CHAUTAUQUA.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1921, Page 1

CHAUTAUQUA.

There was a marked contrast in Monday’s and Tuesday’s programmes at the Chautauqua sessions. The former was all music, and the latter all talk, but it would be difficult to decide which was the more interesting. Both were entertaining. Yesterday afternoon Cap tain “Dinny” Upton had his chat with the boys and girls—and the parents too. He is one of America’s leading authorities upon recreation and super-

vised play pastimes which do so much now in the building up of a nation. After a most interesting address, he was followed by Miss Ruby Page Ferguson who rendered Mason’s play “Green Stockings,” in three acts, single banded. There are some eight characters in the play and those were all distinctly interpreted by Miss Ferguson in a masterly way. The afternoon was

very agreeably passed by the large attendance fortunate in being present. Last night. Miss Ferguson recited

another playlet. This was of the dramatic order, being a dramatisation of the story of “The Violin Maker of C'renona.” It is a love story with an Italian atmosphere, and four characters, distinct in type, were enacted. 'There was the contrast in character,

voice and manner, as to a nicety, and the whole rendition was given with fine effect, holding the audience completely. Great applause followed, and Miss lerguson was recalled again and again. She pleased the audience with her clever child humor, the mimicry being perfect. Her dialect effort was no less a I lensure, and her whole appearance ol charm and interest. It was a very en-

tertaining section of the season. Captain Upton was set down to lecture on “The Four Square Builder.” From his first appearance be captivated the audience. He has a happy mien, and bubbles over with brightness and fond humor. We cannot recall that he once referred specifically to his text, and it would bo difficult to say just were he broke into bis theme in his al embracing subject. But what lie pleaded for was a sound mind in a sound I odv, and lie believes “in beginning at i!ie beginning,” with the young foil themselves. His address was a plea on

behalf of the growing children, for par i nt-i to love and cherish them a

branches of the family tree with a great mission in* life. The hope of the liuinai race lies in its children who are to b< the future men and women of tb world. He believes in catering for the children to make them happy and I enltliy. Plenty of recreation when young to give them the sound bodies, to go through life enjoying it. There are throe vital principles be believes in inculcating into and for every child The first is love fop God. home and

lanntry. The second is for parents li t ike a vital interest in their children. The third is for the people to start something definite in their town for tinbenefit of the children as a whole.

Oil these three heads he enlarged at s one length, speaking of what might l.e done to brighten the days of the rising generation, snatch them from evil nays, and give them hope and inspiration to lead a life worthy of being well spent. He spoke, too, of citizenship and what might he done by the peopli. out of love for the rising generation. Make their open spaces bright, and feature them with swings and roundabouts, and let the children have some real play in the open with joy uncontimd. In this the community as a whole must assist, and the town he made a better place to live in because of the pleasure and recreation it brought to the young people who would he better men and women because of the freer life they led in tinopen ill their youth, and of their soundness in mind and limit because ol healthy participation in life-giving roi rent ion.

Captain Upton is a very plain spoken man. Ho has direct, methods of speech and is not unmindful of the training lie himself had in a home life ol exampin ry joy. He praised his parents for all they had done for him, and held them up as an example for other parents to emulate. Tt was a heart to heart talk, not remarkable for its oratory, hut for its directness of speech, and the lesson he would drive home to one and all. to love the children as they would love themselves, and to do fin the children nothing less than they would do for themselves. It was an appeal in a most worthy cause, and Chautauqua this year certainly lias made a happy choice in selecting for one of itspeakers, one who devoted such interest and enthusiasm on behalf of the rising generation, the greatest asset any country can have.

To-day’s sessions close the Chautauqua season. The concert artists are headed hv Mr Fenwick Newell of whom there are such pleasant memories of a year ago. The lecturer is Captain Muir Allan who had four years’ strenuous war service. This afternoon ho talks of what lie saw on duty, and to-night he gives a Burns’ lecture. Tt should he a delight.