The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-16
CHAUT AUQUA OPENS WELL IN DOWNPOUR Upwards of 1,5OO Enjoy Con. cert and Readings-ReV. P. :
 E. Matthias Speaks.

port Chautauqut assembly drew near Iy fifteen hundred persons to the Ca sino on State street last night, where Rev F. B. Matthias after speaking Q few words upon the past and present iChautauquas led in two verses of America" sung by the entire assem- blaze which was followed by brief prayer by the Rev. Gerald M. Beard. The entertainers of the evening were then individually introduced to their auditors by Rev. George M. Brown and included the OrpheuS quartet of New York city, assisted by s. Homer Eaton, reader.
 In the blue and gold hall, which for the occasion had been draped in Amer ican flags so that the smau stage at the south end was given ante-rooms, the big audience greatly appreciated the efforts of the artists, and repeated encores were sounded which led to many novel afterpieces to the classical program.
 In introducing the present Chautau- qua, Rev Matthias said: When IT was first suggested that a. Chautauqua be held in Bridgeport it was doubted very much whether it would be suc- cessful. People did not believe that 1t would get support and were afra1ds or the expense which they feared would be too great to meet. Some of the packers of the first one fully expected to go into their pockets, but neverthe- less went ahead and the success ex- ceeded the most sanguine expecta- tions of the most ardent supporter. It has been. generously supported and the chief trouble has been in finding suitable places large enough to ac- commodate all who wish to attend" He thanked the members of the Bridgeport Pastors association and
 offered the hope that this years Chau- tauqua would be the best in the his tory of the assembly.
 Rev George M. Brown, introduced as the Father of the ChautauQua," :" said that it made him feel very an cient to be so termed, for the Chautau- qua had been in vogue for many years. Rev. MT. Brown announced that to- days speaker, Dr. Richard Clark Ga bot, brought a, message that all Bridge porters would like to hear and that at trated lecture upon the European war, would be most interesting. It was further announced that the ladies of the Lutheran church will
 serve supper, so that those who visit
 the afternoon session may remain to
 meet their friends and yet be able to astay to the night lecture without hay
 ing to return great distances to their
 homes.
 Last evenings program was; | Barcaro11e c"Ta1es of Hoffman")- ORenhach-The Orpheus Quartet. 1 Reading-'Her Clothes as Seen by
 Him ''-E1lis Parker Butler-Mr. s. Ho- mer Eaton. Polonaise (''Mignon''- -ThondasLNay
 Reddick Prina.
 vuIcan's Song (''PhiIomen and Ban is")-Gounod-F Thomas. | Costume Impersonation-'FTh New
 Church Organ n''-wi1l Carleton-Mr. s. I Homer Eaton.
 l Aria-(' 'Reginel1a'')- Braga Charles W. Troxeu.
 T 1TV,- N@fI1~ lGsamson and De1ilah)- -Saens- EPersis Thompson Babcock.
 Song CycIe-''F1ora's Holiday''-F
 ouartet-.'come All Ye Lads and Lassies-''
 I Soprano sPastorale."
 Tenor-.@TeH Me, Charming crea- Iture.''
 Qdartet-sGentIe Dawn
 4 ouartet---''Tsne Country Dance''
 Il Contralto-'s sHaidens, Beware Ye.'' T Bass-.'Sound Argument '' I Quartet-"The PedIar Ca Catchy I Quartet-"The Conmotion of Love g The Orpheus Quartet. It may be said that the concert com pany are composed of artists of excep- ltional musical talent. Il Miss Prina has a lyric soprano voice of. large range and a< great variety of color. Miss Babcock's voice is of the real contraIto timbre, with exceptional range and volume. MT. Troxen is a
 tenor of rare ability and is a favorite
 in New York city concert work. MT. Thomas Is real basso cantante. He : is a member of the Weber male quar- Etet that gave such delight last season : S. Homer Eaton is a master in inter pretative readings.
 , There will be four days of the Chau- tauqua, including an afternoon and an 5 evening session today. At 2:30 today l a lecture was delivered by Dr. Richard } Clark Cabot, the subject of which was teThe Root and Branch of Social . Work At o'clock readings and inn } personatfons will be given by B. Ho- ner Eaton, assisted by the OTpheus t Iquartet, and at o'clock the illustrated
 lecture by Peter N1cQueen, in whict
 lover 200 picturessare included.