The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-08-01
Is CHAUTAuQUA PASSING?

The experience of nearly all the towns o the htlne that had
been so great that the guarantors have not felt justified in assuming
the burden for another year. At Malta the deficit was between $500
M SSCo, at tavre 1t was about SloOO according to reports n other
towns had similar deficits. Glasgow and Wolf Point did not sign
The chautauqua has been OF untold value in the last quarter of
a century. 1t has brought to millions of people each year high class
entertainment which perhaps they could not have enjoyed in any
other way. 1t has for the moment put laughter in tired hearts and
soohed, weary souls with music, brought to isolated communities
a breath of the outside world and left thoughts to be pondered over
have gone their ways 1t has had a glorious day, but there r those
who wonder if the twilight of that day is not approaching. Country
ment as once they were. Music and jokes, classical selections or
JAZZ, talks on economic subjects or Amos and Andy, are at their
it and go to another without embarrassment either to themselves or
the performers. Doses of culture may be as large or as small as
desired. There are many who will regret the passing of chautauqua,
If passing it is. but the old order changeth and things that have
served their time give place to newer things.
The Phillips County News is of the opinion that chautauqua
programs are not what they used to be. Possibly not But OF the
other hand it is possible that having good entertainments available
at all times, people have grown more critical The Phillips County
chautauqua, we learn, will not come to Malta next summer.
The Rainmaker having in his wisdom seen fit to withhold our mois-
the guarantors made up the several hundred dollar deficit from their
own pockets they we're not inclined to gamble o another year.
number of reasons. Aside from the financial hazard of the guaranty
required, the difference of opinion regarding the wisdom of under
writing in advance the success of a n enterprise when private bust
ness has to take its chances, there still remains the undsputed
it used to be. 1t seems to have gradually changed from as instru
msnt Of Of s community unity upHft, a source Sgr@ Of 4. inspiration and a cultural
Ten o fifteen years ago chautauqua did have a distinct place
With It's lecture platform occupied by such nationally known figures
entertainment in the hands of top notch talent and Its musical in
tervals filled by artists of renown, it did fill a important commun-
ity need. People would come miles to hear and enjoy a message
from a nationally prominent figure, whether or not they agreed with
what the parsonage had to say. A big name could fill any ten,
greatly to the advantage Of the cash receipts thereof.
That day has passed, it seems. Malta's 1890 program contained
no lecturer whose name had ever been heard before. Their words
may well have been more profound and to the point than those of
able but better known men, but the fact remains that there
was no focking to hear. Tuning in the radio almost any night, we
can sit at the feet of prominent moulders of opinion whose argu-
ments have far more weight, ii only because of the speakers repu-
tation. We can get classical and popular music from orchestras of
worldwide repute. Why, then, should we be particularly interested
n mediocre attractions of Chautauqua?
OF course there are many reasons why the quality of Chautauqua
has skidded downward. With S many circuits in operation the
rational figures quickly learned to pit one organization against an
and raise the price of their services to a point beyond Chau-
auqua reach. Travelling expenses, railroad fares and tent equip
have all gone upward appecaby since the dawn of Chautau-
ua, until the management in sheer defense was compelled to seek
talent to make a success of the enterprise. But whatever
he reasons and no matter how legitimate, Chautauoua is not what
was It reached its zenith some years ago. Public interest has
waned, which is after all the best argument. Malta's guarantors Z