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.
The great value in doing solid reading is that it enhances the value of all other experience. A member of the class of ’87, writing from Rome, Italy, says: “I think the course for this year particularly interesting, especially for our party, which is to spend the spring months among the ruins of that noble capital, Athens.” The reading our friend has been doing has recommended itself to her foreign friends, who have made many inquiries about the course of reading, even wishing to be enrolled as members of our great Circle. The teacher over seas, like the tourist, finds benefit in the work. A member of the class of ’83, writing from Bulgaria, says: “The time from six to seven in the morning is all that I can spare from my other work, but it makes the day brighter to begin it in this way, and so I read and study and think, and get charming glimpses of home circles. Next year I mean to have a circle here, and hope to know enough of the language to put some of the best things into Bulgarian.”
On the home side of the Atlantic, circle life seems to be vigorous and growing. The organizations of past years hold to the work, and many new fields are opened monthly. At Brockville, Ontario, the “Island City” branch of thirteen members was organized last October. A simple but very effective method of work has been followed, that of appointing examiners on each subject, different members being appointed from time to time, so that all may be kept interested. They have had for president a college graduate to help them over tough places in their classics, and a practical chemist is proving the marvels of chemistry to them.
Liverpool, Nova Scotia, sends an encouraging word of the progress of their circle, formed in 1883, and now boasting twelve active members. The plan for the evening’s work in this circle is very good. Introductory exercises of prayer, minutes of last meeting, roll call, responded to by quotations, and a select reading, precede the evening drill, which is an informal conversation on one or more of the C. L. S. C. studies, conducted by a leader.——We quite agree with our friend at Niagara, who thinks that Chautauquans ought to know that there are other places in Ontario beside Toronto where circles are doing good work, and that their town is one of them. If all the Ontario towns have as bright and brave circles as Niagara, we most certainly hope we shall hear from them. “In December, 1882,” so their history runs, “we formed a triangle, with angles of various degrees of acuteness or obtuseness, but did not commence work till January, and being three months behind time we found the work rather heavy, but in proof of our zeal can report that not one of us that year ever missed any of our fortnightly meetings. In October, 1883, we were joined by another member, not less acute, and ‘stood four-square to all the winds that blow.’ We expected to form a real circle, with all our angularities smoothed off, but find ourselves this year with the original three, but from sickness and other reasons have had our meetings sadly broken in upon, so that we need to use our motto, ‘Never be discouraged.’ So far we have all enjoyed the work. We all lead busy lives, without our Chautauqua studies, but we hope that they will give to our lives sweetness and strength, and breadth and power. Many of us have done more reading each year than the course, but then such reading is apt to be desultory, and the fact of studying with others gives greater interest. We have generally kept the memorial days, and we all hope to visit Chautauqua some time.”
A step has been taken in western Maine to form a Chautauqua association. Auburn, Lewistown and adjoining towns have many members of the C. L. S. C. In March a meeting was held in Auburn, and after a banquet a motion was passed providing for an associated circle of all the C. L. S. C.s of Western Maine. True to the Chautauqua instinct, they are going to have a summer meeting. Maranocook is the chosen place, and June is the time. Western Maine Chautauquans have the hearty good wishes of us all for a delightful summer session. At their March meeting, these friends passed a just and appreciative resolution of gratitude to Chancellor Vincent for the happy thought that conceived the Chautauqua Idea, and the untiring and well directed zeal that has made it so efficient.——At Woodfords, Maine, the “Arlington” circle of fourteen members held twenty-five meetings during the winter. Such zealous work justifies their claim that they possess the “enchanted number” for a circle. The Arlington proposes a parlor entertainment for a near day.
