Charles E. Varney

              CHARLES E. VARNEY
CHARLES  E. VARNEY
Lecturer
IN presenting Charles E. Varney to the lecture public, we are merely adding a little impetus to the zeal with which the public has received this excellent young orator. A breadth of experience, a liberal education, and a genial disposition, together with a goodly presence and a rich voice, make him a splendid platform speaker.
In the American Athens he spent a strenuous boy¬hood, with his nose to the grind-stone of daily struggle. He labored until he won for himself the degrees of A. B. and B. D. With further university work he fitted himself for a professorship, which he held for two years. From the class-room he went to the pulpit, and from there to the lecture platform, and great success has followed his every move.
He served through the Spanish-American war as Chaplain in the First Wisconsin Volunteers. Both in Chautauquas and in the regular winter lecture course work, he has won much praise from pleased and willing listeners for his humorous, instructive lectures.
This is his second season with the Slayton Lyceum Bureau. He has filled a number of engagements for us the past season, and without exception has made a success, and is therefore worthy of our list. We feel he is worthy of a place on any course in the country.
LECTURE   TITLES
APPLES OF GOLD WHAT'S THE USE?
WHY NOT EAT CAKE? THE  LAME  ANGEL
Prof. Maynard Lee Daggy, Washing¬ton University, Seattle, Wash.—The lec¬tures of Charles E. Varney possess those qualities that please the people. They are instructive because Mr. Varney is a student and a thinker; they are popular because the speaker has a keen sense of humor and knows the temper of the peo¬ple; they are inspiring because of the wholesomeness and enthusiasm of the true orator. Whenever he speaks Mr. Varney makes a distinct impression, and people who hear him go away with "something left over."
Clarence Greeley, LL.D., Trustee of the University of Washington, D. C.— Charles E. Varney's lecture "What's the Use?" delivered before the Central Asso¬ciation, though a popular lecture with flashes of wit and humor, touched very ably, with inspiring power, some of the deepest phases of life.
Dayton (Ohio) Herald—The lecture by Charles E. Varney abounded in strik¬ing sentences and dashes of humor, and Mr. Varney found his way to the hearts of the Chautauquans in a very few mo¬ments.
Dayton (Ohio) Daily News—The lec¬ture at Miami Valley Chautauqua by Charles E. Varney abounded with wit and pathos so that laughter was fre¬quently followed by tears, and the time was passed with pleasure and profit. Mr. Varney is a man of splendid pres¬ence and delightful manners, and those who had met him in a social way were not disappointed in him as a public speaker.
Urbana (Ill.) Courier—Charles E. Var-ney's lecture on one of his favorite topics, "Apples of Gold," proved most interesting to the appreciative audience that heard him. He evolved numerous and uplifting thoughts applicable to ordinary life, giving an illustration for each. He is of such jovial temperament that he much prefers to have his audi-ence laughing rather than sighing, though he is competent to do either. He has a generous amount of natural wit and eloquence and his voice was of that quality that it carried his audience right with him during his entire speech.
Racine (Wis.) Daily Times—The lec¬ture by Charles E. Varney was in many ways one of the most interesting and popular that has been heard in Racine for some time.
Kerwin (Kan.) Kansan—On Tuesday evening a large and appreciative audi¬ence greeted Charles E. Varney, who gave the third number on the lecture course. His subject was "Apples of Gold" and his ideas clustered around Solomon's saying. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in filigree baskets of silver." He discussed the human speech in its physiological and psycho¬logical relations, and drew some strong lessons as to the good and evil one may do with the words "fitly" or "unfitly spoken." He kept his audience in a merry mood most of the time, but not so much so but that he touched the heartstrings of deeper feel¬ing now and again with telling effect.
V. Warner, Commissioner of Pensions —I am glad to give a word of tribute to my young comrade, Charles E. Varney. He is a splendid orator. He has a fine presence, a good education and broad experience. His natural wit makes one laugh, his clear-cut thought makes one think, and his force and en¬thusiasm inspires one to do. I have never known him to fail to capture his audience.
Weldon (Ill.) Record—Charles E. Var¬ney delivered his celebrated lecture, "Apples of Gold," at the Weldon Opera House last evening. His lecture was re¬plete with wit and humor, but at times his remarks were of a more serious na-ture. He held the attention of his hear¬ers throughout and at the conclusion was vigorously applauded.
