CHAUTAUQUA.
OPENING SESSIONS AT NEWPLYi MOUTH. The much-heralded and somewhat myn tically named Chautauqua has at length arrived and made its debut to the New Plymouth public, and it is safa to say that those who took its bow are a lighter-hearted people than they were twenty-four hours ago. Chautauqua is simply something we have never had in our midst before, and more of it It is evidently the best calculated care-killing combination ever attempted, and is destined to shake any community out of a lethargic state and give it a sense of a new joy in living. The big brown tent, which reared itself in our midst as if by magic, was the scene yesterday of two of the breeziest entertainments ever presented in New Plymouth. The very atmosphere of the place icade one feel that care must be cast aside directly one passed under the awning, and the free way in which the performers met their patrons was as refreshing as it was unconventional.
At three o'clock in the afternoon a formal reception was tendered to the Chautauquans, which was «s informal as it could possibly be. Mayor Burgess, on behalf of the local committee and guarantors, by some of whom he was surrounded, extended a welcome on behalf of the citizens of New Plymouth, who had crowded themselves into the tent till every part of it was occupied. The speaker said he wished to disabuse the public mind of the idea that the Chautauqua was a money-mak ; ti<j concern in the ordinary sense of the word. The committee quite understood this and they wished the public to keep it in their minds also. Neither had the institution come in the interests of p-ohibition or any other movement. They came to lift the people of New Plymouth out of the atmosphere of the commonplace things of evoryday life. There was a strong patriotic sentiment pervading the movement He reminded those present that the visitors came from a country whose people had sprung from the same stock as ourselves and he referred to the place America had recently taken in matters in Europe, and expressed the hope that the great republic would come to take its rightful place in international nffaira. (Applause.) Miss Helen Caison, mperintendent of the Chautauqua, acknowledged the welcome in characteristic fashion. She said the movement was one designed to help people to find themselves. They might not see much in the Chautauqua at the nrst, but before the week had passed they would understand its true meaning fo connection with the Junior Chautauqua it was intended this >'ime to have a pageant representative of Mother Goose. Nest time they vsould probably organise a. Junior Chautauqua tour, for children of from (1 to 14 years, with a view to developing the community idea among the children as well as in tho adult. The movement was absolutely non-sectarian and non-partisan. (Applause.) Thereafter the Apollo Concert Party took charge and gave an entertainment the like of which has never been produced here before. The two ladies and three gentlemen who comprise the party are a quintette of the most versatile musical entertainers it would be possible to have in combination. The apbUophone a curious kmd of percussion instrument on which they all play at once, was a great delight to those present, and recall after recall was insisted upon i night tlle J a ' lnie Party again controlled the proceedings and delighted the the tent. Mr. Arthur Wells, stated in o « flne , fat> and \% ™» Pilots the Apollos, introduced each number by name, and also announced the items to be given. In addition to the apollophone music, the party also pre* sented several saxophone items in such a rare way that the audience was lothe t Q let them go. B-los on the little-known nstrument, the viola d'amour, prffi never seen or heard 10.-ally before were included in the bill-of fare, as weU as vocal so os, duets, elonntio > itemTand banjo solos, and all helped to make the big brown tent the happiest place in the community yesterday. w During a brief interval, Mr. Paget the Australasian Chautauqua superintendent announced that New Plymouth waTthe iimd. The party had come to the con. ciMion that though the Dominion was au I'land in size it hsd the soul and spM a continent. He ,aid that whUe 1 1 come to bring joy, they had alToVmo to learn, and he hoped they wouVT able to take back somethin/which wonM be new to the people cf AnTerica tl* aso stated, as an evidence of th e u tilßv tbeir ownTroSda'w?rk Uta HH l", that if at the end of tZ a . ? at " d seas on there wa? 1 tShf tsffi would be borne by tha America o> auquans, until those in tte"e Inlands became independent If tl em a gain, the mowy woSd WM ?way, but be demoted to &JS**™ Roving the local CtaJt22j* Md
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Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1919, Page 5
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822CHAUTAUQUA. Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1919, Page 5
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