Greenland N. H. has two very strong Chautauqua organizations, the “Baketel” circle and the “Spare Minute Class.” Founder’s Day was celebrated with great éclat by these warm admirers of Chancellor Vincent. A public meeting was held in the town hall, with exercises of song, recitation, reading and tableaux. The last tableau was so characteristic it deserves a description. It was “The Chautauquans at Home,” and represented the entire local circle and spare minute class at work. One was rocking the cradle and reading, another was at the ironing table with an open book, and several were sewing and studying at the same time. A happy close to the evening was a presentation to the honored president of the circle, the Rev. O. S. Baketel, of an elegant easy chair.
Among the senior circles it is pleasant to be able to count in that of North Groton, N. H. The secretary says: “The ‘Angle’ has kept silent since 1882, thinking that only two was a small number to report as a local circle, yet all this time we have met at every opportunity, for reading and questioning. We had long wished for guidance in home study, and the ‘course’ was eagerly taken as soon as heard of. This year two earnest ’88s have joined us. With us ‘Chautauqua has come to stay.’ ‘For,’ as Dr. Vincent said at Framingham, ‘goals yet grander wait our winning on the mountains by and by.’”
And now we have a nautical circle. The first mate, so we imagine, has sent us notes from the log-book, running over their whole course. Perhaps their sailing may guide another crew: “We have read in The Chautauquan, from month to month, many interesting reports from local circles, which have been like fresh breezes to our own sails. One would judge from reading that success was stamped upon all methods of circle work. We have thought sometimes that a part of the unwritten history of such work might be helpful. We suspect that—way back in the annals—some things were undertaken that did not turn out just right, and a few chapters from out that experience might save many a small boat from going to pieces in dangerous waters. In general, the ‘Vincent’ circle, of West Brattleboro, Vermont, has had fair sailing from port to port, set down on the C. L. S. C. line of travel. Four years ago a few of us began floating, not knowing enough ourselves of whither we were bound, to give a general invitation for ‘all aboard.’ At last, reinforced, we tried to go in two separate boats, which kept just near enough together, and just far enough apart, to render such a division of the crew unnecessary, to say the least. One year we failed to set sail soon enough, and came in late at every port. This year we make one crew, under one efficient captain, a few only compelled by circumstances, or preferring to go in their own little skiffs. October 1, 1884, we set sail, and made directly for the shores of Greece. Landing under the direction of two well chosen generals, we scattered to spy out the land, bringing in such reports as we were able, at the time appointed. On the evening of November 3d we gathered to do reverence to the memory of one who had wished us ‘Godspeed.’ About that time experiments in chemistry furnished us with illumination. Since the observance of that memorial day, we have known that we were still landed upon the shores of Greece, but reports concerning the country and its people, past and present, have been few, for finding ourselves in danger of forgetting, rather never having known, our ‘mother tongue,’ we have spent some time in practice of the ‘art of speech,’ and, loyal to our native land, we have observed some of its festivals, and repeated to each other words from those we all delight to honor.”
For faithful work few circles can exceed that in Franklin, Mass. The circle numbers sixty-six members, nineteen of them being of the class of ’88. Meetings are held fortnightly. Not one regular meeting has been omitted since October 1, 1883. The president, although pastor of a large church, has been absent but five times since the circle was formed—November, 1882. The work done at these meetings is solid review of past readings. “Founder’s Day” was observed by accepting an invitation from the “Star” circle, Foxboro, Mass., to visit them and engage in a “Question Match” on Greek History, after which a bountiful collation was served, and a social time enjoyed by all. Each heart felt grateful to Chancellor Vincent for the C. L. S. C.——At Rockport, Mass., the circle has fallen from fifteen to five, but the five faithful seem to enjoy their work too well to need any commiserating. They are so interested in their studies they actually don’t realize they have grown smaller—a method of taking things which removes the stings from all falls in fortune. The “Granite” circle turns each alternate meeting into a Round-Table, and finds that the plan works capitally. The circle is anticipating the pleasure of going in a body to Framingham Assembly this summer.
