C. L. S. C. MEMORIAL DAYS.

1. Opening Day—October 1.

2. Bryant Day—November 3.

3. Special Sunday—November, second Sunday.

4. Milton Day—December 9.

5. College Day—January, last Thursday.

6. Special Sunday—February, second Sunday.

7. Founder’s Day—February 23.

8. Longfellow Day—February 27.

9. Shakspere Day—April 23.

10. Addison Day—May 1.

11. Special Sunday—May, second Sunday.

12. Special Sunday—July, second Sunday.

13. Inauguration Day—August, first Saturday after first Tuesday; anniversary of C. L. S. C. at Chautauqua.

14. St. Paul’s Day—August, second Saturday after first Tuesday; anniversary of the dedication of St. Paul’s Grove at Chautauqua.

15. Commencement Day—August, third Tuesday.

16. Garfield Day—September 19.

How shall we arrange a program? It is a constantly recurring query for instruction committees. A skillfully planned program insures an interested society, but it is no easy undertaking for even a very wise committee to plan a series of exercises which shall be of just the right length, of pleasing variety, and on topics in which every one will be interested. Only a careful study of the reading of the month, a knowledge of the taste and ability of the circle, and considerable practice will guarantee a really good program. Many hints may be gathered, we believe, each month from the programs presented in The Chautauquan. At least, many circles report that they find them helpful. The Quincy, Ill., circle writes: “Those programs are a very great help to us.” At Kittery, Maine, where a circle of ten active members has been in operation for three years, they have adopted The Chautauquan programs, and express the belief that with them they will do better work than ever before. This modest little circle has never made itself known before, but in a quiet way has done much good with the “Popular Education” circular. At least one circle in another state owes its existence to its efforts. One of their amusements is the Chautauqua games, and they say that the use of these games has led to much close reading of the books and articles. The regular programs are used, too, at Shenandoah, Iowa, where a circle of twenty-five members, representing the classes of ’86, ’87, and ’88, are meeting weekly. The plan has proven very successful with them, they write. Bryant’s Day was celebrated by special exercises. This circle has found, as we believe all readers will, that bringing all the Greek studies into one year is a great help, instead of a drawback. The more one knows on any subject, the greater his interest. The Greek course of this year enables us to learn a great deal on that subject.

At Putnam, Conn., West Middlesex, Pa., and Dartford, Wis., circles report the adoption of these same programs. The organization at Putnam, numbering eighteen members, is of recent date, although there have been several young people there pursuing the prescribed course for the past five years. An interesting variation to their program is a paper called the Olla Podrida. It is made up of original contributions from the members, and is issued monthly, a different editor being appointed each time. The Middlesex circle is in its second year. It has had already an addition of four ’88s. Dartford circle of six members is a new addition to our ranks, and a very welcome one. We feel sure that the hope they express of gaining great benefit from the Required Readings will not be disappointed.

While many circles find the prescribed exercises satisfactory, we are glad to know that others vary performances to suit the talents and interests of their members. This is found necessary in the Bowling Green, Ohio, circle, we learn from a recent letter. They use the programs simply as a model, and work according to their talent. All the features of a first-class circle are found in this year-old circle at Bowling Green. They boast a goodly membership, an efficient president, a thorough organization, a constitution which all cordially support, and much social life. The first annual reception of our Bowling Green friends was given last summer. In September they wisely held their first meeting, that their plans might be laid to begin work the first week of October—a point which many of us would do well to bear in mind until next fall. Bryant’s Day was observed, and very flatteringly noticed in their local paper. Among the virtues which we infer belong to this circle we must include the missionary spirit. They have in mind the conversion of their whole county to the C. L. S. C.

The same plan in regard to programs is followed at Ludington, Mich., where there is a new circle of twenty-seven members, called “Père Marquette”—a magnificent beginning. Our correspondent writes: “We enjoy our reading and our weekly meetings very much indeed; the only regret I have is that I have let so much time slip by before taking the course.”

Some of the programs sent us contain novelties which when introduced into a purely literary program are very agreeable diversions. One which is capable of being made very entertaining we find in a program from a newly organized circle of thirty members—nearly all ’88s—at Norwich, Conn. It is character personation (“Who am I?”). The well known game, “Characters,” is another number on one of their programs. The response to roll-call by quotations on Bryant’s Day was improved by stating after the quotation an interesting fact from the life of the poet. The Norwich members are certainly to be congratulated on the variety in their exercises.

