Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-27
OUR INTELLECTUAL CIRCUS
By Frederic j. Haskin.

WASHINGTON, July 27.-High in the list OF
typically American institutions, together with
Election Day and the Zlegheld foiiles, 10 .me
Increasingly popular form OF entertainments
known as the Chautauqua, which mas oeeh
termed the Intellectual Circus OF America.
Chautauqua authorities say that last year aP-
proximately one-third Of the population Of the
United States = 35,449,750 people ATTENDED,
Chautauqua performances. IL mas peen p ~
dicted that this year the number enjoying tns
form of educational entertainment and It's sister
type, the lyceum program, will reach the hfty-
million mark.
which patronize the Chautauqua, but the Great
Chautauqua Belt, as the trade term mas II, AeS
in the middle western states, lniiudins espe-
cially: Iowa, which has 436; ILLINOIS. Sbz;
Ohio, 317, and Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Kansas,
Missouri, Wisconsin and Oklahoma new Loih
state has 201 separate Chautauquas aside from
the great organization at Lake Chautauqua.
Last year 1851 towns granted their inhabitants
and those of neighboring communities the prlVi-
lege of Chautauqua programs.
The movement is growing beyond the pouhos
Of this country and at present TWO con,,neh ;n
including four countries have Chautauquas ~
their midst. In North America the Onlted
States, Canada and Alaska are favored WIFE
the presence of these organizations. IN Aus
Zealand. Chinese students In this country are
said to be eager to carry the Chautauqua move
ment to their homo country, and Lloyd George,
Prime Minister of England, has been quoted
as giving the Chautauqua his heartiest ap-
prevail. A..
psychological basis which lies beneath the mar
yelous success of this institution. They are
The getting away of the members OF the auol-
ence from their mere community interests; the
getting together of a large body OF people
under the cover of one of these khakl-covereu
colleges; the formal discussion OF DIG prooleHs'
and the decidedly informal atmosphere OF the
place where the program is given. Ihese iac-
tors when set down in inflexible type look ex-
tremely paradoxical, yet they are not. Anu
above all, one should not forget, In TINS coo.
nection. what Gilbert X. Chesterton, KING OF
paradoxists (f such a word may be pernltteul
has stated, namely, that the American people
| have a positively heroic capacity for giving anu
receiving lectures.
Under the Brown Top.
Come inside the big brown tent Tor a minute
and stand with others) behind one OF the
poles which support the great brown TOP.
Every folding chair in the place is hlied WIN
solid men, nervous women, blinking cnlioreH;
A Young lady in a foulard dress sits with foldeo
| hands before the rented upright piano. A row
Of perspiring but earnest speakers ana town
officials rest their hands on their knees as tney
sit in a semi-circle on the little PLATFORM. the
architectural crudeness Of which is hidden
beneath gay red. white and blue draperles.
Tinv flies polka-dot the suffering electric
lights. The impatient honk of the horn on one
of the flock Of automobiles outside Is sounaeo
occasionally. At length the gentleman standing
by the rickety little cherry-varnisned stand sup
porting the proverbial pitcher of ice-water' mas
ceased speaking. A swarming buzz OF discus
sion gradually arises after the hrst tlmldly
volunteered questions. Struggling groups wall
to shake the speakers hand. The string quar-