Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-06-22
HOW CHAUTAUQUA WILL DO
ITS "BT"
The Whole Program Will Ring
with PatriOtism-Why 1t Was
Named "The Greatest Thing in
America" by Theodore ROOse-
welt.

How can we do our bit?" is the ques-
ton millions of Americans are asking each
other in these wartimes
The Chautauqua committee has been
wondering how the Chautauqua could do
its bit in this great national emergency,
and from Chautauqua headquarters in
New York city there comes the interest
ing information that the Chautauqua will
do quite big bit in taking advantage of
it's wonderful opportunity in getting right
down to plain facts with the people on
some Of the big problems that we are 60
ing to find ourselves staring in the face
before the end of another year.
1t was about ten years ago that Theo-
dore Roosevelt came out with the state
ment when he was in the White House
that the Chautauqua was the most
American thing in America" The state
ment was flashed across the country, and
those who knew of the work of the Chail-
tauQua knew what he meant. Some
didn't know. Some are still guessing
Simon Pure Americans.
What he meant was that, this being 6
country given to intimate and close study
of all great issues on the part of the peo
pie, they had the best opportunity in the
world to look squarely at big issues in the
Chautauqua. Therefore the Chautauqui
afforded them the best possible chance tt
be simon pure Americans.
Announcement comes from New YOrl
that this will be Patriotic year in th,
Chautauqua. The spirit Of patriotism
will ring in the music on each of the fiv
days, and it will be sounded time anc
again in the lectures to be given, ant
Americanism will be tie keynote of TIN
week. Why not? ITS the most American
thing in America"
If present plans are carried out tn
stage decorations will be in keeping wit
the air of patriotism that will sound il
the program. Red, white and blue muslin
pennants will adorn the platform and tn
American flag will be prominently dis
played.
{ Says Loring J. Whiteside, general man
ager of the Community Chautauqua, Inc
in New York:
Country Not Awake.
Our Chautauquas will come in direc
touch with several hundred thousan
people this summer. We are at war. W
don't know how long we will be at wal
The plain facts are that the country
not awake to the seriousness of condition
they may be facing.
The Chautauqua's duty is to bring tn
issues home to the people as nothing els
can do Think what it would have mean
to England and France if 5000 Chautau
quas had been in full blast in the summe
of 1914 when the governments of thes
countries and later the people found the
were really at war. 1t took these coun
tries months to bestir themselves. The
had no means of going direct to tn
p3ople, and the facts had to sift throug
gradually and slowly.
The Chautauqua's "Bit."
I'VE are going to make Chautauqua
great rallying place of patriotism in ever
community. That will be the Chautau
qua's Bit We want, and we must have
the unstinted cooperation of every loca
influence that is going to be effective i
bringing the people to the Chautauque.
AS to the program, it is a stronge
program than we have ever attempted.
know, because planned it myself, and
know what it cost.
~" The big feature will be the patriot
program on the first night. We ar
bringing as the principal speaker for tai
program Dr. Lincoln Writ publcist, wa
correspondent and noted lecturer II
has returned from an eight months tri
into the war zone, visited many of tn
armies, talked to officers and statesmc
from all of the countries at war exceptia
three He will speak on the subjcc
The Challenge of the World to America
| IN N rrpuroD1