Local Chatauquas

1916

Going to Chautauqua formerly meant taking a railroad trip to western New York. Now it may mean taking a street car to a grove somewhere in the town's outlying district, and returning home for supper. People originally had to go to Chautauqua; now Chautauqua has been brought to them.

The most casual reader of small town newspapers is struck by the number of Chautauquas either now in progress or preparing to open their seasons in various localities. Chautauqua week is a real event, social as well as educational. It brings the small community into touch with the great throbbing world of ideas. It is an education and an inspiration — as fine an example of university extension practice as can be found.

The original Chautauqua was established more than forty years ago on the banks of the lake whose name it took. For years that was all the Chautaqua there was. The influence of its sessions reached out through the publications of the organization and through its visitors but in no other way. Relatively few people, of course, could afford the time or the money to bring themselves into personal contact with it.

Now, however, some 200 Chautauqua assemblies exist in various parts of the country, each contributing to the education and upbuilding of its community through the course of lectures, sermons and other cultural offerings. Men recognized far and wide for their eminence in various fields of thought and activity make the rounds of these small Chautaquas, discussing politics, sociology, economies and the sciences and bringing their thousands of hearers into touch with the latest thought in many directions.

The Chautauqua and the county fair are valuable agencies of progress, through which much has been accomplished and more is to be expected. — Cleveland Plain Dealer.


A Convincing Argument

Policeman — What are you standing 'ere for?
Loafer — Nuffink.
Policeman — Well, just move on. If everybody was to stand in one place, how would the rest get past? — Tit-Bits.