y years having
exceedingly inadequate protection against fires, we almost wonder that
it has never been overswept by a conflagration. From time to time there
have been fires, most of them a benefit in clearing away old shacks of
the camp-meeting strata; and one took place on a night during the season
of 1889. It swept away a row of small houses along the southwestern
border of Miller Park, toward the Land of Palestine. Their site was kept
unoccupied, leaving a clear view of the lake, except on one corner where
a handsome building was erected, the Arcade. While the main entrance to
the grounds was at the Pier, this was a prosperous place of business,
but after the back door became the front door, through the coming of the
Chautauqua Traction Company, giving railroad connection with the outside
world, the business center of Chautauqua shifted to streets up the hill.

The year 1890 came, bringing the seventeenth session of the Assembly.
This was the year when the Presbyterian House was opened, and also the
C. L. S. C. building, erected by Flood and Vincent, for Mr. George E.
Vincent was now a partner with Dr. Flood in publishing _The Chautauquan
Magazine_ and the books of the C. L. S. C. Subsequently the business of
publication was assumed by the Institution, and the building has been
for many years the book-store, with rooms on the floor above for
classes in the School of Expression.

An announcement in the program of the College of Liberal Arts was that a
School of Journalism would be conducted by Hamilton Wright Mabie,
essayist, and one of the editors of _The Outlook_. Leon H. Vincent gave
another course of literary lectures. Dr. Henry L. Wayland of
Philadelphia was one of the speakers. John Habberton, author of the
"best seller" some years before, _Helen's Babies_, lectured, read,
joined the C. L. S. C. Class of 1894, and was made its President. Dr.
Francis E. Clark, father of the Christian Endeavor Society, came and was
greeted by a host of young Endeavorers. Dr. Alexander McKenzie of
Cambridge, Mass., preached a great sermon. Mr. Robert J. Burdette, at
that time an editor, but afterwards a famous Baptist preacher, gave one
of his wisely-witty lectures. The Hon. John Jay, worthy son of one of
New York's most distinguished families, gave an address. Dr. Fairbairn
of Oxford was again among us, with his deep lectures, yet clear as the
waters of Lake Tahoe. The orator on Recognition Day was Mrs. Alice
Freeman Palmer, who