Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1917-07-14
CHEAP ENTERTAINM'T
Chancellor Bradford Recently Contributed
to Lyceum Magazine an Article
Worthy of Consideration

Chancellor Bradford, OF the Uniyer-
sity of Oklahoma, recently contributed
to the Lyceum Magazine an article which
is worthy of careful considerations The
article was brought about by the Chan
celor's observation that many towns
seemed content to let their children
grow up at the mercy of cheap and
trashy entertainments, absorbing i'm
proper ideals, creating false standards OF
morals, and otherwise degrading them
selves. He said
Cheap entertainment is like cheap
soil lit won't grow much but weeds 1t
is not far from cheap entertainment to
bad entertainment, and bad entertain
ment is like bad eggs it smells bad as
long as the shells of the stuff are around.
Young people are worth more than
calves, and as the farmer doesn't like to
feed skimm milk to calves, it does seem
odd that parents expect their children
to get high ideals from entertainment
that has the inspiration skinned off
Out in Iowa | hear farmers complain
of not being able to fatten cattle on soft
corn. To finish them they must ship in
hard corn. 1t is expensive too, but it
must be had. 1t pays. We know young
people cannot any more come to their
big place in life on soft mushy enter
falF NgnF fnr l.,
market with cattle fed on soft corn. OF
course we want our children TO be the
best, and get the best but we ourselves
are busy and we hope that they will
somehow, somewhere, find the best
themselves.
Some folks are mean enough to say
that children want cheap entertainment,
they can't appreciate any other kind
There never was greater untruth told
than that. These folks thought because
the children giggled at cheap entertain
meut they liked it. Children also make
more noise eating soup than in eating
meat.
If any community has taught its young
people to prefer the cheap stuff, what is
the plan for the future? Keep on serv-
ing up cheaper and cheaper? Or begin
before it is too late with program en-
tertaining and uplifting"
Good common sense talk, which Chan
cellor Bradford loosens. And perhaps,
unintentionally, he has pointed the rea-
son for the tremendous growth of the
Chautauqua during the past few years
Home town folks are rather far-seeing
folks, and wise in their own generation
The young people of any community
supporting a Chautauqua have such
privileges and such opportunities as our
forefathers never dreamed of If our
ancestors had an opportunity to hear
and see one great man in score ofyears
they considered themselves lucky. To-
day the Chautauqua offers multitude of
chances to hear, for little money, the
foremost thinkers and musicians in the
land.
The Chautauqua is the champion of
neighborhood life at its best
The Chautauqua appeals to and for the
whole family. 1t pulls with father and
mother for the best interests of the chill
dren. 1t glorifies home life and is al
ways safe, sane and conservative.
The Chautauqua pays hundred fold
in community betterment In boosting
it, we proclaim cur faith in all good
things, and we join the forces of pro-
gress. 1t is the ally of the home, the
public school, the church, the commun-
ity club, the Chamber of Commerce, the
fraternal order, and every real business
factor in the town and country.
The Chautauqua is community col
lege If education is profitable, if cu.
ture is desirable, if morals pay, if pro-
gress beats stagnation, if our community
really cares for the choicest things the
times afford, we must boost the Chau-
tauqua.
Business is not altogether question of
dollars. 1t is equally question of en-
larged community life and cooperation,
whatever keeps your town on the
map.
The Chautauqua is a matter of city and
county concern. The vacation periods
of many people are being determined so
as not to interfere with Chautauqua
week entertainments. The Chamber of
Commerce and Community Club are to
be recognized, and their interests will
find expression and advancement in our
Chautauqua program. The fraternal
societies, directly linked to more homes
than any one factor in the community,
will join in recognition of the Chautau-
qua as promoter Of family safeguards
and betterment.
Everything good speaks forcibly for
the Chautauqua.
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Steps are being taken by the South