Another Connecticut circle which has a particularly good plan for its evenings is the “Quintette” local circle, of Sharon. They have but recently organized, and report their plan for work as experimental; successful, too, we prophesy it will be. The secretary informs us: “We intend to learn the questions and answers in The Chautauquan, and recite at our regular meetings, held every two weeks. For the present we in turn are to read aloud selected articles from The Chautauquan and ‘Cyrus and Alexander;’ after each reading discussing in general conversation, what has been read, commenting on pronunciation, looking up references concerning people and places mentioned, and trying to inform ourselves thoroughly about what has been read.” That plan of preparing programs a month in advance, and giving to each member a printed copy has been adopted by the “Longfellow” circle, of North Cambridge, Mass. This circle has begun its second year with extraordinary vigor, the membership being largely increased.

One objection that may be urged against the majority of the programs is that they are too long. It is difficult to make them short. There is so much we want to talk about; so many charming selections to read, such a wealth of subjects for essays, it is not strange that sometimes we tire out ourselves and our guests by overdoing matters. To avoid this try the plan of the Sacramento, Cal., circle, which introduces midway in the evening a “recess of fifteen minutes.” It will prove many a time a saving clause. Another feature of their plan of work may furnish some one an idea; it is that a committee should prepare a set of questions, distribute them one week, and that at the following meeting, the answers, as original and concise as possible, should be read. The circle which has given us these two ideas enrolls itself among the strong and enthusiastic circles. Their year opened most promisingly, six new names being added to their roll. “We all,” they write, “seem to have caught the true Chautauqua inspiration, and it has fired our hearts and elevated the character of our work.” To the hints on programs which the letters of the month have given us we must add two programs, which seem to us particularly good; the first one comes from the circle at Baltimore, Md., now in its sixth year, and is of the Bryant memorial service:

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT—BORN NOV. 3, 1794—DIED JUNE 12, 1878.

The other is from the “Vincent” circle, of Albany, N. Y. We print the slip in full. It will furnish a useful model for those who may wish to send out similar notices:

C. L. S. C.

THE FIRST
MONTHLY MEETING OF THE
VINCENT CIRCLE
WILL BE HELD
In the North Second Street Methodist Church,
Thursday Evening, November 6, 1884,
At half past seven o’clock.

PROGRAM.

The New Year opens invitingly. Its wealth of instruction is proffered to the earnest student. Remember our motto: “We Study the Word and Works of God.” There is no royal road to learning—save that of hard work! We hope to greet the older members of the Circle. A welcome to all.

The “Bryant Memorial Day” is November 3; let us work up a hearty conversazione. Every monthly meeting we shall have at least one current topic: No. 4 is such. Remember the Round-Table and make it witty and wise. Come promptly.

H. C. Farrar,
President.

A. M. Wright,
Secretary.

The many newly organized circles which are coming in day after day testify that a great amount of work has been done by somebody in the interests of the C. L. S. C. It is true, much has been done. Much more is being done; of how much nothing that we have received is more suggestive than the following letter from a prominent member of the class of ’87, Mr. K. A. Burnell, and it must be remembered that there are many more workers as zealous as is Mr. Burnell:

Walla-Walla, Washington Territory, November 10, ’84.

Dear Chautauquan:—As a member of ’87, and deeply interested in every one of the 18,000 whose names appear on the two big books at Plainfield, as well as every one reading in any one of the classes of all of the great Chautauqua household, I venture an account of an evangelistic tour over the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Miss Kimball most kindly mailed me the names of the two to three score of readers in Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington Territories, and I wrote eighteen letters to as many points, indicating that as one deeply interested in the C. L. S. C., I was to be over the Northern Pacific Railroad on an evangelistic tour, and should be happy to meet circles or individual readers, and render any service possible, and I felt sure if I imparted nothing I should not fail to be a recipient. I heard from most of the messages, and with uniform and marked interest in the fact of meeting one late from Chautauqua, and especially with a member of the Pansy class of ’87.

