CHAUTAUQUA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 21 February 1920, Page 4

CHAUTAUQUA

OPENING OP NELSON SEASON,

Chautauqua opened' its Ntelson season yesterday afternoon in a largo marquee pitched next -to the Post Office. For aome time past considerable interest!haa been evinced as to what kind of enter, tairument would! be produced by the combination travelling under the mystic title of Chautauqua. Judging hy the opening session yesterday afemoo it and evening, Nefooniaiig, need have no hesitation j n “banking” oni Chautauqua. Aiming % produce something a little different from ordinary, <tbe organise ation seeks to provide entertainment and instruction in the happiest of combinatioms, and during the next week the public will have the opportunity of listening to a coterie of musicians, or atom, entertainers, and educationally who are credited) with a (high (reputation u*. their own particular spheres. The programme yesterday- afternoon was proyidledi by the Lyric Quaptette, ; fif Auckland, who presented a very pleafeing entertainment. The party/ consists of Messrs Arthur Ripley {first tenor), H. Raohards '(second tenor), A. McElwain (baritone and company sketch, entertainer), and John Ryan (bass). The, concerted numbers, which were nnaocompanied, produced a fine blending of voices and dtelighjted the audience, The numbers were “The Mulligan Musketeers,” “Fibbing,” “A, Perfect, Day,” “They Kissed,” “The Two Elies,” and the “Soldier’s Farewell.” Individually the members of the party possess high qualifications. Mr Ryan’s voice ' lent itself admirably to his songs, '‘The Ringers,” “The Little - Irish Girl,” and, in company with Mr • Richards, “The Battle Eve.” Mr McElwain- is a versatile performer, built shines chiefly, in comedy, his humour never failing to score. His impersonation of a Cockney in “Evan®’ Dawg Hospital,” was a fitio elocutionary effort. H%» puher numbers were the musical monologue, “Oh. Memory,” “Levinmky’s Wedding,” and a “Scene Shlftir’s Account of Hainlet,” each of which fairly-convulsed ‘spasqatß hj -HM 1 ‘ -sbadtpue - who possesses a . clear,’ 'plpnamg tenor voice, jtook part ip , a duet, “The Battle Eve,” - yriHSr .Mr Ryan ; and Mr Ripley sang *“My TVim* . respondii«r ho an encore with “My Dear.” Mrs Ripley played) the accom paniments tastefully and' symp a* thetically, ‘ '• EVENING SESSION.

There was a very -large attendance, at the eviening session, when the Chautauqua party we® officially 'welcomed to Nelson by the depu&y-Mayor fCr T. Pettit). ,I n doing so, he for the absence of tihe Mayor. v (Mr W. W. Snodgrass), who was laid .aside . by influenza. The deputy-Mayor expi*e%edi hope fthaft the Nelson season would be a successful one, : the members of (the party would hnd to interest .them and! carry away pageant recollections’bf their ‘ visit. Miss McGOlivray* replied. , The first portiom of the eveningwaa taken up by a delightful ©hteittypinieut: by the Lync Four, in which *h©' talented performers gave of . their .best. CopV certed numbers made up moat of the programing and in each instance the audience expressed! appreciation in .. an unmistakeaWe manner. The' numbers included “The Gobble-uns 'ill' Git Yen” “-Revgjjaß,” and “Old ‘Mother Hubbard.” « • i ■ I ; ~7 It . ‘ JUDGE ALDEN ON “THE NEEDS OP THE HODE” Judge Alden, of Massachusetts, .filled in the second part of the programme with a lefctoase 'oD “The Needs of the Hour,” The judge 4® a man of coiT adorable . personality, "and) a fluent and tjehing speaker. ,At wiß,-he made hie audience bubble with merriment at! some quip Xk> emphasise his poinjt,''’ or held their serious attention at some profound truth., iJiscussing .the jmbjepk bfchib address, the speaker, ‘ disclaimed ' knowledge of the conditions of the Dominion ;he was ,the; ills of hi® own ooutftry. But) ssto® time it w»;tw hinted:u JSj!; same ills prevapbd jin - besides the. Umtfc.S&te& The r . ills of Us own pouatty, he m? commercial dighohesty, political, corrop 4 • trorc, domestic. ous due of tu individual t6 the pahb-h® iWUWW* play in did gated of life;Fqp 40 or' SO ydaife America been 3sy»g in an age,of goldi—in /a. spirit J>t . which amounlted to petty ■ pr6ftte«rtegJ and when a nation turned fw>te. Goa to gold history always showed it on way to diefewb. The spirit of .graft permeated) ‘the small people' atf‘ayß’W the big—the millionaire. equally wftfe the If penny-picking pikers” who over-the stove at night, denouncing 3». It was to be found,in the who watered his milk,, andthe ©Shone# 1 grocer with hie ambuscade. .«£*♦«?•— “scales that lie in weight.” .The -nserf of the hour waa a rcfairote. old faahmned ideals. In the decline of man’s regard of Odd wa® fomMt the cause of all the ills, not only in his country F but nr the entire world telday, 33»e JUMi wbp had no respect for rould ' have no respect for himself, andlack ot self respect was the incubator in wluon a'l modem ills were hatched, went <*& the judge. Lcfe® theology and more Christianity was one of the the hour. “The central fact of rion/’ he declared, * is IOMgJWii W the central fact -of —S« Christ,” The hop© of {the w« on the hearthstone of a bappy home. The programme for this evmng*B tbs? sron is- advertised, m the final ■appearances of. (thta ■ Lyno tetto and Judge Alden.