Old songs were sung and "Dixie" brought a large Southern contingent to its feet. Mr. Vincent joked and cajoled his hearers while messengers and ushers gathered several thousand dollars, the Old First Night gift.
Best fun of all were the roll calls. Between sixty and seventy were present who had been a part of the original Old First Night. Thirty-two persons rose as having been at Chautauqua for forty-one summers and a Chautauqua salute sent them happily to their seats, for a Chautauqua salute is an honor, not achieved every day. "I've been waiting twenty-five years for this," said a professor in one of the Summer Schools who received the distinction as a "Good-bye" before a trip to Europe.
By way of gaining an idea of the breadth of Chautauqua's call, dwellers in different parts of the world and of the United States were called to their feet. A small group rose as from New England; a very large group from New York and Pennsylvania. The South stood solid in large parties all over the auditorium, and the West had sent many representatives. The showing from Canada and parts of the world outside of our own country was by no means small.
"Who are the people on the platform beside the speakers?" Helen asked Mrs. Hancock who sat next her.
"The officers and trustees of the Institution, almost all of the 'old originals' and some people of distinction who happen to be on the grounds."
Then they left the Amphitheatre to go to the lake front for the fireworks and found themselves passing through a forest of brilliant lanterns swinging from the trees and casting their soft light on the paths and grass. Thousands of happy people, some wet-eyed with memories, some wide-eyed with wonder, walked beneath them, talking of days gone by and days to come.
So large was the Morton-Emerson-Hancock group that Mrs. Morton did not notice until she was almost at her own door that the Ethels were not near her.
"They were in the Amphitheatre," she said.
"I saw them coming out," cried Margaret.
"We'll wait a few minutes and then if they don't come Roger must look for them," said Mrs. Morton anxiously.