At Fargo, Casselton, Cooperstown and Mandan, Dakota, I found individual readers, and did what I could to induce others to take up the course. My habit was at the close of each service to make a few minutes’ statement concerning the C. L. S. C. readings, their rapid growth, and their very great advantage and exceeding helpfulness. I received from Plainfield a generous package of the green books, admission sheets, and circulars, and at each place these documents were placed in the hands of the people at the close of the public service, and were received gladly.

At Gladstone, Dakota, the very patient and self-forgetting Scotch-Irish minister brought from his five miles distant ranch, his three sons and two daughters, with whom after the service I drove home, passing the night and most of the next day, the good minister then driving me to my next appointment (Dickinson), which also was one of his preaching places.

This family, as a whole, became so interested in the C. L. S. C. readings (it was not new to them) as to fully decide to take the course, and at once enter upon it. These bright, thoughtful and inquiring young people will be benefited beyond estimate by their thought, research and study, and by their intimate relations to the great numbers who are pursuing the same stimulating studies. The adaptation of our grand everybodies’ college to meet a great want has striking application in this exemplary minister’s home.

At Helena, Montana’s capital, rich and wicked, there is a single reader, but I failed to find her after repeated public intimations. At Rathdrum, Idaho, the only reader (a school teacher) had gone away to the mines. No readers from Oregon were announced from Plainfield, but I was glad indeed to find a circle in good beginning in connection with and at the rooms of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Portland.

The Portland Y. M. C. A. is a vigorous and hard-working company, and in its adoption of the C. L. S. C. readings is doubtless a prophecy as to the future. At Seattle and Tacoma, Washington Territory, under the shadow of grand, old, snow-capped Mount Tacoma, the only glacier mountain in this county, I found a single reader, and one family reading. Steps were taken for forming a circle at an early day. The delights of an evangelistic campaign of forty-five days on the Northern Pacific Railroad have been deepened because of our Chautauqua classmates.

