3 forgOlten. Only a few remain, relics of tions to modem problems? Or should VACHEL LINDSAY'S ATIIENS OF AMERICA long-standing American malady, first by ille in the 1830s? Tocquevil1e eoncluded virtually indifferent to the past. Does Charles E Webb !ational obsession with progre.,'i.~? As the poet Vaehel Lindsay It appears rather obvious that the city approaehed Emporia, Kansas, on his 1912 founders' initial purpose was to develop a walking tour of rural America he paused commercial ccnter in the fertile untapped to write in his journal, "Emporia, the region near the confluence of the Neosho Athens of America, is just ahead ..."! and COllonwood Rivers in east-central Reflection upon Lindsay's journal notation, Kansas. Sclection of the name Emporia -­ and the era when iL was written, may the plural form of the Latin emporium (a cause one to speculClte about the factors trading place) -- offers the first clue as to which had transpired between the timc the their intent. Further evidence of their city was founded in 1857, and the date of motive may be recognized in the names Lindsay'S first visit in 1912, to merit this assigned to the town's primary streets. The spontaneous accolade.(Fig. 1) main thoroughfare was designated Commercial Street, while others bore such names as Market, Merchant and Exchange streets. Emporia's pioneers, unlike some of Lhe zealous but short- sighted town builders of the era, seem to have been practical people with a vision of long range urban growth.2 They were apparently aware of a prineiple of urban geography rclaLing to the need for cities to become "multi-functional" places in order to grow and achieve permanence. While they developed the land and water resources of the area, a parallel effort was made to promote transportation, communication FIg. I ,,<,,,, Vacbel Lindsay. Mr. Lind.ar referred lD Emporia as the •Alhens of America: (CouneJY and education. Also detectable during this \Villiarn Allen \\'bile LlbraC)', Normaliana Colleclion.) early period was an awareness of the This paper is an allempt to identify importance of the arts and entertainment some of the factors that may have led to in maintaining a viable well rounded the noteworthy Lurn-of-the-ccntury community. reputation enjoyed by Emporia. Transportation arteries to facilitate Commerce, transportation, communication the flow of commerce and stimulate and education will each be briefly further economic development were examined from a geographer's perspective. deemed essential by the town's founders. The major portion of the paper will, On July 21, ]857, just five months after however, focus on selected events at The the lown began, the local "Railroad Kansas State Normal School that typify iLS Committee" met with Kansas railroad contribution to the community's reputation pioneer Cyrus K Holiday to discuss during the early decades of the 20th strategies for bringing rail service ti, century. Emporia.3 Altbough trade and travel wcre 4 primarily Jjmited to wagon lraffic and a accompanied the railways into to'oVIl. hack line for the nen twelve years, railway During the lme 19th century, the flrst city service became available in 1869. On telephone company had beeome Deeember 22, 1869, the Missouri, Kansas, operational. Although Emporia had no and Texas Railroad arrived, and by the commercial radio station at the lime of 14th of September of the following year Lindsay's arrival. it was less than ten years lhe firsl Atehioon, Topeka and Santa Fe later that a licensed radio broadcast was track reached the ei!y.4 Before the end of originated from the Normal SchooL On the 19th eentury, virtually all of America the 13lh of April 1922, a live performance had beeome accessible by rail. by renowned opem Slar Claire Dux was Al the lime of Vachel Lindsay's first transmitted [rom AJbert Taylor Hall on visit, had he chosen 10 do so, he cQuld the campus of Kansas State Normal have traveled by (rain. Even allCJ\ll'ing for Sehool.s a laek of funds for a ticket, he might have Education rankell high among the fol!(NlIed the example of fellow poet Carl priorities of the early settlers. The first Sandburg who, in 1897, made the firs! of edition of the town's newspaper in June of his many trips 10 the City as a "habel" 1857 carried an advertisement seeking a aboard a freight lrain:\ sehool teacher.9 Mary J. Watson opened Two other transportation related Emporia's first sehool on October 14. items may be worthy of note. At the lime 1858.10 Ten ycars !ater, there were 29 of Mr. Linds.1y's visit, local businessman public schools in session in the eountYY "Mit" Wilhite was in the proces.~ of for brief periods during the late 19th sueeessfully eonvineing representatives of century, such specialized learning facilities the national government thal the proposed as a .~maJl business college and a new federal highway linking the eoasL~ conservatory of music werc also operated (U.S. 50) should pass through Emporia.6 in Ihe City. Also in the year 1912, the city was Afler narrowly failing in its bid 10 celebrating the flrst anniversary of its acquire the University of Kansas, Emporia electric streetcar system. was selected by [he state legislature in The communication tradition of 1863 as the site for The Kansas State Emporia is almost as old as the city itself. Normal School. On Fcbruary 15, 1865, The Emporia Town Company was K.S.N. began classes wilh an initial founded on February 20, 1857, and 75 enrollment of only 18 studenls. 12 The days later the flrst edition of the local College of EmIX>ria, a denominational neWlipaper was printed. Preston Plumb's liberal arts college affiliatcd Vrith the Knnws News, Vo1. 1, No.1, June 6, 1857, Pre~byterian Church, enrolled its first began an er3 of uninterrupted neVr':s that students in November of ISS3, hecoming has continued to the present. Throughout EmIX>ria's second institulion of higher much of the late 19th and early 20th learning.u centuric.s, the city had twO competing Thc twO eoUeges were loc.ateu on the dailies, the Emporia Daily Republican and same street, less than a mile apart. Both 7 the Emporia Gazelle. The lallcc institutions atta~ned national recognition newspaper, William Allen White's Emporia for the quality of their academic programs Gazette, had already achieved naUonal and each provided many educational and recognition by the time of Lindsay's visit. c'Jltural opportunities for the community. Eleetronie eommunication had its Although the "teachers" and "preachel1i," beginning locally when telegraph wires as they were often referred to by the local ·. • ,

