The Madison Daily Leader

A GRAND SUCCESS.
The Chautauqua Picnic-Enjoyable Program--New Life in Chautauqua
The chautauqua picnic at the lake yesterday was a grand success, as it deserved to be. The ladies' committees had planned well and worked industriously and their efforts were appreciated by the large crowd which attended the most elaborate and social picnic ever indulged in by the people of this community. A careful estimate of the crowd by Treasurer Beck of the chautauqua association places the number in attendance at something over 1,000 people. Wentworth was well represented and there were also people present from Ramona and Winfred and a number of farmers, notwithstanding the busy season of farm work.
The platform entertainment was excellent and seemingly as heartily enjoyed as at a real chautauqua assembly. Remarks by President Heston of the State Normal school and local clergymen along the lines of patriotically sustaining a chautauqua as an educational auxiliary to our state and city educational institutions, were inspiring and had the effect of arousing enthusiastic sentiment for renewed effort.
The musical numbers by the Madison and Wentworth bands, local mandolin club, and the several piano and vocal solos were excellent, the latter participated in by young people of Madison and Wentworth. Very pretty and rhythmic displays were ribbon and Japanese drills by little ladies in costume. These were especially appreciated by the audience. The ribbon drill was delightfully attractive, the innocence and real honesty of the little tots in their maneuvering provoking smiles of pleasure by the audience.
Miss Mary Wadden of the faculty of the Spearfish Normal school, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. John Wadden of this city, appeared in readings and was warmly greeted. Miss Wadden was on the regular chautauqua programs in the state assembly circuit this year, and her artistic work at the picnic yesterday was a great pleasure, inspiring a patriotic feeling on the part of the audience on account of her residence in this city. Two delightful young lady soloists were Misses Coletta Fitzgerald and Gertrude Cook, their sweet young voices seeming angelic in the magnificent surroundings of the chautauqua grove. Mr. Herbert Fader of Wentworth with Miss Nellie Wright of the same place as accompanist, rendered a solo which was very pleasing. The Nordraak with its usual generosity was present and added much to the pleasure of the entertainment.
The day throughout was of much pleasure and the ladies having the work in charge are entitled to credit for their good management in caring for the people. The work of conveying the people to and from the lake was systematically handled and everybody was comfortably provided for. The picnic dinners were enjoyable, several families joining together at different points on the grounds and making the woods ring with happiness and good fellowship. The receipts of the day amounted to about $325 which will be used to repair chautauqua buildings.
With encouragement by the success their work yesterday, the ladies have decided to give a series of chautauqua entertainments during the fall and winter to raise funds for necessary purposes and also add interest to chautauqua. This awakening on the part of our citizens will no doubt instill new life in future assemblies.