday came
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TRACT1ON OCTOPUS" BUSY.