Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-27

and the pianist strike UP the star-spangled
Banner.
issue of general interest. New foods, Shake
spearian drama, selections from grand opera,
clever readings by famous authors, Boishevism'
planes, national debts, are all subjects when
have been brought before interested Chautau2da
audiences. The object CT the Chautauqna is the
bringing of knowledge and upiift in all direc-
lions to the people.
The admission price is low, the program full
of live interest, and the entire performance as
carefully thought out and planned beforehand
az the menu which a skilled French chef pre-
pares for the most particular of banquets. The
mental diet qualities of each program are care
fully weighed prior to their selection. There
may be a certain number of calories OF science,
a few of travel. considerable music of varying
kinds. a little politics, and this year, especially,
plenty of good solid Americanism.
The Radcliffe Chautauqua SYSTEM, one OF
the largest of the fourteen large systems In the
United States, is specializing in American ideals
this season. The three big programs offered by
this system have as their topics. Americans
Political Ideal" Americas Social ideal' and
Americas Industrial IDEAL" The other num-
bers on this Chautauqua's programs for the
present season are equally topics of the rn2ment,
including "A Community Program The Value
of the Individual" and Americans All" The
last is a detachment of men collected from the
recruit educational centers Of the United states
army. This Radcliffe system is said to be the
only one in the country which carefully collects
ths material and performers for the entire
seasons programs in preliminary cooperation
to see that there will be no overlapping of in
terests, nc trite methods Of treatment, and,
above all, that there may be complete unity In
each program.
some inspiration, spur some of the many hear
ers with ambition, and afford accurate material
for community discussion of matters with which
every American citizen and all other lnnapi-
tants Of our country should be thoroughly
familiar. There are also special morning and
afternoon programs for the children. one
teacher in a southern school stated that the
Chautauqua meant as much to her pupils In
culture, right living and inspiration as a whole
wear i'm school The Chautau0ua is introducing
the long-frowned upon "~cramming' idea fash
ionably clothed and dignifed as intensive
training"
A Century Old.
What was evidently the life germ of the
whole Chautauqua idea was the plan which
originated in the brain Of one Josiah Holbrook,
son of a Revolutionary veteran, when he organ
lied forty farmers and mechanics into Millbury
Branch No. l of the American Lyceum in
Massachusetts in 1926. Mr.. Holbrook later
founded the Concord Lyceum and the Boston
Lyceum, Of which Daniel Webster was the first
president.
The evolution OF the lyceum into the Chau-
tauqua, however, was the idea Of the late Blshop
John II. Vincent of the Methodist episcopal
1t is interesting to note, in this con-
nection, that Bishop Vincent, like Abraham
Lincoln, who was a friend and admirer OF the
Bishop, was self-educated by a cabin fireplace.
His motto was Education ends only with life"
Dr.. Vincent was responsible for the nrst meet
ing on the shores of Lake Chautauqua, New
York, of what has become known as the
Mother Chautauqua of the World" in 1S70t
DR.. Vincent undoubtedly had a deep understand
ing of America and her people. Uncounted
homes have felt the influence of his life. Mil
lions of people who had been financially or
otherwise denied the privileges of a college edu-
cation had the sting removed from their regret
when Lake Chautauqua, under the supervision
of DIR. Vincent, opened possibilities OF achleVlng
Concentrated" wisdom. Both the summer
school and the home reading courses oitered
through this medium have proved exceedingly
popular. " u
women who have spoken from Chautauqua plat
forms all over the country. The American sense
of humor has made much of the fact that
statesmen, returned travellers, writer's and other
professionals temporarily out of a job have
taken up Chautauqua lecturing in homeopathic
doses. Most of them have been successful IN
interesting the public or they have gratif1ed that
innate curiosity which always invests the human
spectator when viewing a much-talked-of
specimen Of more or less geological oddlty, IN
addition to the especially prepared mental
menus, there are some Chautauqua systems
which choose their men and give them assign
ments to go out into the wide, wide world and
manufacture material to interest the Chautau-
qua of the future.
professional lecturer on a lyceum program. He
spoke in one hall ninety-eight times without
pay for his services, but before he finished ne
was getting $500 a night. Henry Ward Beecher.
another of the pioneer lyceum and Chautauqua
lecturers, was fond of telling the story of how
"once down East I was paid for my services
with twelve bushels of potatoes"
Other famous Chautauqua speakers are:
Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James
Russell Lowell, Louis Agassiz, Henry James,
Matthew Arnold, Julia Ward Howe. Irwin 8.
Cobb, former President Taft. W.. j. Bryan, Rear
Admiral Cary r. Grayson. physician to three
presidents; stephen Leacock. Senator w. s.
kenyon, DIR. Harvey Wiley, and Edna Ferber.
Larger each day is the number of talented
individuals who are coming to realize that II
they have a real, sincere message to get over
to the American public, the Chautauqua Is one
Of the happiest mediums available. No one
has ever yet attempted to dispute the fact that
we may be young but we're perfectly willing TO
learn anything that comes our way. Inc
American public can be depended upon to stop,
look and listen whenever it pays to enter a
khaki-covered college.