The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-08-23
The Chautauqua Idea
By Mr.. j. III. CssHam'')

medium than the Chautauqua as
sembles in these United States.
True, the MOVIES" and the daily
newspapers each have subscribers
totalling we'll into the hundreds of
millions, nevertheless our appar-
emily arbitrary statement is founded
on we'll established facts. Chief
among these is the knowledge that
the things which are both heard
and seen are best remembered. We
read newspaper or magazine ar
ticle today; tomorrow the details
are forgotten. Or we see a film
this week. and in few days for
get all but the featured star"
Chautauqua lectures are remem-
bered because we register a per-
sonal impression upon first seeing
the speaker; after listening for a
time to what the lecturer is saying
our minds associate his, or her
personality with the theme, and
the two are blended into remem-
brance.
Though but forty-three years
old the Chautauqua has evolved
from a local literary" society of
doubtful value to the community,
to real moulder of public opinion.
During 1917 more than six thou
sand Chautauqua assemblies will
be held in this country. The aver
age duration of each meet is five
days, making a total of about
thirty thousand days given up to
Chautauqua work in one year. 1t
has been calculated that daily av-
erage of a thousand is conserva-
tive estimate, meaning that in one
year some thirty millions of per-
sons are reached from Chautauqua
platforms. So it will be seen that
the old-style literary" society
served to answer a good purpose
after all. In the years gone by
Chautauqua assemblies were dom
mated by the pedagogic element in
the community. People were asked
to foregather to listen to lectures
on Brain Strata or complex sci
entific treatises on subjects with
which ninety-nine per centum Of
the attendants were unfamiliar.
But the evolution of the Chautau-
qua was rapid. Today it represents
the best in the working and pro-
fessional classes. Its messages are
delivered by educated men who
know how to make their messages
welcome. Men who have the pres
tige of past achievment and the
confidence of previous success. The
arts, sciences and literature, polit-
ical developments and social and
economical problems, all these are
explained in terms of every day
use.
Some years ago it was difficult
to induce men to subscribe towards
a Chautauqua assembly. The av-
erage man could not understand
the use of spending time and
money listening to solemn faced
lecturers explaining why Sweden
borg's theories were atheistic.
They were not interested.
The Chautauqua program today
is we'll balanced. Music forms a
considerable part of its scheme.
Entertainment is furnished to suit
all tastes while lectures and talks
on everyday topics are the fea-
lures.
In few weeks the local Pierian
Circle will be ready to hold its
first assembly. The thoughts of
its members should be centering
on plans for an enlargement of it's
old program. We must adapt our
own moves with developments as
they occur in the large, world,
otherwise we fall into a rut and
our own performance is simply a
matter of repetition.
! We need more cooperation be-
tween Circle, orchestra and singers.
The talent for solos, duets and
quartettes-both vocal and instru-
mental, lis here. Dramatic and
humorous sketches by one or more