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.

Do and Think

1917

If you wish to be or do anything great in this world you will find every hour and every day an opportunity in some way. If nothing else the lull in routine is opportunity to study up for future reference and use.

If your mind is full of plans and ideas for carrying them out you can make almost any situation or circumstance work in to help you.

It is not so much how you go at a thing as to get at it.

Begin by doing something. Do and think at the same time. That think will help in the next do, and by always doing what you know how to do, first, you will find the next step easier.

It is not the talkers and the arguers who accomplish the most in this world.

Try some plan while the next one is talking about it, and you will be surprised at how easy it is to keep in the front row of the procession. — Minneapolis Tribune.

Lessons of Winter

1874

There is no season of the year so well calculated to bind us together in the ties of a common brotherhood as is winter. Nature claims and receives our sympathy in all her varied aspects.

In the spring we rejoice in her renewed activity, and greet with delight her balmy air and budding beauty. As the summer approaches, we disperse to behold her in new phases and to enjoy her cool breezes from mountain and sea. In the fall we witness with tender sadness the departure of the gorgeous foliage and rich bloom, and still linger lovingly among her shadows. But when nature puts on her winter's dress, she bears a different message to us all.

With the bleak wind and stinging frost she sends us from her presence for a time, and bids us draw closer to one another for warmth and comfort. She brings more forcibly to the mind the delights of home and friends, and at the same time speaks impressively of the pain and sorrow, poverty and woe that call for sympathy and help.

Each season has its appropriate lesson, and that of winter is surely intended to strengthen within us the spirit of humanity that shall blossom into brotherly love and kindness. As the dusk of twilight calls the children away from outdoor play to assemble in the home, and brighten the family with their cheerful presence, so winter calls the human family from their summer rambles into a more intimate communion and sympathy with each other.

It is a pleasant task to learn one part of winter's teachings, that which relates to social and domestic union. The festivities of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the long winter evenings, the cheerful fireside, the lectures, concerts and social gatherings, the hilarity of the young, and the cheerful sympathy of the old all draw families and friends together in closer bonds.

All honor to the merry pastimes, the genial society, the friendly harmony which winter inaugurates. Let parents and children devote themselves more assiduously to each other, let brothers and sisters strengthen fraternal love by kindly offices and close companionship, let acquaintances blossom into friends, and friendly intercourse ripen affection, and, above all, let the sympathy thus developed serve to inspire each with higher purposes and nobler aims, and one part of winter's mission, will have been accomplished.