Quite a scientific season will this of ’83 be, recalling the
distinguished programs when Prof. Doremus illuminated them. Now, in
addition to the graphic Prof. Edwards, who reappears, there is to be
the brilliant course of Prof. W. C. Richards, the bare reading of which
is like a _menu_ to a famished intellect. Dr. Newell, of Chicago, and
Prof. Young, of Princeton College, also lecture on scientific topics.
It is to be a revival in physics.
The lessons in cookery, by Miss Ewing, are a recognition of the growing
interest in higher culinary art, an accomplishment considered by some
to be the highest of all arts, as it certainly is the most important to
mankind. Chautauqua proposes to contribute its share to make this art
universal, until it can no longer be said that the _chef_ of a hotel
can command a higher salary than the president of a college.
And there will be Prince Bolly presiding either at hotel or
spelling-match with equal grace. General Lewis offers the prizes for
the best spellers; would it not be a fair return for the best spellers
to offer a prize for the best hotel keeper, with the secret certainty,
of course, that Mr. Lewis would win it, and so get his reward for
services in behalf of correct orthography and good living at Chautauqua?
People at Chautauqua always live high—1,400 feet above the sea. The
place is pure atmospherically, aquatically, morally, and intellectually
they live in a rarified and quickening medium. The whole effect is
elevating, though we never saw a person on the grounds who had “got
high.”
Wallace Bruce, the man of Scotch name and lineage, but of all-world
culture, will be there and personify the _literati_ of all times and
nations. To know Bruce is a liberal education in _belles-lettres_.
A wit of his time proposed as an epitaph on Congreve, the projector of
the rocket (in a double sense) this wicked sentence. “He has gone to
the only place where his fireworks can be excelled.” That place might
be Chautauqua instead of a worse place, if Congreve had lived till now.
The world of Chautauqua will be delighted with pyrotechnics both by day
and by night this year. The famous Japanese day fireworks, which have
proved such an attraction at Manhattan Beach, Long Branch, and other
resorts, will be the sensation at Chautauqua beach. We imagine we can
hear the “ohs!” from the “windy suspirations of forced breath” of tens
of thousands of spectators.
The program this year fairly glitters with great names, as, Joseph
Cook, Talmage, Judge Tourgée, Hon. Will Cumback, and the long list of
D.D.’s, collegians and specialists.
The Teachers’ Retreat advances, not retrogrades. Read the program;
wonder and admire. The experimental classes of Miss Read should be
worth the price of the course to any teacher.
Music is to have another rise in the scale this year. Such a list
of soloists and instructors was never before offered at any summer
institute of music, and then the grand organ and other accessories!
Froebel is again to be commemorated. It is hoped that some one will be
prepared to give a succinct résumé of Froebelism. The question, “What
_is_ kindergarten?” is one of the unanswered conundrums of the day.
Prepare to smile—Frank Beard is coming again.
Some one once said he preferred to go sleigh-riding in the summer, when
he could enjoy the excursion without freezing to death. Now one can go
on a sea voyage without being sea sick, and see the sights of a trip
abroad without the cost, expense, and fatigue of foreign travel. It was
a brilliant conception, that “Ideal Summer Trip Beyond the Sea.” If it
does not prove one of the hits of this season of hits by the Hittites,
we do not hit the mark in our guess.
The Museum has proved one of the great attractions at Chautauqua
ever since its inception, and the public will be glad to read of the
remarkable attractions now to be added to it. Miller _fecit_, as usual.
“The morning hour” of metaphysics is to be abolished and something more
understandable taken up—Hebrew.
But the great day of all, the day of intellectual and spiritual
uplifting, is to be the “Commencement Day” of the C. L. S. C. The joy
and glory of the last one has not yet ceased to echo “in the chambers
of the soul.” It will be a red, white and blue event—a red letter day,
at a white heat of fervor, and the blue sky over all. “Oh, who that
feels them ever will forget the emotions of those spirit-stirring
times!”
Chautauqua has sent its special reporter through all the nations of
the world and he will render this year his account. Our voyager and
explorer, Cook, was not eaten by the savages like the earlier one;
rather, he comes to spread a civilized and civilizing symposium.
Returning Chautauquans will find the grounds much improved. Besides
the beautification and edification by private enterprise and taste,
visitors will find great changes for the better wrought by the
association. The most notable of the many features of this work is to
be seen on the lake-front of the Athenæum Hotel. The avenue has been
moved down to the lake shore and made a most romantic drive on the
beach, and all the additional space is devoted to a sloping lawn. All
the disfiguring relics have been removed from the vicinage, and this
part of the grounds is as prim and proper as a miss in her new summer
gown.
Chautauqua continues to be the cheapest summer resort and summer
school in the world. For four dollars the resort is open forty-three
days—about nine cents a day. A dollar a week secures the privilege
of the lectures, concerts, and all the “pride, pomp and circumstance
of glorious” Chautauqua after the Assembly proper begins. Is there
anything anywhere like that for cheapness? The highest-priced thing
at Chautauqua gives much more and better than can be gotten elsewhere
for the same sum. But after all, there is here, what can not be gotten
elsewhere for any price, that is the most priceless of all, “The
Chautauqua Idea,” its inspiration, uplift, expansion, liberalizing.
Phonography is one of the most remunerative and surest avocations now
open to women, and a good opportunity to acquire a knowledge of it from
a master is open at Chautauqua under Prof. Bridge.
* * * * *
THE fruit derived from labor is the sweetest of all
pleasures.—_Vauvenargues._