Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-08-09
CHAUTAUQUA
WAS SUCCESS
Three Hundred Dollars Lost but
Alma Will Bring Attrac-
tiOn Back Next Year.
HUNDRED SIGNED GUARANTEE
Program This Year Finest Given
Since Chautauquas Started
I'm Alma.

lhe keupath Ohautauqua Tor l9lt
came to close Tuesday evening
with the concert by the famous
Creatore band, and with It's close
there was not person, who had
witnessed the previous chautauquas,
but who believed that the program
OF the 1917 chautauqua excelled any
thing that the city has yet enjoyed,
and made the people of Alma de-
termine to have another chautauqua
next year.
With the close of the ticket selling
this year there seemed to be a ques-
ton as to whether or not Alma
would continue to bring the chautau-
qua here, as the committee which
guaranteed the affair lost $4,000,
which thirty-two men had TO put up.
The high class of the present chau-
tauqua made the Civic league deter
mined to bring this great attraction
tC Alma again next year, however,
and the ladies started out to secure
one hundred signers for the contract
and guarantee list for the chautau-
qua next year. How we'll the ladies
did their work was made public Tues
day evening, when it was announced
that the chautauqua would return to
Alma, over one hundred people hav-
ing signed the guarantee list.
The work of the ladies', and the
willingness with which the people of
Alma went on the guarantee list is
q striking example of the desire to
bring to Alma, the best possible at
fractions, all of which will work for
the uplifting of the city and its peo-
pie TO a greater or less extent.
The second half of the chautauqua
week started Friday afternoon with
the concert by Antonio Sala, the
Spanish celiist and his assisting ar
fists. A number of highly pleasing
selections were rendered by these"ar-
fists, after which Miss Mayer of OBJ
erammergau in her charming style,
gave her famous lecture, "The Pas
sion Play" Her lecture was warmly
greeted by the large audience which
heard it.
In the evening the Spanish cellst
and his assisting artists gave another
short, but delightful concert, and then
was followed by the Indian princess
Watahwaso, who gave "A most inter-
esting lecture on the Indians. She
also sang numerous Indian songs,
gave a number of the Indian dances
and rendered in her charming way a
number of Indian 1legends, including
the one, relating TO the origin of her
tribe.
Saturday the chautauqua goers had
what was probably the finest treat of
the entire week, with the Gilbert and
Sullivan Opera company. In the af-
ternoon the orchestra of this COM
pany gave a concert and i'm the even
ing the comic opera, "The Mikado,"
was presented. Without question
THE Mikado" was the finest opera
that has ever been seen in Alma, and
held the close attention of the audi
ence throughout the entire perform
ance. The cast of thirty people was
a strong one, there not being a weak
member in the entire cast The
splendid music of the orchestra aided
in making THE Mikado" the hit of
the week
Sunday evening an added attrac-
ton was given in the person of big"
Mason, a noted railroad y. NJ. c. A.
worker, who was on the border last
year with our troops. He gave an in
teresting address on the Y. NJ. c. A.
and its work in the army and navy,
and brought home more forcibly than
ever the great need which the coun-
try has for this organization.
George l.. McNutt, the original
dinner pail man, was the attraction
Monday afternoon with his lecture
on "How to Meet the High Cost of
Living" The lecture was full of
thought for the American people,
thousands Of whom have heard il of
late months. 1t was an earnest plea
for conservation of food at the pres
ent time, when Americas allies are
turning their eyes to this country
for foodstuffs.
In the evening under the direction
of Miss katherin Stiles, the Mother
Goose festival was given. II gave
keen insight to the possibilities of
training young children, Miss Stiles
having had just five days in which
to train a half hundred youngsters
for this festival IL went off without
a hitch, and was particularly pleas
ing to the young people present and
also to the older ones. The festival
was followed by the lecture Of Lieut.
Robert Bowman, who has seen con-
siderable service in the great world
war. IL was well illustrated with
pictures taken by Lieut.. Bowman on
the battle fields on the west front,
and had a peculiar interest for Alma
people who are about TO send many
of their sons to Europe, to take part
in that great struggle for humanity
end democracy.
Tuesday, the last day Of the chau-
tauqua brought to Alma, the famous
Creatore band of nearly half hun