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press, were fierce rivals on the athletic geographic regions of the United States, as mpanied the railways into town. fields they frequenLly cooperated 10 bring well as several foreign nations. the late 19th cenllJr)', the flcst city in, to Emporia cultural events seldom UniverSity presideo'~ came from )booe company had become available in ather small cities in the places as divergcnt as the Universities of ational. Although Emporia had no nation's hcartland. Exemplifying these joint Washington, Iowa and Mainc. David Star merciaI radio 5Lation at tbe Lime of efforts during the early 1900s was the Jordan, Presidenl of Stanford University, 1say'5 arrival, il v.'3S less than ten years co-sponsarroip of performances by thc who leCl.ured and oonducted seminars , that a licensed radio broadcast Wopera star Claire Dull' was had a stabilizing effect on the community. backgrounds as vartcd as the city of lmilled fmm Albert Taylor Hall on The education function, with its associated Chicago, the state of California, and the campus of Kansas SLate Normal naLion of Australia. The addrcSoS of J.H. t activilies, may well have had the greatest lOl. influence on Mr. Lindsay'S perception of Hughes , Inspector of Schools For Education ranked high among Lhe Emporia as the "Athens of America." Canada, on July 17, 1906, was indicmlve ~ulers. rilie5 of the early The first The Kansas State Normal School of the international input. 16 on of the [O'NIl', ne~paper in June of evolved inlo Emporia's mQ.\t enduring Bryon W. King and Anna E. George r carried an advertisement seeking a 9 eemer for higher education. In 19"'..3, the were two examples of education innovators 01 teacher. Mary J. WalsOn opened Normal School became Kansas State of the period. Mr. King, an elocutionist, xxia's first school on October 14, Teachers Collcge and in 1977, its name was a nationally recognized authority on t'O Ten years later, there were 29 was changed to Emporia State University. training for the speeCh handicapped. Anoa ic x:hools in session in the cQuntyY Although the school had grown and E. Georgc, whose lecture serics began brief periexls during the late 19th expandcd its mission, the contribution it June 20, 1914, was America's first ury, Iluch specialized learning facilities made \Q the educational and cultural life Montesorri stuoent and the translator of a small business college and a of Emporia during its sixty ycars as K.S.N. Madame Montesorri's teaching system into ervatory of music were also operated should not be overlooked. English. J7 Ie city. The fol1C1Wing account of cvcnts on Hundreds of notable scholars were After narrowly failing in its bid to the K.S.N. campus is an allempl to brought to the campus to lecture in lire the University of Kansas, Emporia demonSlrJlte the caliber of various diseiplines of the arts and sciences. selected by the state legisJaturc in repU131ion-cnhancing activities provided by Included among these were naturalist I 88 Ihe site for The Kansas State the institution during the era of Mr. Henry aids, ehemist HaNey W. Wiley, nal School. On February 15, 1865, Lindsay's visit. Thc events listed arc only economist Edward Allsworth, psyehologist N. began cl~ with an imtial selected examples [0 illustrate type and H. H. Goddard ano folklorisl John A IImenl of only 18 ~tudents. 12 The quality. A comprehensive listing would lomax. One name that wa~ easily :ge of Emporia, a denominational require a book-length volume. The time recognized by Il".e author was W. W. al artS college affiliated with thc span oonsidered will be from ]900 to Atwocxl, formerly ebairman of the bylerian Chureh, enrolled its first ]923, which includes that part of the 20\h Department of Geography and Geology at :nt!. in November of 1883, becoming century when The Kansas State Normal Hal'V1'lrd University. Dr. Atwocxl, one of lOria's second institution of highcr SChool still "officially" existed. the nation's foremo.~l geographers, lingY A~ a teacher training ins(ilulion, the frequently conducted 'W'eek.loog scminars The two college::; wcre located on the Normal School kept its f:.Jculty and in physical geography at K.S.N. during the : atreet, less tban a mile apnrt. Both students informed about that field by early 20th century. :UOOIlll attained naLional recognition hosting numerous gue!'l lecturers from The events that received the greatest he quality of their academic programs many phase!' of education. The!'e speak.ers attention were those featuring appearances eacll provided many educational and ranged from university presidents, to by individuals or groups more widely oommun~ty. Ira! opp::lnunities far thc public school o[[jcials and innovators in recognized by Ihe general public. :lugh the "teachcrs" and "preachers,' education. They represented all of the Nationally renowned celebrities consistently ley were often referred to try the local 6 played to packed houses at the campus Harper's, and Publisher's Weekly. One theater facilities. Individuals drawing large rather unique member of the editorial audiences included political figures, poets, fraterniry was John C. Freand, editor of authors, explorers, vocalists and virtuoso Musical America, who spoke at KS.N. in instrumentalists. Performances by orchestras, bands, ballets and other professional theatrical companies also The J. n. Po~d Lyceum Ilu","u played to capaCity crowds. Il~".. Among the rank5 of politieal personalities presenting addresses were Carl Herbert C. Hoover, William Howard Taft Sandburg and William Jennings Bryan. Mr. Hoover ·-(he Pqrrl_. Dr t/\"~ ("-1').'" spoke at the Normal School before . CHICAGO I becoming preSident, while ex-president ~CORNHUS.)