Massachusetts is the banner State again. At Cochesett twenty-four members form a circle of “Plymouth Rocks.” The Longfellow memorial was their first experience with special days; a successful experiment, too, we judge, for they have decided to continue the plan for the remainder of the year. Cochesett is an Assembly offspring—a child of Framingham, which gave the first interest to its zealous founder.——The “Philomaths,” of New Bedford, send greetings to all our fraternity. Since their reorganization in October the circle has resolved itself into groups of six or seven, which hold weekly round-tables for thorough study.——It is wonderful what enormous interest some circles get on their investments. Here is the “Bryant,” of Worcester, Mass., actually making 100 per cent. in less than two years. In the fall of 1883 they began with twenty members, to-day they number forty. Is it far-fetched to attribute something of their success to the “question basket,” which forms an important part of their program?——The “Alphas,” thirty-two in number, of Attleborough, send us some capital hints for our programs. At a Greek evening recently, ten of their number were selected to give brief descriptions of Greek heroes—the rest of the company guessed the hero described. A half hour was also spent at the Mardigras, and a friend, fresh from the carnival scenes, described his experiences among the merry masqueraders. At an hour of electrical experiments a very happy device was exhibited recently before the circle. The electricity played over tin-foil, with grooves an eighth of an inch apart, and through a stencil-like arrangement showed to the surprise of the circle the illuminated letters, “C. L. S. C.”——The Saturday Union, of Lynn, Mass., is doing most effective work for the Chautauquans of its vicinity, and a strong body of workers it has to serve. By a late issue we notice that there are in the city six circles, and the list of Chautauquans, which appears with their residences in the same paper, includes 114 names. This “goodly companie” has given a course of lectures this winter; the seventh in the course was on “Electricity”—and by a lady who, we are happy to say, illustrated her talk by apparatus of her own making. Our Chautauqua women! How proud we are growing of their ability, their pluck, their womanliness!——North Brookfield’s circle has recently been favored by a poem on “The Chautauqua Idea,” also by a woman.——It would be unjust to allow a mistake, which found its way into last month’s “Local Circles,” to go uncorrected. At the Longfellow celebration held by the Chautauquans of Boston and vicinity, there were five hundred instead of fifty persons present.
The treasurer of the “Hall on the Hill” to be erected at Framingham this year, paid a well deserved compliment to the “Clio” circle, of Providence, R. I., when he said that he wished there were more circles like the “Clio.” These energetic friends took Chancellor Vincent at his word last summer, when he promised to lecture for any circle which would pledge $200 to the “Hall on the Hill.” They raised the money, had their lecture, and are satisfied. Their hard work seems to have only whetted their intellectual appetites, for they have had a long list of brilliant talks by distinguished men in addition to regular circle work. By the way, the New England branch of the class of ’87 was to hold a meeting in Providence in April, and the “Clio” was to act as hostess. What was done? A Providence neighbor of the “Clio” is the “Channing” circle of twenty-five members. We notice that these Providence friends use a very pretty and appropriate heading on their letter paper. At the top of the sheet, in the corners, appear the names of president, vice president and secretary, and below “Headquarters of the Channing Circle of the C. L. S. C.”
