The Story of Chautauqua

by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut

CHAPTER XIV

SOME STORIES OF THE C. L. S. C.
(1883, 1884)

We must hasten our steps through the passing years at Chautauqua. Our readers may take for granted that the regular departments were continued; that the Summer Schools were adding new courses and calling new professors; that the Normal Class for the training of Sunday School workers was still held, no longer in the section-tents nor in the Children's Temple, but under a large tent on an elevation where two years later was to stand the Normal Hall, built for the class, but after some years transferred first to the Musical Department, later to the Summer Schools and partitioned into class-rooms. The Children's Class was still held by Dr. B. T. Vincent and Professor Frank Beard, for our friend with the crayon was now in the faculty of the School of Art in Syracuse University.

In 1883 the session was forty-five days long, from July 14th to August 27th. A new feature of the program was an "Ideal Foreign Tour through Europe," with illustrated lectures on various cities by C. E. Bolton, and "Tourists' Conferences" conducted by his wife, the cultured Mrs. Sarah K. Bolton. Mrs. Emma P. Ewing of Chicago taught classes in the important art of cookery. Professor Charles J. Little gave a course of lectures. Hon. Albion W. Tourgee, residing at Mayville, who had achieved fame soon after the Civil War by his story, A Fool's Errand, gave lectures in the Amphitheater. Professor William C. Richards showed brilliant illustrations in physical science. Dr. P. S. Henson entertained while he instructed; President Julius H. Seelye, Dr. W. F. Mallalien, later a Bishop, President Joseph Cummings of Northwestern University, Hon. Will Cumback of Indiana, and many others, gave lectures.

A new instructor entered the School of Languages in 1883, in the person of William Rainey Harper, then Professor in the Baptist School of Theology at Morgan Park, Illinois, afterward to be the first President of the University of Chicago. No man ever lived who could inspire a class with the enthusiasm that he could awaken over the study of Hebrew, could lead his students so far in that language in a six weeks' course, or could impart such broad and sane views of the Biblical literature. From this year Dr. Harper was one of the leaders at Chautauqua, and soon was advanced to the principalship of the Summer Schools. In the after years, while Dr. Harper was President of the University of Chicago, and holding classes all the year, in summer as well as winter, he was wont to take the train every Friday afternoon, in order to spend Saturday and Sunday at Chautauqua. Chautauquans of those days will also remember the recitals by Professor Robert L. Cumnock of Northwestern University, a reader who was a scholar in the best literature.

The class of 1883, though not as large as its predecessor, the Pioneers, was graduated with the same ceremonies, the address on Recognition Day given by Dr. Lyman Abbott of New York, one of the Counsellors of the Circle. Five years had now passed since the inauguration of this movement, and from every quarter testimonials of its power and incidents showing its influence were received. Let me mention a few of these which came under my own notice.

I met a lady who mentioned that she and her husband were reading the course together and they found the only available hour between six and seven in the morning, before breakfast. For the study of the course they both had risen at half past five for a year or more. One result of this early morning reading was, she said, that at the breakfast table they told the children stories of history and science, which she thought turned their minds toward knowledge. Among the books was one on Human Physiology—a book, which, by the way, I did not rate very highly and objected to as being so elementary as to become almost juvenile; yet that book awakened such an interest that the lady began to read more widely and deeply on the subject, after a few months entered the Woman's Medical College in New York, during her course took several prizes, and graduated with high honors. It may have been that she foresaw what came, the failure of her husband's health, so that of necessity she became the bread-winner for her family. She was a successful physician, honored in the community, the Chautauqua Circle having opened to her wider opportunities of knowledge and usefulness.

Two college professors of high standing have told me that they were first awakened to a desire and determination for higher education through their early readings in the C. L. S. C.

One rather amusing yet suggestive incident came to my notice. Visiting a city in the Middle West, I met a lady who told me that she belonged to a club of young people who met weekly in a card party. One member told the rest about the C. L. S. C. which she had joined and showed them the books, whereupon they all sent in their names as members, and the card club was transformed into a Chautauqua Reading Circle.

I was seated with Dr. Edward E. Hale at a C. L. S. C. banquet in New England, when he pointed out a middle-aged gentleman at the head of one of the tables and told me this story about him.