K. A. Burnell.

This individual effort has been supplemented by a great deal of newspaper work. Through the past year very many valuable articles on the C. L. S. C. have appeared from time to time. The Daily Arkansas Gazette, of Little Rock, recently contained such an article from the pen of Mrs. Myra Vaughan. It gave all the details of our work, correctly and interestingly—an article that everybody would read, and having read would ponder. These efforts have told. The number of new circles claiming our recognition this month is the best proof of their success. Listen while we run through the list: A club called the “Clio” club has been formed at Newport, Vermont. There are sixteen members, and the meetings are held weekly. The club has a corresponding secretary, and would be glad to open communication with other circles.——At Woodstock, Vt., seven ladies organized, on September 19, the “Mayflower” circle. They began on Garfield’s Day, with a celebration—an admirable plan—and on November 10th observed Bryant’s memorial day. A bit of personal effort comes with our report, which is worth saving. The lady to whom the circle largely owes its life is the mother of five children, two of whom she teaches at home, while she does all the work for a family of eight. Still she finds time for the C. L. S. C. Another demonstration of our old proverb about “a will” and “a way.”——A letter from Newtonville, Mass., says: “We have started this year a local circle, and hasten to inform you of the fact which gives us so much pleasure; although our number is at present small, being but thirteen, still we are in earnest, and interested in our work, and propose to go through. Our number is made up of very busy people—housekeepers, teachers, young men of business, etc. We attended—that is, most of us—the Framingham Assembly, and there became filled with enthusiasm which terminated in the foundation of our circle.”——Another Massachusetts circle is heard from at Ipswich, whence the secretary writes: “This fall a C. L. S. C. was formed in our town in time to begin work October 1. We organized with about fifteen members; since then our circle has steadily increased, additions being made at every meeting, until now we are thirty in number. We follow, with slight variation, the programs laid out in The Chautauquan. The chemical experiments are performed, and the Bryant memorial day was observed. We are young yet, but we start out under quite favorable auspices, having an intelligent and enthusiastic president, and a circle of busy, wide-awake members. You may hear from us again.”——Last year a few persons at Rockville, Connecticut, subscribed for The Chautauquan and read its numbers with growing interest. This year the fervor was unabated, and steps were taken in October to organize a local circle. They number at present thirty-one members, including one or two graduates—twenty-five belonging to the general Circle, class of ’88. The present prospect is of much profit and real enjoyment in the literary field, during the winter months.——In the quiet old town of Bristol, Rhode Island, upon the borders of the beautiful Narragansett, a number of persons have been pursuing the Chautauqua course of reading by themselves. “Last autumn the idea of forming a local circle was advanced. A preliminary meeting was held October 23d, and the ten Chautauquans present agreed to form a circle. As we are all busy people, with no spare time, we shall hold our meetings but once a month, but we intend to make every meeting a decided success. As Bristol is noted for having within its limits the classic hill where Philip—not of Macedon, but of Narragansett—lived and died, we call ours the ‘Mount Hope’ circle. We hold our meetings at private residences, as this gives them a more social air, and those who have any part assigned them feel more at ease than if in a public hall. At our meeting on November 13th, twenty-one members were present, and responded to roll-call by quotations from Greek authors. Brief papers were read upon mythological events; an interesting biographical sketch of Bryant was also read, and a humorous poem, written for the occasion. Vocal and instrumental music also found a place. The enthusiasm manifested was a promise of future success. The ‘Mount Hope’ circle is exceptionally fortunate in having for its president, Mr. George W. Arnold, the librarian of our excellent ‘Rogers Free Library.’ His familiarity with this choice collection of books, and his ability to place before us just the reference needed at any time, is of inestimable value to us as readers and students. We have, in our membership, representatives from every Protestant church in town. Many of us are teachers, either in the Sunday-school or in public schools, or in both. We are confident that the C. L. S. C. is a power for good, and in the words of an old Sunday-school hymn, ‘We’re glad we’re in this army.’”——In that pleasant summer resort by the sea, Westhampton, N. Y., a few “Pansies” have been studying together, but this year they generously opened their doors, and by their genial influence have drawn together a pleasant set of twenty-one young people. Much good is naturally looked for from this circle. “Already,” writes a friend, “beneficial results are manifest.”——At Buffalo, N. Y., the “Alyssum,” an offshoot from the old circle in that city, has been well organized. They have a plan in their program committee which seems practical. At each meeting a new member is appointed. The former chairman drops out and the next in order takes the position. In this way each member of said committee becomes chairman in turn, serves at three committee meetings, and those who have never done such work have the advantage of seeing how others do before their turn comes. It works admirably. Each member is assessed ten cents a month for the nine months. The circle has decided it shall be the social duty of each member unable to be present to send notice of such absence to the hostess of the evening.——A fine compliment, evidently deserved, is paid the circle at Scranton, Pa., in the following letter: “It affords us pleasure to report the formation of a C. L. S. C. in Pittston, Pa. We have long felt the need of such an organization, but it was at a parlor entertainment given by the ‘Vincent’ C. L. S. C. of Scranton that we fully determined to have one of our own, and we are indebted to that circle for help and encouragement received in forming our circle. Ours, known as the ‘Riverside’ C. L. S. C., was organized in September, and has already reached the limit of its membership—twenty. We meet on Monday evening of each week, at the home of one of the members, and follow the program given in The Chautauquan. We are all delighted with the work, and are already satisfied that the time spent in the pursuance of the course could not be spent more profitably.”

Another new Chautauqua circle is reported in Sullivan, Ohio, from which place a lady writes: “I think our members all appreciate the value of this great educational movement and have the success of the work at heart. We number but five members, but have met regularly since October 8th, the time of organization. We celebrated Bryant’s Day, spending a most delightful evening in the study of Bryant and his productions.”——A local circle of five members has entered upon the work of the class of ’88 at Montezuma, Ind. Full of enthusiasm for the present, and determination for the future, we do not for a moment doubt that they will be able to accomplish the good report which they express themselves so anxious to have ready in 1888.——Two readers in the village of Onarga, Ill., last year, were the leaven from which has risen this year a prosperous circle of eighteen members. Busy mothers and teachers, young ladies at home, and one professor make up their membership. Their methods and plans we hope to hear of in the year.——Three new circles are reported from Michigan: The “Mayflower” of twenty-two members, all “Plymouth Rocks,” at Schoolcraft, where, as they write, they are brimming over with Chautauqua enthusiasm; a circle of a dozen energetic young people organized by the Rev. and Mrs. L. F. Bickford, at Pontiac, and at Climax a very enthusiastic circle of ten members organized in October through the effort of J. H. Brown, a member of the class of ’86; the nine remaining members belong to the class of ’88. They follow the plan given for local circles in The Chautauquan.——Two circles are reported from Iowa—a state which always has a C. L. S. C. report. At Cherokee, owing to the energetic efforts of a young lady graduate from the State Normal, a local circle of eleven members was organized on Bryant’s Day. Though the plans of the infant association are still indefinite, great hopes are entertained of its ultimate success. From Alta, also, a friend writes us of the “Summit Gleaners,” a society lately organized. They began with four members, but have quickly increased to eleven, and hope for more. Two or three of their circle are members of the “Pansy” class; the rest are of the class of ’88. They follow the course prescribed in The Chautauquan as near as possible, for, as they write, they find it better than anything they can suggest.——In October last a local circle was organized in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Special credit is due the Presbyterian minister of the place for working up an interest in the “Chautauqua Idea.” He undertook it at the suggestion of an earnest Christian lady belonging to his church, who has been reading the C. L. S. C. books for more than a year. They have in the circle thirty members, nearly all of whom are reading the books, and more are joining all the time. The circle is popular. The course of reading is well received by their most intelligent people.——Missouri presents the last new circle—a class of seven members formed at Mound City. The books have been secured, and they are now ready for work. All have started with a determination to finish the four years’ course.