\E.RS" be. Taft lectured at the institution on two occasions. Renowned orator William Jennings Bryan, an unsuccessful aspirant FIg. 2 Carl Sandburg on Lhe QC.C.Osion or one of has 9e't'er;.1 Empocia appearancei. (Counesy of Wilham Allen "WbiLe 10 the presidency, often visited the Ub"'ry. Normaliana Collection.) campus. In addition to his formal orations, 1916. Mr. Freand was not only the editor Bryan frequently spoke to classes in of that Pcublication, but in 1877, was its government and discussed polilics at social founder. 0 ga therings. 1B In deference to space limitations, and A variety of Olher political ligures also with apOlOgy for lack of paragraph came to the Normal SchooL A few structure, the following list of individuals is examples were Martin V. Brumbaugh, offered to illustrate the varied former Governor of Pennsylvania, Sir backgrounds of other guest speakers at Frederick Whyte, a member of the British K.S.N.: Social reformer Jane Addams of Parliament, and Senor De La Garza, Hull House, suffragist Isabelle Beecher, former Ambassador of Mexico. and prison reformer Maud Ballington Several literary personages of the era Booth, were representalive of the social were evidently popular attractions. Poets, activists of this period. Roald Amundsen, aUlhors and journalists came to Emporia the !irst man La reach the South Pole, and in great numbers. Representing poetry we Arctic explorer Evelyn Briggs Baldwin lind such names as Carl Sandburg (Fig. 2), were among the international celebrities. Vachel Lindsay, and the Irish poet Seumas General Nelson A. Miles, former Mac Manus. Some of the formidable commander of the U.S. Army, was a authors included Ida M. Tarbell, John newsworthy iigure during both the 19th Kendrick Bangs, and the internationally century Indian wars and the renowned British writer Hugh Walpole. 19 Spanish-American War. John Mitchell, Jourmllism was represented by dozens President of The United Mine Workers of the foremost correspondents and Union, lectured at the school at a time editors of the periOd. Two of those when national interest in labor unrest was correspondenLs who may still be high. The renowned sculptor Larado Taft remembered by tod3Y's older gener3tion demonstrated his art for both students and were Irvin S. Cobb and Boardman general public at Kansas Normal SchooL Robinson. The lecturing editors came Vocalists appear to have been major from such widely read publications as Life, attractions at the institution. Because of 7 ler's, and Publisher's Weekly. One the level of student and public support for soprano who performed before a this form of entenainment, performances standing-room-only crowd on December 1, ~r unique member of the editorial :rnity was John C. Freand, editor of by acclaimed vocalists were often sold out 1915, was so popular the Emporia ical Amen'ca, who spoke at KS.N. in weU in advance of the events. Some of the telephone company installed microphones most famous operatic soloists of the era on tbe stage to permit phone patrons to sang at KS.N. Many stars of Chicago, hear the program in their homes.21 Boston and New York opera companies, Some of the outstanding contralto as well as those from some foreign voices were those of Merle AJcock., countries, visited the campus during the Frances Ingram, and Madame Ernestine Carl early 20th century. The New .York Schuman-Heink.MadameSchuman-Heink, Metropolitan Opera, alone, accounted for who returned many times to the campus, ;andburg th~ -Tl!" ,',... t ~r J~' CU}· more than a score of these artists. developed a warm rapport with The following are a few of the male students. She became known to them, by CH!CIIW!Ql'.)(S· 'COR~IW~li'H.5" performers that have sung both at the her own request, as "Grandma." Preceding b..: New York Met and KS.N. Tenors have some of her later visits, the school paper included Paul Althouse, Rafaelo Diaz, and would sometimes simply notc, "Grandma" 22 ; Cbr1 Sandburg on the OCC3.gion or one or bi6 be..;crnl Guiasseppe Agostini. Some of the will sing here again in the spring. ,ria appcaraacci. (Courtesy of \A-'jlliam AJlcn Whne baritones were David Bispbam, Vincente Virtuoso instrumentalists also shared ~ormalii:lna ry. ColiecLion.) Ballester, and Arthur Middleton. Mr. lhe spOllight at KS.N. The roster of p. Mr. Freand was not only the editor Bispham was widely recognized as having musicians included such notables as flutist ihat fcubJication, but in 1877, was its one of the most powerful voices of his William Kincaid, who attained fame as a pder. 0 time. (Fig. 3) membcr of The New York Symphony, and In defcrence to space limitations, and the distinguished Qutch cellist Cornelius I apolOgy for lack of paragraph Van Vliet. Bohumir Kryl, once a part of cture, the following list of individuals is thc Sousa Band, was billed as the world's ired to illustrate the varied greatest cornetist. Although a vanety of kgrounds of other guest speakers at instruments were occasionally heard, the .N.: Soci

