CHAUTAUQUA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1941, 18 February 1919, Page 3

CHAUTAUQUA.

WHAT IS IT?

The word Chautauqua, although as yet unfamiliar to the majority, is destined |o become most popular in the next few weeks, .Tin’s American movement, bringing the best of music, speakers and drama, will begin its six day session at Levin, commencing on - March 3rd. The programme will be given in a largo brown lent, and entirely new groups of artists will appear eaeli day. Levin is included in the list of towns to be visited by the Chautauqua during its initial visit to New Zealand, due to the progress!vcncss and public-spiritedness of some thirty of its citizens, who have guaranteed a sufficient number of season tickets to bring it there. These men have done this without any chance of possible gain, in order to give the people of Levin and district a chance of coming in touch witli this movement which for over forty years lias played an important, part in public life in America. The movement started originally on the hanks of Chautauqua Lake, in the State of New York, from whence it received its name. Among its founders were Clem. Studebaker, the .great wagon manufacturer, Bishop Vincent, Henry Ward Beecher, and Thomas A. Edison, the great inventor. From this original assembly it has spread until now' it covers practically the whole of the United States, as well us Canada. In America, it is backed yearly by 252,000 of the leading business, political and professional men. The movement, has just come to New Zealand after finishing its tour o£ Australia. Ninety , per cent, of the towns which were visited there signed the contract to bring Chautauqua back again next year.