The circles of other years are writing us of much that is interesting and suggestive. Many of their bits of circle history and circle social life are so good that we feel a little envious; for example, of the good fortune of the circle at Brantford, Ontario, Canada, where they were recently honored by a visit from Chancellor Vincent. The organization at Brantford, which town, by the way, is a former reserve of the Six Nations, dates from October, 1883, and numbers twenty-one members; “up to the standard” they must be, for they write: “Last month we tried some of the chemical experiments given in The Chautauquan, some of which proved quite successful. Another evening we tested an experiment made by our hostess in cooking potatoes after one of the rules given in The Chautauquan, and they were pronounced by all to be excellent.”

A name we have, too, this month, which is particularly pleasing to those of us who read the “Art Readings” of last year. It is the “Dorionic” Circle, of Biddeford, Maine. From its start the circle has been much interested in Greek history and literature. In comparing the two leading types of Grecian character, the Doric and the Ionic each found enthusiastic champions. Excellent qualities were discerned in both, and in recognition of the value of the combination the circle decided to call itself “Dorionic.” This circle, formed November, 1883, has had a prosperous and pleasant experience. It now numbers sixty, with new members coming in every evening. The Bryant memorial exercises were of special interest. The president of this circle is the Rev. B. P. Snow, president of the class of ’86.

The “Alpha” circle, of Rutland, Vt., has entered upon its fourth year full of zeal and enthusiasm. They commenced the year’s reading promptly on the first of October. In her report, the secretary gives an account of their special features. “We all craved additional information about the great men in Roman history, so at our last meeting we had five-minute sketches of Julius Cæsar, Scipio Africanus, Cicero, Camillus, and Pompey, and at our next meeting are to have as many more. We are also to have an essay on Roman women. A new feature with us is the question-box. Each member is requested to hand in one question upon some given subject, these are distributed and answered at the next succeeding meeting. We observed Bryant’s Memorial and passed a delightful evening.”

The vigorous circle which sprang into existence at the beginning of the year of ’83-’84 at East Weymouth, Mass., has had this year a very marked increase in its members. A public meeting was called early in October and its effects were soon evident in the dozen new names which were added to their roll. Much of the energy with which the circle has been enabled to begin its work is attributed to the inspiration which the members who visited the Framingham Assembly gathered from its inspiring meetings. This spirit seems to have spread through all New England. The circles are teeming with new ideas and swelling with numbers. At Gloucester, Mass., where the “Prospect” C. L. S. C. was organized in 1883, they have a membership of nineteen, and have begun the year expecting large things in the future. At Reading, Mass., a “Triangle” of young ladies is meeting fortnightly to compare notes and talk over the readings. They find the course valuable, and send us the encouraging word that soon they hope to unite the several readers in the town into a circle. And the “Hurlbut” circle of East Boston are writing a book—“A Cyclopædia of Animal Life.” Each member in turn prepares his or her paper with a good deal of care, obtaining information from standard works of reference. The writer must confine himself to four pages—letter paper size—and as he is expected to describe two representatives of the animal kingdom within this compass, he must select the most important and interesting characteristics, and condense his statements. The Cyclopædia is necessarily limited—but ten representatives of each letter of the alphabet. The members of the “Hurlbut” circle are learning strange and beautiful things concerning animal life.

