As Dr. George Vincent was now an associate professor in the University of Chicago, it became necessary for him to have some assistance in the management of the Chautauqua program and platform. Mr. Scott Brown was this year appointed General Director and Vice-Principal of Instruction.
CHAPTER XIX
OPENING THE NEW CENTURY
(1901-1904)
The season of 1901 was the longest of any thus far, sixty days, from July 1st to August 29th. In the schools Manual Training was introduced under the direction of Mr. Henry J. Baker, also a school of Library Training under the general guidance of Mr. Melvil Dewey, at that time New York State Librarian, and soon after made one of the Chautauqua trustees. The resident director of this school was at first Miss Mary E. Hazeltine of Jamestown; later, and up to the present time, Miss Mary E. Downey, of the Utah State Library. The growth of public libraries throughout the country has made this school very popular among young women seeking the profession of librarian.
Some voices new to Chautauqua were heard from the Amphitheater platform in 1901, such as Dr. O. P. Gifford of the Baptist Church, Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson, Mrs. L. Ormiston Chant of England, a descendant of the great Edmund Burke, we were informed, and the Governor of New York, Hon. Benjamin B. Odell. Mr. Joseph Jefferson, whom all the world of that generation knew as "Rip Van Winkle," gave a lecture showing the relations of the lecture platform and the stage. Rev. John McNeill, whose speech showed that he came from the north of the Tweed, preached a powerful and searching sermon. Dr. Robert Stuart McArthur gave a lecture on "Mountain Peaks in Russian History." Dr. Hale, President Crawford, Mr. Leland Powers, Dr. S. H. Clark, Dr. Moulton, and Mr. George W. Bain were among the old Chautauqua favorites of that season. As the C. L. S. C. Class of 1900 had taken the name "The Nineteenth Century Class," the one graduating this year was entitled "The Twentieth Century Class." The speaker on Recognition Day was Chancellor E. Benjamin Andrews of the University of Nebraska, on the subject, "Problems of Greater America."
The season of 1902 was noteworthy from a visit of Bishop Vincent. It seems strange to read of a visit from the Founder of Chautauqua, but he was at that time living in Zurich, Switzerland, holding Methodist conferences all over Europe, in many languages through interpreters, and for several years had been absent from Chautauqua. We of the older generation always missed his presence, but to the younger troop of Chautauquans his was only a revered name. The Vincent whom they knew, and packed the Amphitheater to hear, was the Director George E. Vincent, the man at the wheel of Chautauqua. This year the announcement was made that the Chancellor was coming, and a royal welcome was prepared. A printed account of this event reads as follows:
Arriving at Lakewood, the Bishop was met by members of his family, and the Board of Trustees. After the welcome greetings, the party took a special steamer for Chautauqua. At the Pier a fleet of craft of all descriptions—launches, sail-boats, and row-boats—awaited the arrival of the Bishop's steamer. As soon as it came within hailing distance, the larger boats dipped colors and all the people waved handkerchiefs, the chimes at the Point rang in a familiar tune, and as the steamer headed toward the Pier, the Chautauqua choir, gathered in the balcony, sang the old Chautauqua song, "Join, O friends, in a memory song."
As the boat came to the wharf, the bank and the Park of Palestine were a mass of waving handkerchiefs. The Reception Committee, composed of officials of the Institution, stood on the Pier, and back of them an immense throng all eager to catch a glimpse of their beloved leader. Lines were formed on either side of the walk, and as the Bishop passed between them he was greeted with the salute of the white handkerchiefs. In Miller Park were gathered the cottage owners, the Summer Schools, and the C. L. S. C. classes, with their banners and emblems, and the various clubs and children's classes. On the way to his cottage on Lake Avenue, the Bishop was escorted by about two hundred and fifty members of the Boys' and Girls' Clubs, whose sweet voices rang out clear and full in "Auld Lang Syne." From the veranda of his tent cottage, the Bishop made an eloquent address of appreciation, full of the joy of home-coming.