A party of Danbury, Conn., Chautauquans went abroad one night not long ago to see “Athens in the Golden Age.” A delightful time these tourists had. They made the passage of the Mediterranean Sea, and at Athens visited the Acropolis, went to the Areopagus to listen to Pericles, called on Xantippe, and did a hundred more interesting things, at last coming home via “Plymouth Rock.” The “Nestors,” however, do much beside travel. They have an excellent method of working the question box, which is an inevitable part of their program. The questions are gathered just before adjournment, and shuffled, each member drawing one. The first exercise after roll call at the next meeting is the answering of these queries. The imaginary trips which our Danbury friends like so well, the “Alpha” circle, of Norwich, makes a part of each evening’s work. When they journeyed from Boston to New York they went with Howells in a “Sleeping Car.” They have lived over, on paper, all the preparations for the trip abroad, the life on the steamer, and have done the sight-seeing of the British Isles. These tourists have enlivened their travels by many a happy device. Once it was a conversazione, and again, in preparation, perhaps, for their visit to Athens, a pronouncing match on Greek proper names. What wonder they have had a phenomenal growth! Last year there was not a circle in Norwich, now there are six. When the “Alpha” organized last fall, it was with eleven members, to-day they have fifty. Nothing to be surprised at, perhaps. It seems to have been “good growing weather” for the C. L. S. C., throughout New England.——Meriden, Conn., has had the common experience, the circle having increased to sixty-six members. They have found the key to the mastery of the Greek names and chemical terms. The pronouncing matches have unlocked the doors and the fortunate Meridenites are able to talk glibly on their Grecian rambles. A second circle, “Hanging Hills Class,” was organized last fall in Meriden. It has grown to twenty members, who are doing superior work. This class observed Longfellow’s Day appropriately. The ’89 outlook must be very promising in Meriden.——“A small twig of the great New England branch,” the “Endeavor,” of Stratford, calls itself, and a healthy fruit-bearing twig, if small, we should call any circle that can double its membership, as it has done, in less than a year.
A splendid move has been made by the Chautauquans of New York City. The circles had never united there for public work until, April 9th, after a deal of planning and much labor the various local circles in the city, with one from Jersey City, held a public meeting at the Broadway Tabernacle. Chancellor Vincent was secured to deliver the address. A large and enthusiastic audience, numbering about 1,200 persons, was present. “School after School, or the Every-day College” was the theme of the address. The friends who had prepared the meeting were more than jubilant over the way the interesting lecture “took” among their guests, and declared that though some of them had long been members of the C. L. S. C. all of them received new vistas of the work. After the lecture the Chancellor held a reception, at which the members of the following New York circles were received by him: The “Garfield,” “Irving,” “Unique,” “Spare Moment,” “Central,” “Park Avenue,” and the “Round-Table,” of Jersey City.——Brooklyn has a “Pierian” spring, at which twenty-five devotees of the muses “drink deep” and joyously. Essays, debates, recitations, quizzes, poems, and chemical experiments are the draughts these friends draw from their well. So happy are they in their festivities that another year they hope to see a sister welling up by their side.——At Randall’s Island, New York City, there is one of those steady, hard-working circles, which by their fruits so favorably impress the people who watch them. The “Excelsior” has been in existence for two years and has a roll of seventeen persons. A program full of good points is carried out at their regular sessions, which are interrupted only by Memorial services. The secretary finds, he writes, that the influence and example in regard to Chautauqua work is shown by an increased attendance and membership.——When circles increase in geometrical ratio—and a little over—year after year, it is not strange that a time should come when the leader inquires “What shall we do?” At Glens Falls four graduates, eleven ’86s, twenty-three Pansies, and fifty-nine Plymouth Rocks—ninety-seven in all—form the circle. It is an unwieldy number to study together, but, writes the secretary, “We are fearful that division into smaller circles will greatly lessen the membership. We are considering for next year this plan: We shall have our general meetings as at present and encourage the formation of sections for special meetings, making the leaders of the sections, together with the officers of the general circle, an executive committee.” The plan is good, and if the monthly joint meetings are made “state occasions,” there will be but little danger of the sections losing ground.——At Troy the monthly meetings are conducted in an admirable way—not one of the least of the secrets of their success is their habit of sending out cards with the program, and some such stirring word as this:
“We hope every member will be prepared with some facts on No. 6 [“No. 6” was a conversazione on “Our Territories”]. Let us make it a success. Our whole course is highly remunerative to one who reads. Make your hours count for profit. We have all the time there is. Not everything that comes to us and asks a little of our time should be granted audience or gratification.”