Some of the “old circles” are new to us. Such is the one at New Canaan, Conn., whence a friend writes: “You ought to have been informed last year of the existence of a flourishing C. L. S. C. in this place. We have twenty members, with the promise of others. Our meetings are both pleasant and profitable, each member faithfully doing his part. During the past year we had some very interesting programs. Our members are enjoying the work. We are greatly pleased with The Chautauquan.” The growth and energy started during the summer is not confined to New England, either. There is a word from Long Island, which is as ringing as any Framingham report. It comes from East Norwich, where the circle was reorganized this year with a regular membership of eighteen. Their meetings are held in a very pleasant school house, and are rapidly increasing in interest. They take great pride in the circle, which they rightly consider one of the best in the land.

At Caledonia, N. Y., the year-old circle has returned to work. Nearly all the old members are back, and several new ones have joined, swelling the membership to twenty-seven. They must thoroughly enjoy the course, for they do all the work. The secretary informs us that the “Temperance Teachings of Science” have evoked quite a lively and interesting discussion which was entered into by nearly all present. They expect that some time during the winter they will be favored with some interesting chemical experiments, performed by a prominent chemist of Rochester.

The local circle at Harrisburg, Pa., was reorganized on September 30th, with an increased membership, the total number now being fifty, of which thirty-one are new members. Although the meetings of last year were very interesting and profitable, those of this year bid fair to surpass them in every way. The members appear to have decided to do thorough work and already its effect can be seen upon the meetings. The programs are varied and take in as much of the month’s readings as it is possible to crowd in and yet do justice to all.

Eleven large circles are registered in Washington, D. C. Each month we hear some good thing from them. An item from the Washington Evening Star says of the “Union” circle: “With the approach of the winter season the literary and social clubs of the city begin to attract attention, and none have begun the season’s work with more vim than the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circles, of which there are now several in the city, all owing allegiance to the central organization, whose headquarters are at Plainfield, New Jersey. One of the oldest of these Chautauqua organizations in the city is ‘Union’ circle, which meets every Thursday evening at the residence of the president. It has a total of nearly thirty members, all of whom are enthusiastic in the work, and each meeting’s exercises are of an interesting character. Some of the members of ‘Union’ circle will graduate in the four years’ course of reading next year.” And the secretary of “Foundry” circle writes: “‘Foundry’ local circle, of this city, enters upon the third year of its existence with thirty-five enthusiastic members. Our meetings are held weekly in the parlor of Foundry M. E. Church. We have followed some of the programs for weekly meetings in The Chautauquan, and have had interesting meetings. The evening of October 27th was given up to chemistry, Prof. Israel, of the Washington High School, delivering an interesting lecture on the subject, and performing the experiments explained in The Chautauquan for October, and some others not mentioned there.”

A new circle at Kalamazoo, Mich., has led the former organization to adopt the title of “Alpha” circle. This latter is a very lively body, we judge from their report. Their reorganization was a time for a general meeting, to which invitations were issued. So well has the year started off that the secretary writes: “Our past four meetings have been so very enjoyable that the closing hour—ten o’clock—comes only too soon. One feature of the evenings which has caused us the greatest sport has been the ‘pronouncing’ match (also ‘questions and answers’ match), which was carried on as a spelling match, choosing sides, etc.; the one who first takes his seat through failure must favor the society with a song, suggested by the fortunate one. The roll-call responded to by quotations, as suggested in The Chautauquan, monthly report, essays and impromptu speeches form pleasing variety. A speech on a given subject is required as penalty for former absence. Then, too, the music! How we enjoy that part of the program! As our musical committee varies each Monday evening, singing or playing often falls to the lot of non-musicians, who amuse us by compliance; on one occasion an organ grinder’s instrument was secured for the evening’s entertainment.”

