Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1917 — JUDGE ALDEN WELL RECEIVED [ARTICLE]

JUDGE ALDEN WELL RECEIVED

Closing Night of Chautauqua Was the Best of All. . The 19T7 Chautauqua in Rensselaer came to a close Wednesday night, the concluding day’s program being an exceptionally strong one. The music for the day was furnished by the Lindquest-Alien-Van Vliet company, an organization of musicians of unusual ability. -Albert Lindquest, tenor soloist, is a vocal artist the equal of whom has seldom been heard in Rensselaer. His renditions in both English and Italian were of the very best character and brought forth round after round of applause from the audience. a* * - Cornelius Van Vliet, viol(meellist, was equally pleasing, and his productions from the world’s foremost composers were enjoyed to tiie fullest extent, by one and all. However, the program of the day and of the week was given a fitting climax by Judge George D. Alden, a former governor of Massachusetts and direct descendant of John Alden and Priscilla. Judge Alden’s subject was “The Needs of the Hour,” but a subject is an immaterial thing to a man of the ability of Judge Alden. Rich in humor and wit, keen of mind and overflowing with logic, he cannot fail to please even the most exacting audience. „ This was Judge Alden’s first visit to Rensselaer, as he reminded his hearers frequently, but should he ever have occasion to come again the city would arise enmasse with open arms to welcome him.

The afternoon lecture was by Helen B. Paulsen, whose talk on “If We Only Knew,’’ was in keeping with the remainder of the last day’s program. Her treatment of the boy and girl problem, her diagnosis of child welfare and her wonderful logic in connection with the younger generation has won for her the apt title of a hundred mothers in one. She pleased the audience, both grownups and youngsters, and left it richer in knowledge and better equipped to handle life’s problems. None better could be asked than a Chautauqua composed of such talent as appeared the last day. The program as a whole was not as strong as it has been in previj ons years. There were, other very good numbers that are perhaps deserving of especially mention, but to give such would require too much space. And again, there were others, while they might have been good, did not appeal so strohglv to our people. However, the people of Rensselaer and vicinity recognize the value of a good Chautauqua, and realizing that exceptional talent is hard to get, a contract was entered into Thursday for a Lincoln Chautauqua aext year. This contract hqs been signed by forty representative citizens and business men. but the jpatter of making the Chautauqua a success must not be left to them. Each and every citizen has a part ■n the enterprise and all should work together to make it a success in every Way. The Lincoln contract requires $950 in one sum, another SIOO for entertaining the talent and other expenses, after

which the receipts are split 50-50. There was no guarantee this year, the chautauqua coming here of its own free will upon the expression of a large number in favor of such action, and it is said that they lost some money by so doing.