In the parlors and dining hall of the Sherman House in Jamestown, N. Y.,
on Wednesday evening, January 9th, the Chautauqua Trustees assembled for
a banquet, preparatory to their annual meeting.
After an hour or more of social personal greeting the company, about
fifty in number, filed into the dining hall and took the places indicated
on their cards of invitation at the tables beautifully adorned with
fruits and flowers.
Ex-Governor R. E. Fenton, of New York, acting as presiding officer of the
evening, took his place at the head of the table, having on his right
President Lewis Miller, Vice President F. H. Root, Esq., and others, and
on his left Prof. J. H. Worman and other members of the Chautauqua Board
of Trustees. At the other end of the main table were Robert N. Marvin,
Esq., Dr. J. H. Vincent, Dr. J. T. Edwards, Rev. W. G. Williams, of
Jamestown, Mr. Clem Studebaker, of Indiana, and distinguished residents
of several other states.
After more than two hours spent at a most sumptuous repast (eleven
courses were on the bill of fare), the rarest delicacies of Southern
climes being lavishly provided, as well as the more common edibles
of our colder northern soil and streams, Ex-Governor Fenton, rising
in his place, gave the guests of the hour words of warmest greeting.
[We give a condensed report of remarks offered.] He said: “We welcome
you, gentlemen, not so much because of what you are at your homes,
although that is, no doubt, a matter of congratulation from neighbors
and friends, not so much as representatives of a great religious
denomination whose membership is numbered by the millions—I speak of the
various branches of Methodism, whose institutions are confessedly based
upon religious intelligence and conviction, and therefore a subject
of congratulation. We welcome you, gentlemen, mainly because you have
come to the shores of our beautiful lake and founded an institution
elevating in its influence, purifying in its character; which has found
its way through the sunny South, along the shores of the lakes, around
and over the plains, and over the mountains, even to the Pacific Coast.
Stopping not there, you have found your way to the islands of the seas,
and to the peoples in the countries beyond the seas. If I should say
less than this, Mr. Flood, who speaks through more than thirty-five
thousand monthly CHAUTAUQUANS, would spring to his feet. I might say
more, but, gentlemen, this enterprise is carried forward not alone by
Methodists, for, in a catholic spirit, you have opened the doors to all
denominations and all people and invited them to join you, and those who
aspire to or desire to witness genuine moral and intellectual progress.
And, gentlemen, we welcome you to our town. We should be glad, had it not
been for the inclemency of the weather, to have shown you the social and
public progress of our people. I might speak of our nine churches always
well-filled on the Sabbath day and at other seasons when opened, and of
one denomination about to build another church with a capacity three
times as large as the old one.
“We should be glad to have you look at our manufacturing interests, to
see how extensive they are, to visit our grand Union School building. We
should be glad to introduce you to our merchants, and have you see all
that we are doing—these things, the result of the enterprise and industry
of our people. We have no princely fortunes here, but we are prospering,
and though we have had but little time to go abroad, yet we promise you,
gentlemen of Chautauqua, that a portion of our leisure days, increasing
as the years go by, shall be devoted to visiting you in the summer season
at Chautauqua. [Applause.] And now I ask you all to drink (water) to the
health of Dr. Vincent, who, by his great devotion, great abilities and
organizing power, with the calm judgment and wise counsels of President
Miller, have done so much to make Chautauqua a success.” [Long continued
applause.]
Dr. Vincent said substantially:
“Gentlemen of Jamestown:—You have listened, as have we, the
representatives of the Chautauqua movement, to the kind words of your
fellow-townsman, and it is a source of very great regret to me that I
was not apprised in advance, of the fact that I was expected to deliver
a speech on this occasion; otherwise I should have talked less to my
fascinating friend, Mr. Marvin, beside me, and eaten less, so that I
might be in better shape to speak.
“Governor Fenton has said something about the Chautauqua Idea. It is an
‘enterprise’ which has a future, a destiny which I think will transcend
all the attainments and achievements of the past. And those of us who are
engaged in this movement, and have watched it from its very beginning,
and who know something of the dreams of those who look out into the
future, are more likely to promise large things than those who simply
watch it from the outside. We may be disappointed. Chautauqua may stand
still one of these days and become a plain little village on the lake.
It will never be what Jamestown is, but it depends upon Jamestown, as a
representative city, for much of the support, and of the sympathy which
all such enterprises demand. We have been tempted to think that from
Jamestown we have had comparatively little sympathy. I say _tempted_,
for the temptation has never had the slightest effect upon my mind; but
once in awhile it has been said: ‘Jamestown, at the other end of the
lake, fancies that you may build up an organization at the northern
end of the lake that will interfere with interests at the south end.’
