Omaha daily bee., 1921-04-03
A Change of Program
BY OneY Fred Sweet


The word "chautauqua" may mean
but an odd tumble OF letters to the
resident of the big city. But dur
ing the past 10 years the smaller
cities and towns throughout the
country have come 10 think OF it
as an institution that comes with
the summer.
The chautauqua tent is big khaki
canvas affair that is pitched i'll the
tall grass on the edge of town. 1t
stays up for a week and the program
changes daily. Bryan has talked
there; Alice Nelson has sung there
Reno has performed his tricks OF
magic; Weber has played there with
his big hand. One night lecture,
next night band concert. the fol-
lowing night an operate production.
The tents are so pitched i'll a
series of towns and the circuit so
arranged that the talent" is obliged
to make what the old trouper used
TO call "one night stands Madame
Tretino, booked out of Pittsburgh.
was making jump, between con-
certs, and was seated amid the red
plush of late train with her man
ager. Joe klinki.
1t was noontime of hot day that
stood for great corn weather"
Most of the passengers were nap
ping, their heads thrown back, their
mouths open. Travelling men had
removed their coats. displaying their
silk shirts. and their collars were
unbuttoned in front. and their ties
disarranged. Even the political dis
cussions were being carried on in
languid sort of fashion. The con-
ductor, alpaca coated, passed down
the aisle to collect the fare of the
woman with the baby who had got
ten on at Garden City, stuck a slip
of pasteboard in the shutter window
opposite her, and returned to his
seat near the oranges and magazines
of the indifferent train butcher.
Traffic continued but it did so list
lessly. The corn was being made.
Joe Klinki seemed to be the only
alert human on the whole train. He
had nervously doped out the time
table for the day. when he turned
sharply to the prima donna beside
him.
No, I'll tell you, Cora, you'll have
to put more pep into that oh, That
| Could Be With You Always solo.
! was in the back of the tent there
at that toWn-what was the name of
it--last night. There's great
chance for you on that love song,
but you don't quite put it over
The prima donna, startled out of
the beginning of a siesta, gave a jerk
of her shoulders at being brought
suddenly back to he's surroundings
Ct the train and the waving corn
fields.
Every morning you kick on that
song, Joe. You know how much
sleep l got last matchmaking that
carly connection at Cedar Falls"
ITS for your own good | kick,
Cora. You who could be the great
est singer in America If you would
only feel-right here at your heart
lcSl oui uolCS lllSy ioiliC ool dtI
right, but they just come out OF
your mouth, not from the heart. And
| am thinking of the seasons ahead
when | could manage you if you
would only do as | say. Three
weeks since we started now, and that
big solo always the sanle-lust
words. Like this YOU should sing:
o, That I Could Be With You AL
ways You see. Like you meant
it,"
I'm tired. Joe. No sleep the last
two nights with those train jumps"
you sing that song right this aft
c.noon, understand. The train IS
slowing down. What was the name
of that town we're to get off at:
Look at the name on the depot,
Cora. Yeah, that's it."
On the way up from the depot.
the prima donna had noticed the
chautauqua pennants flung on a wire
across the street and the posters OF
the various attractions of the week