An Egyptian campaign in the interests of the C. L. S. C. is being organized at Metropolis, in Illinois. Have they a Chinese Gordon, we wonder, to conduct their forces? They must have a leader as efficient, surely, for they write that their circle, strengthened by a goodly increase, organized promptly at the beginning of the year, that their former members belonging to the class of ’86 are becoming more in earnest as the year advances, and that they are planning to go down into Egypt, an expedition which has the heartiest good wishes of us all.——At Aurora, Ill., too, a campaign was planned for the fall, which proved most successful. The secretary of the “First” circle of that city, while at Chautauqua, planned a Round-Table, at which the three circles should unite in celebrating “Opening Day.” A very entertaining program was prepared, and Chancellor Vincent kindly wrote them a letter of greeting; the hope that the circle had had of increasing their membership by this union meeting was not disappointed. Aurora now boasts five circles, each numbering from eighteen to twenty members.

Illinois also sends us a chapter of history this month which is very good reading. It is from the Winchester circle: “Our circle has just entered its fourth year’s work, with nine members. Having consisted mainly, in previous years, of teachers, our number has been fluctuating. Since October, 1880, we have enrolled eighteen names, nearly all of whom proved zealous workers. At present we have only two of the original number, who are called the ‘Veterans.’ During the summer of 1881 two of our members went on to attend the convention; that of 1882 was spent by three of them on ‘A Tour Around the World,’ in The Chautauquan; and the recent vacation, that of 1883, was devoted to the ‘Art Papers’ of last year; by the way, when those appeared in the journal, they seemed so fully to meet the wants of some of the members that an ‘Art Branch’ was promptly organized and a thorough study of the subject commenced. As we took up each artist separately, and only held our branch meetings every two weeks, we did not finish with the year’s work, nor are we through yet, having gotten as far as Rubens in the May number of 1884. We feel repaid a thousand times for doing the extra work. Last year Prof. J. M. Crow, of Grinnell, Iowa, a student of Leipsic University, and a gentleman who has made several trips to Europe, lectured for us on ‘Greece and the Parthenon.’ This year we propose to hold an extra meeting each month, invite our friends in, and thus strive to convince them that the C. L. S. C. work is not superficial (as some have the impression). We defend our Alma Mater from the attacks of the skeptical, with almost as much energy as ‘Horatius held the bridge,’ and trust we are laying the foundation for a circle that will flourish in the future. Our president and others of the class hope to represent us at Chautauqua next summer. Miss M. Huston, our former enthusiastic president, is now a teacher in California, whither she has doubtless carried the C. L. S. C. spirit. Since taking up the course, the hitherto dismal days of fall have become golden ones, and life has grown sweeter, brighter and better.”

A local circle was organized in the little village of Blue Earth City, Minn., several months since, with about ten members, now increased to thirteen. They meet every Tuesday evening at the house of some member. Their reading is confined to the magazine principally; each gives some item of news at the opening of the meeting, then questions are asked on the preceding lesson, and persons are appointed to look up and report at the next meeting any subject which may arise in connection with the lesson. They are all greatly interested and feel that the meetings are a benefit, as well as a help in cultivating among the members a better acquaintance and more friendly relations.

From Fairfield, Iowa, a friend writes: “We would like to report ourselves as living and active in our work. This new year has opened auspiciously. Our circle numbers twenty-five are not found outside the C. L. S. C. We are known as the ‘Hawkeye Arc,’ have our meetings weekly and hope to greatly profit by the studies of the year. We have met a serious loss in the death of our president, Mrs. T. D. Ewing, the wife of the president of Parson’s College, of this place. She was a lady of culture and liberal education, and gave her best efforts to the advancement of the C. L. S. C. in this, her adopted home. But we are glad that while many of our associates are called to ‘come up higher,’ the work does not languish and is still exerting the beneficent influence of this wonderful band of reading ones.”

Norfolk, Nebraska, is as far as we can go west this month. A live, enterprising circle at that point is working with a western vim. They seem to take a rather unusual pride in being “like everybody else,” but when we remember the points of resemblance, it is not surprising that they should be proud. They send word: “All bear stories open with ‘once upon a time,’ so all reports of C. L. S. C.s read, ‘Our circle was organized on such an evening, and consists of lawyers, doctors, bankers, ministers, merchants, and their wives and daughters; all intelligent, enthusiastic workers,’ etc. Ours is no exception to this rule. We have twenty-five members with three officers, president, vice, and secretary. As variety hath charms, our president is authorized to appoint a new leader for each evening, and as no two men or women of different professions have minds made after the same mould, we succeed in the variety. Especially do we succeed in this particular, when we undertake to pronounce the Greek words found in the readings.”