JO!. Its 1916 performance set a record Coburn Players, Thc Ben Greet Players, the largest orchestra to perform in the The Devereux Players, and the (. 'I . ,~. Ie of K.:lnsas at that lime. The Shakespearian Playhouse of New York )Wing year it returned to KS.N.) were among the most popular. The Ben ~'I'II'i..~ B ~'II·:/t,~ lblishing a new record.26 Greet Players, who appeared several times The Irish Regiment Band and The at KS.N. during the early 1900's, did not lsa Band exemplified those groups make their final visit to Emporia until June rding martial music. John Philip Sousa 11, 1941.27 The Coburn Players includcd tI The Sousa Band played in Emporia the Normal School on their first "weslern limes wilh three of those perform­ tour" in 1911. les at Albert Taylor HalL (Fig. 4) Opera, although represented throughout the period by scores of solo '.j artisls, did nOI begin 10 appear in Ihe form , 'I; of professional "comp,mies" unlil Ihe WW Fi~ 5 Program (or Madame Butterfly realUcing pnma I era. The San Carlo Opera Company's donna Tmati Miuri t1m). (Courtesy o( Will..m Allen presentation of Carmen in 1917, however, v..'hite Ubnry, Normaliana Collection.) began a tradition of such productions that Contemporary American theater was also a continued well beyond the age of the popular form of entertainment at Kansas Normal School. The early organizations State Normal School between 1900 and included the San carlo Opera Company, 192.1. "Stock" companies were numerous The De Koven Opera Company, and The throughout the history of the institution, but Dunbar Opera Company. The talent of in the 20th century, when Chicago and New their personnel is allested to by the fact York theaters began to lake their that many of the performers sang, at some productions "on the road," Emporia was time in their careers, with major Europecln often included on their cirCUits. Broadway l "Man:h !(.jng" Jobn Pbillip Sous.. Program (or ~ the Sousa band'" man}' Emporia performances. and American companies such as the New shows with New York casts became a inC')' of Williom Allen While Library, Norm.li.na York MetropOlitan Opera. relatively common occurrence. Although !Clion.) The most frequcmly appearing group space prohibIts anything more than a lite chatting with some of Emporia's was The San Carlo Opera CompclnY. Ils sampling of theatrical events, the following ~r citizens, who remembered Sousa's repertoire ranged from Aida and Pagliacci, are a few of the plays and players Ihat C