A similar plan is followed by the “Mettowee” circle, of Granville, N. Y. A “Round-Table” on a recent program was, “What we have seen (mentally or otherwise) during the past week.” If the Glens Falls people will make their monthly meetings big enough to arouse the pride of the members of the section, the result will not be doubtful.——Shushan, N. Y., has two circles. The younger of the two is reported as “fast becoming one of the fixed and instructive institutions of the village,” a state that the three-year-old circle of Deansville is already in, we surmise, from the report of the work of its membership. The Deansville circle holds an annual public meeting, at which an entertainment is provided and refreshments served. Preparations are being made for this year’s meeting.——A “Crescent” has appeared in Knoxboro since the year 1885 began. Though so late in beginning that they are obliged to devote almost all their time to the readings, and are too busy to prepare elaborate programs, the interest has not flagged since the start. The “Crescent” has ten members.——Syracuse has always been one of the most interesting of the local centers of the C. L. S. C. Their graduates, of whom one is the genial Secretary of Chautauqua, Mr. W. A. Duncan, have organized a chapter of the “S. H. G.” They propose to hold monthly meetings, and to pursue one of the special courses of study. The membership of this new class is eleven now, and there will be yearly “more to follow.”——The “Philomathean,” of Lancaster, N. Y., opening with 10 members, has grown to fifteen beside honorary and local members. Constant variety in programs, no “set way,” and hard work have been the maxims of their success.
The “Broadway” circle, of Camden, N. J., puts in after a program of remarkably good timber, and the outline of their thorough organization, this healthy testimony: “‘Broadway’ circle is busily engaged in promoting this home study, and the older we grow the more we are able to discern the many blessings derived from it; the more we read and study the books the more does it stimulate our interest and thirst for knowledge.”——At Phillipsburg, N. J., the circle has met this year with a sad loss in the death of Mrs. F. B. Holbert. Mrs. Holbert was a member of the class of ’84, the president of the circle in Phillipsburg at the time of her death, and a most zealous friend of the C. L. S. C. To her the circle at Phillipsburg owes its existence.——At Bridgeport a circle of eight was organized in October, 1884. A faithful leader has helped to keep them interested and alive, and already they write that a taste for solid reading has been acquired by the members.——A local circle has been organized at East Orange, with eighteen members. The favorite name, “Alpha,” has been given the class. One of their late meetings of unusual interest was the celebration of Longfellow’s birthday, at which, among other exercises, we notice what must have been a particularly pleasing number, “The Better Land,” illustrated by tableaux.
The genial, kindly associations of circles are one of their greatest charms. How the kindly attention, the pleasant surprises kindle the hearts and knit the affections! Carlisle, Pa., circle has recently experienced all the delight of doing one of these pleasant deeds. The birthday of their president, Dr. Whitney, was celebrated by a genuine surprise. A game of chess at a neighbor’s was the bait which enticed him from home, where, on his return, the Chautauquans of his circle, thirty-one strong, greeted him with good cheer and good wishes. It pays to slip into our Chautauqua life many of these pleasant little affairs.——Several notices of Longfellow celebrations held by Pennsylvania circles reached us too late for the May issue of The Chautauquan. At Bethlehem, where there is a “thoroughly congenial” circle of ten, the day was appropriately observed. This circle has found a scheme of study which it reports works very well for them. The time from 7:30 to 10:00 p. m. on the evening of meeting is divided into half-hour periods. These periods are all but one devoted to quizzes on the subjects laid down in The Chautauquan outline, the extra period being given to a discussion of the works of some well known author.——At Pittsburgh the “Hiawatha” observed the day with an excellent program, carried out before many friends. This circle—fifteen in number—is one of last fall’s harvest. Their motto, “Bound to Win,” tells the stuff they’re made of.