Frivolous indeed as these suggestions were, they were strong enough to
secure utterance and cause trifling annoyance. As I recall the history
of Chautauqua, I remember that we have had pretty much the whole of
Jamestown present again and again at our great Assembly gatherings. So
far as the citizens of Jamestown are concerned, we have never had for a
moment any serious doubt of their confidence in the enterprise, and their
willingness to aid us as far as they can, and there is not the slightest
reason for misunderstanding or rivalry, but every reason for mutual faith
and coöperation. [Applause.] And I should not be surprised, gentlemen,
if, in years to come, the boys of Jamestown would go up to Chautauqua to
the best boys’ school on the continent [applause], and meet there the
best teachers from the best institutions, both of America and Europe,
teachers qualified not only to communicate knowledge to the boys there
assembled, but qualified to develop manhood and high ideals of character
and true intellectual strength and physical culture. A gentleman said
to me in the East the other day, ‘What we need in America to-day is a
first-class school for boys, a school of the very highest order, in
which intellect, manners, body, heart, social faculties, and all, shall
be symmetrically developed,’ and I have confidence that, within a very
few years, just such a school will be planted at Chautauqua; and when I
think of the larger institution, for which we now have a charter from the
state legislature, an institution which will bring its students from all
parts of the United States, I see a number of colleges constituting a
university crowning those heights, and commanding large sections of land
on both sides of this lake, and awakening a new and increased enthusiasm,
not only about the lake of Chautauqua, but all over the land, in the
great cause of popular education. [Applause.]
“Now, I do not betray any great plans which have already been devised,
but I give utterance to dreams and hopes which I know exist in the minds
of a great many Chautauqua workers, when I say that the Chautauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle, reaching as it does fifty thousand
families in all parts of this land, is silently gaining a constituency
which will be increased in less than five years to one hundred thousand,
and which, in the course of ten years, will number two hundred thousand
men and women, the most of them parents, who will be looking about for a
place in which to educate their children; and if this city, increasing
in wealth, increasing in culture, increasing in enthusiasm in the
great educational work, will only lay hold of the largest conceptions
concerning the Chautauqua of the future, the sums of money which in
the future you may be induced to contribute to the founding of this
enterprise will receive response from one hundred thousand homes all over
the land, and the grandest endowments possessed by any institution on the
continent in the near future for the Chautauqua University. [Applause.]
For here is a little fact, of which you need but to be reminded for a
moment, that to-day in the houses of the C. L. S. C. are growing up boys
and girls, coming from the farms and from the villages, who are to handle
the millions in the next twenty-five years. And when Tom comes from the
field and goes into business and makes his money, and remembers the new
interest awakened in him by his father and mother, he is inspired by a
public spirit, he looks at the half million, more or less, which he is
disposed to contribute, and the institution which he will help will be
his father’s and mother’s _Alma Mater_, and his own _Alma Mater_, and
we may expect in this way the largest and grandest endowments of any
institution on the continent. I have been drinking strongly of this cold
water, and it always makes me feel like talking, and I thank you for the
privilege given me of expressing the dreams which come to my mind of the
institution which you have so greatly honored, and whose annual meeting
brings us together so pleasantly to-night.” [Long continued applause.]
Governor Fenton:—“I want to introduce to you one of our citizens
representing the great manufacturing industries of our city, a gentleman
who can talk well about them. I call upon Mr. William Hall.”
Mr. Hall said: “Mr. Chairman, I am afraid that you have raised the
expectations of our friends in this announcement. I never made any
pretensions to an ability to talk, never made any pretensions to
eloquence, and, really, if I ever had, the speech to which you have
just listened would have completely blotted out anything that I might
have been tempted to say; but this much I can say, I can make a plain
statement, that I have always felt the greatest sympathy myself for the
enterprise which has been founded upon our lake. Yet it is true, that,
busied by the cares of the new enterprises, I may at times have forgotten
to express those feelings and show that sympathy—but it has always
been present in my heart. I dare not step out into the world, to speak
concerning Chautauqua, but I can speak of its effect upon the people in
my factories, with whom I daily associate, and in whose interests I feel
the liveliest interest. Many have come from foreign shores to make their
homes here. They have vague ideas of the efforts and blessings which they
are to strike in this American soil, and everything influences and turns
their thoughts, views, feelings and aspirations. Some of them have never
owned a bit of land in the world. They are now inspired with self-respect
in finding themselves in possession of a better home, and I am looking
to see what this influence coming from Chautauqua will be upon them.
