Reports of Field Agents 433 



REPORT OF CHARLES CRAWFORD GORST, CHAUTAUQUA 

 AND LYCEUM LECTURER 



It is now commonly recognized that as an inspirational force and moulder 

 of public opinion the Chautauqua platform has few equals. But the enthusiasm 

 generated by it, like that of its kinsman the evangelistic campaign, should be 

 more and more directed toward and conserved in visible community works. 



Each summer, on the Chautauqua platform, I have tried harder to conserve 

 the interest aroused by my lecture-entertainment on birds by attempting to 

 organize bird clubs. Four years ago, during a three -months Chautauqua 

 circuit with the Redpath-Horner Chautauquas in Texas, Kansas, and Okla- 

 homa, the audiences, with increasing frequency, suggested that their interest 

 in birds should be saved and developed by bird clubs. The following summer, 

 the management established bird-study as an activity of its junior or children's 

 Chautauquas on its three circuits. It was my privilege to tour one of these 

 circuits and cooperate with the junior Chautauqua supervisors in interesting 

 children in birds and organizing Junior Audubon Societies. This campaign 

 meant that during three months the children of about 225 towns of Texas, 

 Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska were interested, for at least a 

 week, in birds ; and in at least 70 per cent of those towns we organized Junior 

 Audubon Societies. 



Late last spring I decided that during eleven weeks of Chautauqua appear- 

 ances for the Coit-Alber Chautauqua Company, I would attempt the organi- 

 zation of bird clubs for adults. This decision was made too late to do desirable 

 preliminary work in each community by correspondence. But each day, for 

 two or three days before the bird-program, the platform manager announced 

 that after the program a meeting would be held to organize a bird club. 



During an hour's program, my purpose was to interest the audience in both 

 the beauty and the usefulness of birds. To do this, I opened with a whistling 

 solo and a novelty number, then imitated the songs of birds during forty-five 

 minutes, accompanying the bird-music with observations on the beauty and 

 meaning of bird-songs and with paintings of the birds about four times life size. 

 During the last fifteen minutes I attempted by word pictures to impress the 

 audience with the astonishing usefulness of birds, and concluded the program 

 with an exhortation to observe and learn to love the wonder and beauty of 

 nature. 



Usually, the after-meeting was well attended. I first described the useful 

 and interesting things that the community should do to encourage the birds. 

 I also emphasized the personal refinement and social pleasure that a bird club 

 would bring. Then, if a good majority of those present voted to organize, 

 nominations were in order by any above fourteen years of age for a board of 

 club directors. I urged that the club affiUate with the National Association of 

 Audubon Societies and rely on it for help. It was pleasing to see how quickly 