Whitewater     (Kan.)     Independent—
—The large audience that greeted Charles E. Varney at the Reformed Church last Saturday evening enjoyed an intellectual feast with their expected Literati Entertainment, which is not al¬ways the good fortune of listeners to a mere lecture. Good words, beautiful sentiments, amusing incidents, season¬able, and sol"1 advice and wisdom was concentrated in our friend's evening talk with a very much interested audience. The only regret was that the evening had to come to an end at last, for all were deeply interested as well as in¬structed.
Monroe (Wis.) Times—The subject of the lecture by Charles E. Varney was "Apples of Gold," which he said were kinds words aptly spoken. The lecturer is a humorist and an orator and is a constant delight to his audience.
Maroa (Ill.) News-Times—The lec¬ture on "Apples of Gold" by Charles E. Varney at the Opera House last Fri-day evening was well attended. The lec¬ture abounded in pleasantries and was well received by the audience.
Decatur (Mich.) Republican—Charles E. Varney evidently carries his "Apples of Gold" packed in a barrel of humor which he passed out to his fine audience Friday evening in a manner that kept it alternating from convulsive laughter over his well told stories, to almost breathless attention to his finely painted word pictures in which were given bits of genuine sentiment which were the "Apples of Gold" for his hearers to take home.    It is hoped he may come again.
Boston (Mass.) Leader—Reports of the Rome City, Ind., meeting. The "re¬laxation" of the morning came in the Chautauqua lecture of Charles E. Var¬ney. "Apples of Gold," an instructive and at the same time amusing mosaic of thoughts and speech, with shrewd comments on men and things, and humorous stories rippling along and at times overflowing with merriment for an hour and a haff. It was an inimitable performance—we use the word ad-visedly—and reminded the writer in style and manner of the famous lecture of John B. Gough on "Peculiar People," as we recall it after more than thirty years. The dinner bell had rung twice before the lecture was ended, but the audience evidently preferred "Varney" to any other kind of fea?4s, until he had finished his repertoire of story and anecdote.
Lexington (Ill.) Unit-Journal—Charles E. Varney's lecture, "Apples of Gold," which he delivered to a large audience at the Auditorium Tuesday evening, was a fitting ending to the splendid lec¬ture course which the Library Board provided for the people of Lexington and vicinity this winter. Mr. Varney is an able speaker, and his lecture which abounded in wit and humor was an "apple of gold" in itself.
Clinton (Ill.) Public—In the lecture by Charles E. Varney there was re¬vealed real scholarship and careful re¬search, all of which was given so simply and earnestly that it proved a great in¬spiration.
Farmer City (Ill.) Journal—From the subject "Apples of Gold" Charles E. Varney evolved numerous helpful and uplifting thoughts applicable to ordinary life, and each point was aptly illustrated by a crisp anecdote or well-turned phrase. He is of such an optimistic and jovial temperament that he much prefers to make his hearers laugh rather than sigh, though he is equally competent to do either. His style of oratory is easy and graceful, yet finished and very satisfy¬ing.
Hamilton (Ohio) Sun—Charles E. Varney is a magnetic speaker and he re¬lated many incidents both pathetic and humorous so that laughter and tears were frequently intermingled.
Kenney (Ill.) Gazette—The address of the evening was made by Charles E. Varney. The address was presented in a masterly manner and in a way that held the attention of the audience from beginning to end.
Clinton (Ill.) Register—The lecture was filled with good thoughts, good ad¬vice and was eloquently given. The large audience was deeply interested and it was pronounced one of the best lectures ever given in Clinton.
Shelbyville Daily Union—Charles E. Varney is a splendid talker and this lecture is especially interesting. His wit is sparkling, and at many times he be¬comes tender and pathetic as he relates the incidents in his experience in the Cuban army.
Decatur (Ill.) Herald—Charles E. Varney gave an interesting lecture at the Chautauqua yesterday afternoon on "Apples of Gold." Mr. Varney spoke for an hour and a half and the interest grew as the lecture proceeded. He spoke in a clear and distinct manner so that every word was distinctly heard. The lecturer is brimful of stories and has the gift of telling one with all the graces of a veteran so that his talk was entertaining as well as instructive.