They can not attend Chautauqua as much as I would like to have them. The
Chautauqua meetings come in a busy season. But they do go up there as
often as they can, and they are influenced. They do judge of the American
character. They get large aspirations by listening to those speakers.
They come home, and it is amusing and instructive to hear them talk
over what takes place up there. They speak very largely of Dr. Vincent.
There is no man in my factory who attends there but thinks Dr. Vincent
is the greatest man. They say: Dr. Vincent was as great a man as any he
introduced. I am glad he is becoming popular on account of the influence
he can exert upon them and their children who are to be the future
inhabitants of this town. They are to hold in their hands the destinies
of wide reaches of this country, and it is important that they should
come under good influences. I do not know of better influences than those
coming down to us from Chautauqua, and though we cannot be at Chautauqua,
our hearts are there, and our sympathies are there with you, and, Doctor,
when you throw the pebble in the pool, I may not follow the pebble in its
fall, but I hear the waves ripple by my door.” [Applause.]
Governor Fenton: “The people of Jamestown all recognize and admire the
devotion of President Miller of Chautauqua. Only one thing we cannot
fully understand why he should live in Akron instead of Jamestown.”
[Laughter and applause.]
Lewis Miller, Esq., spoke briefly: “Akron is in Ohio. [Applause.] It is
the place of my birth.” He gracefully acknowledged the good will of the
citizens of Jamestown in honoring the Chautauqua Board by this banquet
and reception. The management hopes ever to conduct the affairs for which
they are associated to the advantage of the local interests about the
lake, and, while Chautauqua was not organized for the purpose of merely
benefiting this local circle about the lake, yet we expect its influence
will extend until it reaches the uttermost parts of this country and
possibly of others. [Applause.]
Governor Fenton called upon Rev. W. G. Williams, of Jamestown, to speak.
Mr. Williams said: “I certainly had not the remotest idea that Governor
Fenton would ask me to say a word. I can bring a very competent
witness here at my side who will testify that at nine o’clock the last
possibility of a speech in me vanished; and yet it gives me great
pleasure to corroborate the words of others representing Jamestown, as to
the excellent character of this city of which we are residents. I suppose
I ought to call myself a resident now, though I have only been here about
a year. I have been greatly pleased with all the evidences of prosperity
commented on by the speakers before me, and I want to say just a word
in reference to one point mentioned by Dr. Vincent in his remarks—the
lack of sympathy on the part of this town with Chautauqua. I had seen
the situation as an outsider, being a resident of another town, and had
heard the remark made quite frequently, and now residing nearly a year
in Jamestown, and having carefully observed the facts, I want to bear
testimony to the strongest sympathy of the people in Jamestown with the
work in Chautauqua, and also to the fact that this sympathy is growing. I
believe that Dr. Vincent in looking forward to that future of achievement
will find that Jamestown will not lack, but will always be ready with
appreciation of the work.”
Referring to his religious and ecclesiastical connections in Jamestown,
Mr. Williams said: “We are enlisted as Methodists with our Baptist,
Presbyterian, and Congregational brethren. We are orthodox in Jamestown,
I believe, trying to do an orthodox work, and in this we are working in
sympathy and in coöperation with Chautauqua, and I join with others in
extending a hearty welcome, representing, if I may, the churches of the
town to these gentlemen, who come to represent a great institution at
Chautauqua.” [Applause.]
Gov. Fenton told a story about Dr. Flood’s failing to obtain an original
story from a notable writer, at the other end of the lake, and about his
own recommendation of a novel which was substituted therefor.
Dr. Flood said:—“Gov. Fenton takes proper credit for ‘Lavengro’ appearing
in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. There is a gentleman who makes his home, during the
summer season, at the head of the lake, and there was a time when the
lower end came to the rescue of the upper end. A gentleman had guaranteed
to furnish an original story, but when the time came for the work to
begin, he failed, and I failed to pay the thousand dollars. Governor
Fenton, anxious, doubtless, for the reputation of the upper end of the
lake, did suggest that I ought to examine ‘Lavengro.’ I went to George
Borrow and borrowed. I borrowed generously, and I do not doubt in the
least but the one hundred and seventy-five thousand readers of THE
CHAUTAUQUAN were quite as well pleased with ‘Lavengro’ as they would have
been with the original story, unless our friend, President Miller, would
have been better pleased with the other story, because it was to be on
the greenback line and opposed to monopolies.
