CHAUTAUQUA COMING AGAIN

Taihape Daily Times, 14 March 1919, Page 4

CHAUTAUQUA COMING AGAIN

It seems evident that the Chautauqua system of combining entertainment with the dissemination of knowledge, has the approval and support of the people of Taihape, and also of the people of New Zealand in all districts where demonstrations have already been held. Last night the huge brown tent was crowded to the canvas in every part with a marvellously enthusiastic audience, and at tlfe end of Chancellor Bradford’s lecture the great gathering gave three mighty cheers for the Stars and Stripes. The lecturer left no doubt in the minds of that great concourse of people what the aims and objects of Chautauqua were. It was unquestionably disclosed to the satisfaction of the largest Taihape audience ever assembled in one structure that Chautauqua had an international as well as a national mission; that it was not merely a Yankee money grabbing affair as some disgruntled beings who see no good in anything, might be inclined to call it. Whatever else it is, it is certainly a power amongst the Allies, true to Allied democracy against the autocracy of Kaiserdom. It stands and works for making money subservient to man, for making man supreme over all other considerations; it stands for and advocates a social state in which none can suffer from hunger, or succumb to fear for want of employment. Chautauqua is striving for better, more general education for all mankind, for all progress towards the millenium idea can only be by virtue of

the world-wide spread of knowledge. Chautauqua has introduced to New Zealanders some of the most noted lecturers on social and educational subjects in the United States, and it stands to the lasting credit of the people of this district that they have displayed a thirst for the information the Chautauqua lecturers have to impart. No better testimony could be given of the appreciation of the Chautauqua system than that adduced last night in the voluntary signing of a. contract by over thirD- Taihape citizens for Chautauqua to return to Taihape next summer. By the help of those signatories the big brown tent is to become an annual mstitution. To-night a musical programme will conclude Chautauqua week, but wo venture to say that Chancellor Bradford’s lecture will live longer in the memories of this district than any other Chautauqua incident; ills even doubtful whether Chancellor Bradford will ever bo forgotten by some.