Chautauqua

In 1874 a movement was born on Lake Chautauqua in upstate New York. The goal was to promote learning, recreation and relaxation for people who might not have the opportunities afforded in large cities.

Chautauqua fulfilled a need, and many states and regions copied the original. Lecturers like William Jennings Bryan and Carrie Nation toured on the Chautauqua circuit.

Our own Chautauqua begins Monday and continues through June 24. A week of free lectures, historical portrayals and entertainment is planned with the theme "America the Bountiful." A schedule of the lectures and events will be published in Sunday's Southeast Missourian.

Many of the programs will be presented in a tent on the grounds of the Osage Community Centre. In the Chautauqua tradition, members of the community are invited to help raise that tent Monday.

Theodore Roosevelt, who called Chautauqua "the most American thing in America," will be among the historical figures portrayed.

The Chautauqua movement died out in the 1920s, a demise generally attributed to the rise of radio and moviegoing and the commercialization of the presentations. But the Chautauqua Institute survived on Lake Chautauqua, boasting a world-class lineup of history, entertainment and theater.

Revivals by the Missouri Humanities Council and similar organizations have kept Chautauqua alive in the United States. This year in Missouri, weeklong performances will be given in Kirkwood and Maryville as well as Cape Girardeau.

The old-fashioned origins are part of the appeal of Chautauqua today. But nothing is old-fashioned about learning something new.

This is a special and rare event, one you should plan to attend -- and plan to enjoy.