Chautauqua Bolstered

Laid in the friendly hands of receivers last year (TIME, Jan. 1, 1934), famed old Chautauqua Institution was far from dead. Arthur Eugene Bestor, its president, made plans for the 1934 season, mapped out a money-raising campaign. This summer Chautauquans returned to their cottages, clubs and classes, their genteel recreations on the shores of Lake Chautauqua. But until last week they were not sure how long the Institution could carry on. Then, at the close of exercises celebrating the 60th anniversary of its founding, President Bestor announced: "This evening Chautauqua has received the largest aggregate gift in its history. This means that the rehabilitation of Chautauqua financially and its continuance as a vital American institution is assured."

The size of the gift--$158.000--surprised many people but pleased none more than it did a gentle, plump-faced old lady who helped in the campaign. Mrs. Thomas Alva Edison remembers the earliest days of the Institution. Her father. Lewis Miller, an Akron inventor, founded it with the help of Bishop John Heyl Vincent and there in 1885 Tom Edison paid court to Mina Miller. Later Inventor Edison be came honorary president of the Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle which for years scattered books for home reading over the marble-topped parlor tables of the land.

How much Mrs. Edison, who accumulated so many millions of dollars during her husband's life that he did not need to mention her in his will, contributed to the rehabilitation of Chautauqua the Institution did not reveal. Biggest single gift in the campaign was an anonymous one of $5,000. Chautauqua trustees contributed $20,000. The Bird & Tree Club, of which Mrs. Edison is president, chipped in with $3,358 while the Woman's Club gave $2,507. By far the greatest bloc of contributions toward lifting Chautauqua out of its gentle dumps came from those who have grown old with it, residents of the county who gave $26,652, and cottage-owners at Chautauqua itself who mustered a thumping good $103,232.

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