THE thirty-sixth session of Chautauqua was epoch making in the development of material resources. The blackened ruins of the burned Colonnade Building were replaced by a new structure, the official headquarters of the Institution, the business center, and on its upper floor a rooming place for many employees in the offices. On the southern front of the Plaza arose the new Post Office Building, with the village public library, the presses and office of the _Chautauqua Press_. The first section of the projected Arts and Crafts quadrangle was built, to the great joy of Mr. Bailey, who had labored and almost fought for its construction. The Hall of Pedagogy arose at one end of the grounds and the Athletic Club House at the other. The Hall of the Christ was completed after many years of slow growth, and the Commons, a boarding-place for students, was opened through all the year for employees residing during the winter. As a venture, with some questioning, the New York Symphony Orchestra was engaged for a week of concerts, its leader being Walter Damrosch. Who would have dreamed in 1909 that in 1920 the same orchestra would sound its harmonies through six full weeks! The keynote of the year, and indeed of Chautauqua through all its history, was expressed in President George E. Vincent's utterance in his annual report--that Chautauqua must "be kept in close and sympathetic connection with the great currents of national life. It must be a center from which the larger and more significant movements may gain strength and intelligent support." The season this year opened on Friday, July 2d, with a lecture by President Vincent on "Vocation and Culture." To even name the speakers of the year and their subjects would necessitate the enlargement of our book, and to omit any of them may bring the author into peril of his life if he should meet any of those left out; but he must face the prospect of a martyr's end, by naming only a few. President Edwin Earle Sparks, of the Pennsylvania State College, gave a series of lectures on American history; Prof. Archer B. Hulbert on "The Military Conquest of the Alleghanies"; Prof. Stockton Axson on "Literary Leaders"; Dr. Andrew Sloan Draper, Superintendent of Education for New York State, spoke, also Prof. George Albert Coe, Prof. Clyde W. Votaw, and Dr. Richard M. Hodge--these four on subjects relating to education; Mr. Earl Barnes gave a course of lectures, besides teaching in the schools; Booker T. Washington, President Frank R. Sanders, Dr. P. S. Henson, Prof. Henry F. Cope, Mr. Ernest Hamlin Abbott, of _The Outlook_, and many more were with us in July, 1908.