traction trust that controlled about
the whole output of entertainment. The platform now is a picture
gallery where is to be had all beauty in nature, from our own land to
the land of the midnight sun.

In moving pictures it presents to those who never saw ship, sail or
sea, the landing of a great steamer, with splashing of spray as real
as if seen from the dock. To those who enjoy music it furnishes band
concerts, orchestra, bell-ringing, quartettes, solos, plantation
melodies, rag-time tunes and women whistlers.

The platform today beats the devil in output of entertainment. It has
scoured field and forest, trained birds and dogs to round out the
program of a chautauqua.

Its breadth takes in all creeds and kinds. While it greets with waving
lilies Bishop Vincent, leader of the great chautauqua movement, it
cordially welcomes the priest, the Jew, the Chinaman, the negro,
republican, democrat, progressive, prohibitionist, socialist and
suffragist.

The platform has grown to be a great university, a musical festival, a
zoological garden, an art institute, an agricultural college and a
domestic science school.

Do you ask has the platform any blemishes? I answer yes. All
enterprises have their blemishes. The press is a potent power for good
and yet many bad things get into print. Sometimes from the platform
come voices without the ring of sincerity, entertainments without
uplifting influence and anecdotes without respect to public decency.
When attending platform entertainments one should discriminate as when
eating fish, enjoy the meat and discard the bones. With good taste in
selection one rarely ever need go away hungry.

I am often asked: "Where do you find the most appreciative audiences?"

First, I would reply, in rural communities where the people are not
surfeited with entertainment. Second, I would say, applause does not
always mean appreciation. It is said "still water runs deep." In
Chickering Hall, New York, one Sunday afternoon a lady sat before me
whose diamonds and dress indicated wealth. A lad sat by her side. My
subject was, "The Safe Side of Life for Young Men." It was a
temperance address and the thought came to me; that lady is a wine
drinker and she is disappointed that I am to talk temperance. She did
not cheer with the audience, nor did she give any expression of face
that would indicate her interest, except that she kept her eyes fixed
upon the speaker. At the close she came to the platfo