Oxford Democrat., 1921-07-19

RETURN ANOTHER YEAR SLOWLY BUT
SURELY MADE CERTAIN.

ANVIAEh YEAR SLOWLY But
SURELY MADE CERTAIN.
The program of the Community Chan
tauqua, which had in its various parts
lasted for . week, closed Thursday night
and the general verdict is that the series
has been up TO the standard of previous
years. Perhaps partly owing to the local
business conditions just at this immedi.
ate time, the attendance has not been q
large a. In some previous years, and the
local association win not more than pay
expenses from Its share of the receipts.
Wednesday evening, with the large au.
dience which attended the play, the cam
paign for pledges for season tickets for
1922 was begun, with the announcement
by President e. N. SWEET of the local as.
ISOLATION that the contract would not be
delivered unless 600 season tickets were
pledged. There was no hesitation about
signing the contract, on which there are
. large number of names, but the guar
antors felt that they should have at least
800 pledges. The plsdging went slowly,
less than $50 being secured Wednesday
night, but good work Thursday after.
noon and evening finally brought the re-
quired Dumber, and the Chautauqua will
be with us next year.
"The New Englanders'' gave the
musical part Of the programs of Monday.
Anna Eichhorn plays the violin, Florence
Hale sings, and Rose Walsh gives
character readings. A special New
England flavor was given to the program
by some "old fashioned" music. Miss
Walsh, while all her readings were good,
was especially effective in an excerpt
arranged from Booth Tarkington's
Seventeen"
Monday evening following a short
program by the New Englanders, the
stage was held by Brush the Great, with
magic and mystery, and the audience
was highly entertained, even though
nobody knew how 1t was all done. A
lighted lamp covered with cloth dis
appeared of the face of the earth, and
left nothing but the cloth, while at an
other time Q good.sized tub OF water
materialized from under the folds OF a
cloth which had but q moment before
been waving in the air. And so on
through an hour and half, until at the
close Brush himself, making bis exit
through the door at back Of stage, was
uncovered shortly after under rug at
the front of the stage which had q
short time before covered the form of
one of his assistants, and had been under
the eyes of the audience all the time.
To some this was the best program OF
the series.
Regarding Tuesdays musical program
there is doubtless more variance OF
opinion than as to most of the features
Of the series. The International Concert
Party 10 composed of Eta s. Bradley of
Boston, soprano; Ben Redden of Boston,
tenor; Harry D. Newcom6 OF Halifax,
baritone, and William Haddon, a noted
Swedish concert pianist. The first three
are all operatic singers, and large part
of their selections were from we'll known
operas. This was perhaps the highest
grade of music which was presented for
the week, and was to some degree over
the heads of some of US; but the singers
all had such fine voices and were so
artistic in their rendering, that their
work could not but be pleasing; and to
those fitted by nature and training to
appreciate the music to the full, this
was about the most enjoyable program
that was presented.
When Strickland Gillian had finished
Tuesday evening, the remark was heard,
"Well, I wasn't going to come, for l
don't care much for lectures, but don't
call that one." Don't ask anyone to
describe Gillilsn's talk to you-it won't
be dopa, 1t can't be done. 1t is unique.
A good part of the time the speaker
seemed to be doing nothing much but
making casual remarks to kill time, and
vet half the time he had his audience
laughing till the tears came, and fre-
ausntly the tears were ready to start Tor
another cause, till they turned 10
laughter Just at the saving point.
Woven into the talk were some OF the
speakers homely little poems, every one
of which brought spontaneous applause,
and underlying the whole OF his seeming
ly nonsensical persihage is philosophy
of life or a sermon or whatever you may
call 1t, which makes you feel better Tor
having heard 1t.
Mrs. Leonora N. Lake, sffectionately
and spontaneously called "Mother Lake"
by every one connected with the Cnau.
tsuqua, had the afternoon program No OF
Wednesday, with her lecture on "ine
Divine Rights of the Child" Her iec'
ture was an inspiration toward oester
children and better parents.
The big night of the series, to many
of the patrons at least, is the night when
the play is put on. This was Wednes-
dsy evening, and the play was "The
Cinderella Man." comedy In four acts,
which has had big run on Broadway
and In the movies.
Those who know nothing OF the original
nlay NAV have suspicion that 1t has
been somewhat revamped TO oring IL
within the limits Of cast OF six persons,
but however that may be, 1t remains
most delightful play, and the members
of the cast have been selected with sucu
good Judgment that the full possibilities
Are brought out. The audience are most
of the time In laughter at the funny
situations and the dialogue, and occa
sionslly on the verge Of tears, and tht
whole play is altogether delightful.
Thursday was Indian day. The lecture
of the evening was given by Chief Tahan
and the rest Of the program was giver
nv Princess Nacoomee and her company
inclndipg an Indian who illustrated
number of the characteristic lndiaI
dances.
Chief Tshan is half-blood, bis fathe
having been white man, but bis child
hood and early manhood years wer'
speut with the Kiows tribe, where D.
lived their life in the old free days. Al
tsrvard he secured an education solel!
through his own efforts without the az
OF schools, and he is now Chrlstisl
minister. He speaks with the character
istic Indian gestures OF the sign Ian
ouags. but In a well modulated voic
and In the purest of English. His pres
sutation.of what his people have suf1ere'
and their claims to consideration an
credit can not but excite respect an
avn pathy, and the story of his life In II
various stages is intensely interestin
and all too brief.
Deerlug Reunion.
The Deering family reunion Sunday
July II. was held at the home OF Mr'
4 nndlou Tho tables W0r