Empori;:J dl;ring the period, }\t:lres,scs of popcr focused, primarily, on the re.1()\J,.'n were M,)(J SUite Normiofl of Empori:J as Ma',cd by Mr. The preceding

eNDNOTES 1. 'V",chcl Lindsay, Ar/Vcntwfs H1lile l',{inching iilc Gospel of DeauI)' (New York: "lhe McMillan Co., 1914), p. 82. 2. Preston B. Pluoh was one of the key figures of the Emporia To."m Company and Emporia's l1rsl newspaper pUllJist.er. He became iln ofneer in the Union Army du~jn£ the \i Civil Wm, and later se:-ved as Cnited Sw:es Senator representing Kar,sas. The current m;mirllsLrlltion buildi,lg ut Emporiu Slilll;': Vuivasily benrs his name. I 3. Jl1eob SIOl!cr, Annills of Emporia and Lyon County: Hisioricill lnCldenn of rhe First Q/IImcr Cemur,. 1857 to 18~'2 (Empo~ia: lS(2), p. 14. 4. I.aura French, His(ory of F.mporir. and Lyon County (En1[Xlriu: Gazette PriJll, 1929), p. ?o7. 5. Chmles E. Webb, "A Cmavan of Culture: Visitors to Emporiu, Kansas," Herilage of KilIlsas, Summer 1979, Vol. 12, No. \ p. 30. G. DfljXJriu Gazeile, November 22, 1911, p. 1; December 2, 1911, p. I, 4. Dackground inform<.ilior. on tbe n<'llional nighw' S\\;d)'. 7. The Emporia Dai~v RepUblican closed publication on June 2, 1905. R. rharlc.s E. Webb, A Dalcbook of J Vi.>jwrs ro Emporia {Emporia: E.S.lT. EndO\vmem A>SOc., 1978), p. 2$. 9. "Wanted, Te;lcnefs and M~cb3nics (If all Kinds," Kansas News, Vol. I, No. I, June 6, Hi:)7, p. 4. In. Webb, lJarrlwok, p. 70. 11. Stotler, Annals, p. 67. 12. lbid., p. 8.

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11

er focused, primarily, on [he 13. Ibid., p. 67. Lributions of The K:ms.as Slale Normal 14. Webb, Datebook, p. 14. 001 La Ibm reputation. Olher 15. Ibid., pp. 42, 43, 48, 51. :sl.igators might, just as easily, write a 16. Nonnal School Bulletin, July 21, 1906. :lar article [hal places more emphasis 17. Webb, Dmebook, p. 46. 11 such Emporia institution;; as 'The 18. Webb, JIeritage of KWLJ-r1.S, pp. 40, 41. :ege of Emporia, [he Whitley Opera 19. Ibid., pp. 19-22 15e, or any of several eivic 20. Ibid., pp. 37-39. mizmiollS [hal eontrihuted [0 the cily'S 21. Webb, Datebook, p. 84. hisLOric tradition. 22. Normal School Bu{{cti", January and February 1923. In the mind of Ihe author, however, 23. Webb, Heritage of KaTlSIll, pp. 22-24. e things seem obvIous. First, the 24. Stoller, Annals, p. 68. ression of Emporia as Slmed by Mr. 25. Normal Sc!lool Bulletin, 1\Iay 13, 1917. !say \\'35 not without meril. Second, 26. Webb, Heritage of Kamas, p. 26. Kansas Slate Normal School was one 27. Webb, Dilicbook, p. 43. lhe major reasons [or that image. 2S. Ibid., p. 3. d, the "Alhens of Americ[)" was, in 29. Webb, IJerilaJ;c of KanslIs, pp. 9-10. 1, juS! ahead... 30. Webb, Datebook, pp. IS, 28, 84.

the Gospel ofBeauty (New York: The

I of the Emporia Town Company and officer in the Union Army during [he :or representing Kansas. The Current r bears his name. n CourrJy: His/orical Incidents Of the ), p. 14. on COWlty (Emporia: Gazelle Print,

I"lSitors [0 Emporia, Kansas," Heritage

~. 1; December 2, 1911, p. I, 4. udy. cation on June 2, 1905. rlSiJon 10 Emporia (Emporia: E.S.U. cis," Kamal News, Vol. 1, No. I, June