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.”