——The wide-awake circle at New Wilmington, Pa., prepared a program covering Founder’s day, and Longfellow’s, and reported a “royal good time” for their trouble. There are twenty-four members in the circle; their unanimous verdict is: “The C. L. S. C. has been a source of intellectual growth to us. And we have been led by it to take a wider view of the possibilities of life.”——A very good program of a Longfellow service comes from Plymouth. We notice an analytical study among the numbers, and would commend such services to the circles as particularly profitable.——The Lock Haven circle, at its Longfellow evening, paid a high compliment to the circle at Renovo, by reading the program carried out by the latter on a previous evening, and sending their greetings and congratulations to the Renovo Chautauquans, that they have grown so strong and enthusiastic in but one year’s readings.——We are always sorry to miss in geography, but we will “own up;” we did in the April issue. The “Golden Flower” is not a Tennessee, but a Pennsylvania blossom, and Hatboro is a Keystone town. The “Golden Flower” has sent a series of really model programs recently.——From a friend at Gilmore, Pa., we learn of the “Foster Brook” circle. This class was organized in October, 1882, with twenty-one members, but in a few months its course was rudely broken by the death of one of their young but zealous members, Mr. Henry Howe, of the class of ’86. The work was again taken up, but February, ’84, Mr. H. F. Howe, father of the former, and a member of the same class, was laid away by the side of his son. Though so tried by sorrow our friends have bravely followed their work, saddened, yet rejoicing.——It is an experience that many circles have, we imagine, this of the Tunkhannock circle, of finding that their second year’s reading goes much more easily than the first, and that they have time for many things in their circle which once they did not have. One good thing that the “Tunkhannock” occasionally slips in is important items of news from the secular press.——The “Mountaineers,” of Clearfield, is one of the many, many circles brought into the field by Chancellor Vincent’s kindling fervor. It is an ’88 circle, and numbers fifteen members. Reviews, readings, and conversation supplement the programs of The Chautauquan. The reviews, particularly, they have found valuable. Each book is taken up after being read, questions made out on it, and answers given by the circle. Outlines of the books are also sometimes prepared. This latter plan we do not remember to have noticed in the reports before, but we know it to be a very effective method for reviewing the facts or arguments in a book.——We rarely open our monthly budget of letters without finding a Washington, D. C., representative. This month we have a program from the “Wesley Chapel” circle, a good one, of course, like all the Chautauqua work done in Washington. An interesting item on it is “The Public Buildings of Athens,” illustrated by photographs.
A Middletown, Md., letter suggests a new way of managing a local circle. “We are the ‘Mayflower’ circle, numbering five,” our friend writes, “As we are active members of a literary society, which meets weekly, we have no circle meetings, but talk over our readings, and Chautauqua in general, when opportunities offer. We are earnest and interested, and expect to enter upon next year’s work with increased knowledge, zeal, and numbers.”
A bed of Kentucky Pansies is filling all the air of Hardinsburg with sweetest fragrance. “Of all the red letter days in our circle calendar,” writes one of them, “Longfellow’s day is the brightest. We send you a program of our last celebration, and a delightful evening we had carrying it out. A year ago we thought we could not have another Longfellow’s evening as pleasant as was that. We feel assured that the evening just passed was more nearly what such an evening should be. In looking back from this standpoint upon the past year, we are inspired for renewed energies and work for the years to come.”——Another Pansy of Kentucky, from Bewleyville, writes: “The C. L. S. C. has been of immense benefit to me. My irregular habits of study and desultory reading, instead of strengthening, had enervated my mind.… My Chautauquan and books are a great source of pleasure to some of my acquaintances who are not pursuing the course.”
Chillicothe, Ohio, has, in the Walnut Street M. E. Church, an enthusiastic band of twenty-two workers, who report themselves as “progressing finely.” At a recent meeting a lecture on the “Art of Speech,” by the able Episcopalian rector of the city, was greatly enjoyed by the class.
