Chautauqua

BROWN, DAWSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/16/2007 at 21:20:55

Jackson Sentinel
June 27, 1907

Auspicious Opening Chautauqua
SPLENDID MUSIC AND SPEAKING
Large Attendance and Every Body Pleased

The inauguration of a Chautauqua assembly in Maquoketa under direction of the Redpath Lyceum Bureau of Chicago, took place Tuesday afternoon and will continue six days. The big tent 80x120 feet was erected Saturday at the corner of James and Decker Sts., and will comfortably seat 2,500 people. As it is a new project carefully organized, thought out and systematized by Mr. Vawter of the Bureau, the tent, the seats, the lighting system are all new. An extra large express car is required to transport the equipment. Three of these outfits go into use this week in three Iowa cities (Monticello, Belle Plaine and Maquoketa) and thirty towns will thereby be given high class Chautauqua before the season’s close.

Mr. Geo. C. Rheinfrank is the gentleman in charge of affairs in our city this week and is a very capable manager. During Tuesday afternoon nearly all places of business in town were closed and many attended Chautauqua. The large audience greatly enjoyed the program. Mayor Gregory delivered an address of welcome under difficulties as he was suffering with a severe cold. Mr. Rheinfrank complemented the ladies, the business men and the people generally of our city for the prompt and enthusiastic manner in which they took hold of the Chautauqua movement.
The Hungarian orchestra, comprising two ladies and several gentlemen with Director Louis Lipskl handling the baton, regaled the audience with fine music.
Geo. L. McNutt, the man of the people, the “Dinner Pail Man,” a ready and witty speaker captured the afternoon crowd with his pungent utterances and decided friendliness for the working man and woman not excepting the “greenhorn.”

In the evening the Hungarians again happily entertained music lovers; and Peter Macueen, the celebrated world-wide traveler and magazine and newspaper correspondent, vividly described Russian grandeur and misery as he saw it. He also illustrates his lectures with beautiful life like pictures. He is eloquent and his smooth flow of language commands closest attention and none hear him but to learn something.

The Hungarians remained over Wednesday and so did the popular and versatile Geo. L. McNutt, who spoke in the morning of “The Master Passion,” The big card for this day however, Gov. E. A. Hoch of Kansas. He is a man of fine presence and is speaking to a large audience as we go to press.

The program for the succeeding days will be found in the last issue of the Sentinel, or Chautauqua booklet.

Today (Thursday) is Senator Brown’s day. A telegram recently Tuesday evening assured the management that Hon. Champ Clark of Missouri, would be here Saturday afternoon and Hon. A. F. Dawson of Preston, will have the pleasure of introducing him to the audience.