New-York tribune., 1921-08-07
Chautauqua
The Story of a Great
American Institution

Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, ID. D. With fifty
illustrations. Published by G. P. Put
nam's Sons.
There are few educat ligious-
sociological topics Of wider interest to
the commonalty of America than Chau-
tauqua, and since the passing away of
Lewis Miller and John H. Vincent
there is nobody better qualified to tell
it's story than DR.. Hurlbut. There is,
we know, in some quarters an affected
ly supercilious attitude toward Chau-
tauqua, as an institution perhaps to be
tolerated for the sake Of the unfor-
tunates who know or can afford moth
ing better, but as in no wise to COM
mand the serious attention Of the
elect; an attitude which we must re-
gard as altogether unjust, mistaken
and discreditable to those who so top
loftically assume It,
IL is true that Chautauqua was es-
tablished on a religious foundation.
So were most Of our greatest univer-
stiles and colleges. It is true that it
attempts to teach bewildering
variety of things. The ideal Of the
university is to teach all things. 1t is
true that sometimes some foolish
things gain entrance to its programs. If
we were to essay q compendium Of the
foolish things that have got into the
colleges and universities, we should
need volume ten times as big as this
Of DR.. Hurlbut's.
Without in the least making his de-
lightfully written book an apologize or
any such thing. DR.. Hurlbut in a
simple, straightforward narrative of
things done most ccnvincingly sets
forth the real worth of the great in
stitution which humbly began nearly
half century ago as "Sunday School
Teachers Assembly," developed into
the "Chautauqua Literary and Scien-
titic Circle" with It's "Home Reading
Circles" and polychrome "seals," and
has now become known the world
around simply as "Chautauqua." There
is no use in trying to sneer or to sniff
at an institution which has commanded
the services on its speaking stats, of
half dozen Presidents of the United
States, of Senators, Representatives
and Governors innumerable, Of the
presidents of the foremost univer-
stiles, of leading editors and authors,
and Of some of the greatest scientists,
authors and publicists of Europe and
Asia, as we'll as of America.
Theodore Roosevelt once said that
"Chautauqua Is the most American
thing in America" and it would be
perilous to challenge his dictum. There
was probably never another comparably
great and successful institution in the
world for stimulating popular intel
lectual activity, for inspiring people to
read, to study and to discuss, and for
giving to the nation in general
social, mental and moral "uplift"-if
we may be pardoned for using that
wickedly overworked word. This con-
viction must grow upon the reader, as
page by page he peruses DR.. Hurlbut's
simple but luminous and sympathetic
story Of the growth and achievements,
year by year, of that famous institu-
ton. Very different though it is from
the Midland Institute, Chautauqua
most strikingly makes in precisely the
direction that John Morley indicated
to that great organization at its in
ception-at almost the very time that
Chautauqua, too, was founded-toward
"a society where the average interest,
curiosity, capacity, are all highest"
The record is one Of which America
may we'll be proud.