CHAUTAUQUA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 135, 3 March 1919, Page 6

CHAUTAUQUA

THE INITIAL PROGRAMME

Tho Wellington Chautauqua was opened on Saturday in the Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium. Tho entertainments were to have been given in a large tent erected on tho church site in Boulcott Street, but the strong wind that arose on Saturday morning blew down tho tent, and tho trouble was not fully remedied during tho dav. The two programmes of the day were provided by the Apollo Concert Company, a group of capable instrumentalists whoso numbers ranged from classical to ragtime. The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) spoke briefly at the opening of the evening entertainment. Ho was supported on the platform by members ot the local Chautauqua Committee, and was introduced by Mr. J. Hutchison. Sir James Allen said that he had willingly accepted tho invitation to be present, because ho had been given to understand that the Chautauqua movement was intended to. do good. His own knowledge of the work of the Chautauqua organisation was not wide, but some information had ten-provided in the newspapers. No man or woman could regard the linking together of the branches of the Anglo-Saxon race with anything elso than respect. Tho Anglo-Saxons had a great task before them, the tasfc of guiding tho world in a right and proper war. The representatives of the Chautauqua would let tho public, know what their objects were. Heferring to tho assistance given by Americans,™ th» war Sir James Allen said it was not possible to say what would have ten the result of the conflict if the United States had not joined the Allies. Many people had been' keenly desirous that the United States should enter the war a bit earlier than' had actually been the case, but the move had been better late than never. Ho hoped that one result, of the contact of Americans and Britons would be to smooth over any that might bo created in the fuu.ro by trade rivalries. Tho nations ought to see in tho future that trade competition did not breed conflict. They ought to try to remove- suspicions, just as classes and individuals should seek to clear away tho suspioions and misunderstanding? that were troubling society in i\ew Zealand as well m in other lands Chancellor G. H. Bradford said that the American visitors had heartfelt joy on coming to New Zealand to find the head of the Governmont welcoming them in such a wann manner. Tho Americans at homo would be told of the very unusual honour that had been accorded the Chautauqua entertainers. He mentioned tho comradeship of Now Zealanders and Australians on the field of battle, and said that the goal ahead of British and American people was to make the AngloSaxon spirit the spirit of the world.; lhe \nglo-Saxons had great responsibilities to the less advanced and less democratic nations of the world. Chancellor Bradford remarked that people were living to-day on the threshold of the new I to-morrow, and that instead of using men !to make money the rations must use I money to make better nen. In. conclusion,'he expressed his appreciation of "this gracious, glorious, warm welcome. Speaking at the opening of the afternoon programme, Chancollor Bradford complimented Wellington people upon their citv. He said that members of five Olhautanqna Mission had come to ■New Zealand to show clearly what Americans "tond for in the things of to-mor-row.' Ther wished to tell of Americas ideals ami to learn of New Zealand s ideals. The Chautauqua would be opened bv the Apollo Concert Company, who would give a unique programme of "matchless music." The concert company was headed by Mr. Arthur Wells, and included nUo Miss Florence Hooper, Hrs. Arthur Wells, Mr Sinclair Francis, and Mr. J. P. LatiI mcr. The members of the company openled their programme with "The StarI Spangled Banner," played on the apollo- ! phone, an instrument designed bv Mr. , "Wells, and uniting, he explained, tho Abetter qualities of the xylophone, the i marinibaphone, and other instruments, i'lt resembled a greatly enlarged xyloi phone, and in the hands of the five playIjers it proved an instrument of sweet, 'sonorous tone and wide range. Mr. Wells Hand his party played wveral selections . |on tho apolloplione, including 'the Bur--11 falo March," "Keep the' Home Fires ■ 'Burning," and "Sweet and Low. hour ' I members of the company formed a saxoi phone quartet. They played selections ' from "Faust" ill very enjoyable fashion, ' ! and in response to a recall gave a swing;ing ragtime number. Jliss Hooper, who ihas a' pleasant contralto voice, sang i "Love, Here is My Heart," and she also ! told some stories entertainingly. Mrs. 'Wells gave some clever musical monologues at the piano.- Mr. Wells, whose ' ! plaving of all the instruments he handled , jwas a feature of the programme, coiuributed also some very good banjo solos, ' I including Beethoven's Minuet in G for the violin and the familiar "Poor Old , Th© evening programme was similar to that of the afternoon, the members of ' the company substituting new numbers. There was a large audience on each ocl casion, and .the players were given a ' thoroughly appreciative reception. Mr. Wells added to the interest of the programme by some explanatory remarks regarding tlie instruments he and his companions were using.

ADDRESS BY CHANCELLOR BRADFORD. ' Afl address was delivered in the Empress Theatre yesterday afternoon by Chancellor Bradford, of .Oklahoma University, on the subject "New WorldCitizenship." The theatre was crowded in every part, and the. lecturer held the attention of his ftudienco for the whole of his talk. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken presided. Mr. Bradford snoke of the times that are to como now that the war is happily over, and put forward his ideas as to the kind of society that he believed will be made by the men and women of tomorrow, or rather, by the men of to-day in making a new to-morrow. It was a robust and yet kindly philosophy that he had to preach, but this manner of presenting it was not exactly after the fashion of the speakers who might essay the same task in our own country. He 6poko yesterday of the pillars of our civilisation-education, religion, honour, and others—and about them ho had little to say that was startling, .but he did hring to the study of theso mattors a freshness that made the matter of his speech interesting. His appeal is to the "big red-Mooded men"—to use a" phrase of which ho is it is that they must take a real part in making stronger the props of our civilisation, a more active part in making education better, in making the Church a greater power for good, and in making the honour of men higher in their dealings with one another. Like most American spenkcrs 'he has the trick of telling a story with effect, or of making usoof an unlikely comparison to mako a point. One of the instances he used was the income of the renowned Charlie Chaplin. "Charlie Chaplin," he said, "gets more money than your Prime Minister and his Cabinet, more than Mr. Lloyd George and Cabinet, more than President 'Wilson and his Cabinet. And when more money is paid to ono man for playing the foo! than is paid to the rulers of tho world, it makes thinking men feel around for tho foundation of our civilisation."