It must be that a millennium has reached the circle of Erie, Michigan. If there is another circle in the country that can say as much, we should like to know where they are and how they do it. The Eries are forty-five in number, and though some of the members live six miles apart, and the meetings are held at the houses, yet through all the past long and dreary winter there was an average attendance of more than three fourths of the membership. “And,” thus writes our correspondent, “each member is expected to do whatever the committee may assign him. We never have a failure. The program is always carried out to the letter.”——At Casnovia, a circle of nine was organized in October last. Like nearly all our students, they are extremely busy people, but yet thorough in their work. They hold informal meetings for discussions and conversation on the readings of the month.——The first of January a circle was organized at Milford, Michigan, composed of twelve ladies, not all of them ’88s, there being a sprinkling of graduates and seniors to give direction to “Plymouth Rock” enthusiasm.——“One more Michigan circle” is heard of at Jonesville. The circle started out with twelve members, and is keeping up a working membership of nine. The meetings are very enjoyable, every one taking part in the most interesting and informal way.——Last October a wave of Chautauqua enthusiasm passed Dundee, Michigan, which resulted in organizing a C. L. S. C. of six members. They call the new organization “Longfellow’s” circle, and hope with the next year the numbers will increase. The circle has observed all memorial days, which have proved of great benefit and interest.——Evidently the “wave” has not left Michigan yet, for we have just received a card telling of the organization and election of officers of a new circle at Greenville. Success to their efforts.——A sample of the work which the C. L. S. C. helps the student to do, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, circle furnishes in a recent program. The exercises included, in brief, papers which took “broad, quick views.” Articles upon Thucydides, Socrates, Plato, Herodotus, Sappho, Greek Mythology, British Association for the Advancement of Science, American Soil, Life of Longfellow, and a review of Longfellow’s novel, “Hyperion.” This circle has made a big stride since last year, its membership having increased from twenty-three to thirty-seven.——The new pronoun which troubled some of our students has been employed by a correspondent from the circle at Jackson, Mich. Perhaps his zeal to fill up this “long felt want” in language will make more clear to our readers the use of “thon.” These circle notes are very suggestive: “We meet weekly at the home of one of the members, a system we have found to be an improvement on that of meeting in a public hall. Chautauqua’s special sphere of influence is in the home; it is here ‘thon’ expects to do work which will be lasting, and eventually permeate every department of life. It will then be easily understood why ‘thon’ should find home and its associations a more congenial place of meeting than a public hall. Our meetings are conducted much in the usual manner, except, perhaps, our mode of managing a ‘discussion.’ To this feature we make special claim as being the originators. The leader of these talks, whose duty it is to ‘keep the ball rolling,’ is, with the subject, chosen a week beforehand. Each of the members is expected to inform ‘thonself’ on the topic thus allotted, and to be prepared to give an opinion or ask questions. Richard Grant White’s language articles, ‘The Art of Speech,’ and ‘The Temperance Teachings of Science,’ have already been dealt with in this profitable and interesting way.”
We are glad to be able to introduce Indiana this month with a clipping from a private letter to the lady here so honored:
“Wabash, Ind.
“I want to tell you how our local circle of the C. L. S. C. honored itself last night in deciding to be called the ‘Frances Willard’ circle, and, furthermore, to observe your birthday as a memorial day.… We have in our circle, as you may suppose, a number of ladies active in the work of the W. C. T. U. Our circle numbers thirty-two. It was organized in ’79, but never christened until last night. The vote on the name was unanimous.”
From Albion, Indiana a friend writes: “We have organized a circle here consisting of twenty-four members. Prof. E. C. White, superintendent of schools, is our leader; and is greatly interested in our circle and its work. We meet each week, at the residences of the members, taking them alphabetically. The majority of the teachers in our public schools belong to the circle, and all the members are much interested in their work.”——And still another from the same state, from Fowler, says: “We organized in October, 1884, with nine members; the circle now numbers fourteen members, of four different classes. One item of each program is a question drawer, questions to be taken from suggestions of the weekly readings. If any question is not answered by the circle, it is assigned to some member to be answered at the next meeting. I find this stimulates all to read carefully, as no one can know just what part of the week’s reading is to be investigated. This is a most interesting feature, and we can get those to engage in this who will do nothing else. We have two members living at a distance who are only present in person occasionally, but always present in manuscript when on program, so we call them our ‘paper members.’”——A Chautauqua circle was organized at Ligonier, Indiana, in October, 1884, with a membership of seventeen, and named the “Ligonier Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.” In it are represented three denominations. The programs are so varied as to avoid monotony in the exercises. One night the committee gave topics for brief essays, on another, questions to be answered at next meeting. The members of the circle pronounce the prescribed course of study excellent and interesting in its details, and feel grateful for a plan so far-reaching and so beneficent in its results. Bryant’s, Milton’s, and Longfellow’s days were observed by devoting to them and their works the entire evening. A knot of cardinal and old gold ribbon constitutes the circle’s badge. The circle is highly pleased with the motto “Let us be seen by our deeds,” and many of the members express themselves satisfied with their name, “Plymouth Rocks.”——We have received the list of names of the members, fifteen in all, which form the circle of Brookville, Ind. We are hoping to receive some of the Brookville circle’s experiences soon.
