THE CHAUTAUQUA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 64, 9 December 1919, Page 10

THE CHAUTAUQUA

" NEW ERA OF CIVILISATION "

In the Concert Chamber yesterday afternoon, Mr. M. C. Heed, an American journalist, spoke for an hour on tho "New lira Civilisation," in the course of which lie (raced the rough, uneven trail of civilisation, over many oeiitunee of I advancement. He likened civilisation to .1 groat river, which was fed from many I tributaries. Of the influences or tribuI taries which have, marked the progress : of civilisation, Mr. Reed indicated medical science as one of the most valuable. Before they could build tho Panama ; Canal, they had to fight and beat) tho j mosquitn. At one timo it was not safe to venture into any of the southern States of America owing to the prevalence of yellow fever. . Medical research found that the germ of yellow fever was carried in the bill of a certain kind of 1110sI quito. War was declared on the insect, I and now yellow fever is hard to find anyI where in the Stales. The , lecturer also paid tribute to the astronomer and the inventor, and spoke of the wonders of the telephone, wireless telegraphy, the gramophone, nnrl kinema, Tlu; Zedeler Symphonic Quintet provided a musical programme. "THE VALUE OF A VISION." Last oveninjf Mr. Reed spoke interestingly on "The Value of a Vision." "Show mo what a. rann sees and I will tell yon what he will ilo; show me what ho sees and I will write bis history," was practically the text of the American journalist's talk. And he epoke of Newton seeing tho apple fall and discovering the laws of gravity; of Watts seeing the power of steam in tho kettle of boiling water, and inventing the steam engine; of Edison seeing the electric flash and giving tho world a new light. Nothing in the world could be accomplished without vision, even to the farmer, who visualises what ho can make of tho land; and, furthermore, a man niust see further lihau reero dollars to accomplish anything &rent. From that the speaker passed on to tho value- of appreciation, and what ib means to a innn or woman. "If the Mayor is sitting up nigint after night doing something you all know is for tho good of the ctty and the community," eaid Mr. Reed "go down to tho city hall and ehuke him by the hand an<l , toll him how much you appreciate it." Hβ advocated WlO earne policy when a pastor preached a good sermon. Hβ knew of a grey-hai.red mother who had Teared aiamily and washed the dishes all her life go down to her grave broken-hearted because she knew that what she had done mis nod appreciated; and he could name Senators who had worked hard and honestly for tho country die broken-hearted for lack of appreciation. Tiberc was a pornicious doctrine -going round tho world which was a very serious menace, said tho lecturer. It wns serious in America, in Russia, in Germany, and in New Zealand, ijomo people had tho idea that they could all be great, and grand, nnd wonderful—and do nothing! It wns a thing that could not bo. It was a deiiision, and a dangerous dolusion. Finally, the speaker referred to America and tiho war. Probably, he said, there were many there wondering winy America, did not have vision enough to go into tho war earlier, and to sign tho League of Nations Treaty nt once. To the first .question ho would say that there was a large majority of people who iavoiir.c-d going into the. war nt an earlier date, but lie nsked them to remember that for years before tihe war a million people, annually had been pouriii" into America from foreign countries, and whdi war broke out there were ten million Germans or pcoplo of German descent, with their own papers, theatre?, ami l propaganda, fed by the wealth of bermany, and ilw fear weis entertained in some quarters that if war wns declared at onco there would bo a revolution at home as well as a war so the ship of Stato ihad to bo carefully handled, until tho time came for an open declaration. Tho difference over the League of Nations was merely a political quarrel. He believed ttiat President Wilson would win out, and tho Senate would agiree to tho League of Nations unconditionally in tho end.

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. This afternoon tho Fenwick Newall Concert Party, is' to make its first appearance i" Wellington, tfter wibich Mr. M. A. Reed will give a twenty-minntes' talk. Tim evening "tho Neivtill Party will Rive another programme, to be folowrd by a lecture entitl.-d "The Road to Happiness," by Dr. Caroline Giesel, wiho was one of tho few women employed by tho Government to lecture throughout the Slates in preparation for America's entry into the war.