“THE CHAUTAUQUAN was born in two cities; in Jamestown and Meadville. It
is a little remarkable, but nevertheless a fact, the three states that
furnish the most subscribers to THE CHAUTAUQUAN, New York, Pennsylvania
and Ohio, are the three states associated with the birth of the magazine.
It got its name in Ohio. The name was given when Doctor Vincent and
I were riding in the cars in Ohio. The magazine was printed first in
Meadville, Pa., and it was shipped to Jamestown, from which point the
first number was mailed to subscribers, after which the offices were
removed to Meadville. I am gratified that the citizens of Jamestown
have at last been awakened from a sort of Rip Van Winkle sleep on this
question of Chautauqua, and have, with a sort of exclamation point at
this banquet, met the Board of Trustees and the management of Chautauqua
with a very hearty and cordial reception.
“This is the line where we cross from the first decade into the second
decade of Chautauqua history.” Here the speaker told a laughable incident
connected with a dissolute fellow who disturbed a Free Methodist
watch-meeting by an untimely blowing of a horn and the exclamation, “My
name is Gabriel, and I come once in a hundred years.” [Laughter.] “Now,
Mr. President, our name is Chautauquans, and to Jamestown we come for the
first time in ten years. We hope to come more frequently in the future.”
[Applause.]
Governor Fenton introduced Mr. Marvin, who, after a little pleasantry,
spoke concerning the idea broached by Dr. Vincent. “It has been said
that the citizens of Jamestown have not manifested quite as much warmth
of feeling toward the Chautauqua association which you have founded upon
this lake, and which is in such a prosperous condition. This is not true.
We have been in sympathy with you. Our heart’s feelings have been with
you, though I am free to say, perhaps we have not sufficiently manifested
it. We are glad to have you present on this occasion, and we hope in the
future that we may make ourselves known to you more strongly than in the
past. [Applause.] But I should say that, strictly from a business point
of view, there is not that wealth in Jamestown that many of you think.
But few of our citizens are wealthy. Many are well-to-do, but what they
have is so invested in their various enterprises that they have not
that ready money to invest in outside operations. Perhaps this fact has
controlled to some extent the monied interests which otherwise would have
gone to assist you at Chautauqua.
“Now gentlemen, we rejoice that you have come to the shores of the lake.
We rejoice that you have founded that city in the woods, and we hope to
bear stronger proofs of our sympathy hereafter.”
Dr. J. T. Edwards, of Randolph, being introduced humorously referred to
the royal furnishings of the banquet, the superabundance of which might
make, as Dr. Holmes has wittily said, many families happy. Looking upon
the delicious oysters he had been reminded of two speakers at a feast in
Egg Harbor—one was classic and made references to Brutus and Cassius and
other men unknown to the lowly oystermen—the other by one who swinging
his arms and with loud voice exclaimed: “Fellow-citizens, the last time
I had the pleasure of visiting your town, I came to the conclusion that
the Egg Harbor oysters were superior to those of Saddle Rock.” [Laughter
and applause.] This was saying the right thing in the right place, and at
once took hold of the Egg Harbor oystermen. We can not always do it.
Becoming more serious, the speaker said he believed this to be the best
age of the world, and Chautauqua a grand achievement resting on this
beautiful lake, more like the beautiful Windermere than any he had
elsewhere seen, made classic by the writings of Coleridge and Wilson,
and others. I extend my congratulations also on this occasion, and feel
myself to be present with these citizens of Jamestown.
Dr. J. H. Worman being introduced by ex-Governor Fenton, said: “In a
large place in the city of Berlin, among the many paintings in the
gallery of the king there is one that attracted my attention when I was
a boy. It is a coronation scene of King William IV. He is in the act
of taking from the people their promise of being faithful to him. And
to-night as Dr. Vincent spoke to you of the promise that had come to
him from this side, I was reminded of that picture, and I see now in
place of the king coming to ask his subjects their faith, this leader of
Chautauqua standing before me asking your fealty for the good work begun
upon this lake; and, as was written under the picture in letters that are
never to be effaced, crowned by many a jewel: ‘This yes is mine’—so I see
written upon your hearts in undying language, the promise to Chautauqua
and its honored leader, a YES for the support of that enterprise, that
it may never die so long as civilization has a home on this lake.” [Long
continued applause.]
At a late hour the company separated for their homes and places of
entertainment, all being impressed with the genuine friendship of the
citizens of Jamestown for the Chautauqua Assembly.