The “Peripatetics” of Chicago, Ill., is an organization formed last fall. There are twelve members. The circle, we fear, is not using the local circles’ reports right, if, when they read them, they feel almost discouraged at the little they have accomplished. The whole spirit of Chautauqua is, “what has been done can be done,” and our work is mainly to show by actual example what has been done. The “Peripatetics” have too many opportunities for doing superior work, living as they do, in such a city as Chicago, to grow discouraged.——The death of Richard Grant White has been a great loss to Chautauquans. His admirable “Studies in English” had met the warmest reception, and when they were cut short by his death all our readers felt they had met a personal loss. It was this feeling that led a Chicago circle to add to their resolutions of respect passed upon Mr. White’s death, a clause stating that as a feeble expression of their regard and, as a token of respect to his memory, their local circle be hereafter known as the “Richard Grant White.”——For novel diversions, commend us to the “Alpha,” of Quincy. This circle has sandwiched a great amount of fun in with its solid work this winter, nor has it been to the injury of the work. On College day they had a sleigh ride, not long after a mock trial; they have introduced a paper, the Symposium, which gives an opportunity for numberless hits, and on Valentine’s day the Symposium furnished the entertainment, each member having sent to the editor an anonymous piece of poetry.——A circle was organized in Sterling last October, and has now nine members. They have no officers, and each meeting is conducted by the lady at whose house it is held. Their informal way of doing things has some advantages. An invalid member is mentioned, who, like many others, finds relief in affliction by having something to do, and doing it religiously.
On one of the last evenings of September, a few Morrisonians met and organized the “Alpha Society,” of Morrison, Illinois. They number fifteen, and have accomplished much by the winter’s work. The plan has been to take the outline of required reading, as laid down in The Chautauquan, and prepare the lesson as thoroughly as possible by the use of books and encyclopædias. At the meetings the class recites the lessons learned the week before. Occasionally they have an essay, or select reading.——A circle of twenty members was organized in Jacksonville, Ill., last October, with the Rev. H. E. Butler, pastor of Congregational Church, as president. They have given special attention thus far to the Greek course, enlarging the reading, and bringing in other authors as far as possible. Now that the Greek is nearly finished the circle is bringing chemistry into prominence.——The “Oakland” circle, of Chicago, Illinois, was organized in February, 1884, and belongs to the “Pansy” class. It has a good constitution, and hopes to survive till the graduation of its members. This circle is composed entirely of ladies, among whom are representatives of six churches in the South Division of the city. The meetings, which are held semi-monthly at the houses of the members, are well attended. Absent members are informed by postal cards of the place of the next meeting, the parts assigned them on the program, and the author from whom quotations are to be given. Those who are absent three times in succession are expected to present a suitable excuse to the society. At the close of the year a reception was given, to which each member invited a gentleman friend. A fine literary and musical program was rendered, and refreshments were served. The guests, among whom were ministers, lawyers, army officers, and members of the Chicago Board of Trade, were called upon to express their opinions of the C. L. S. C. A most enjoyable evening was spent.
A flourishing circle has existed at Portage, Wisconsin, for three years. It is only one of three, however, for last year the pastor of the M. E. Church organized a circle which is still active, and this year the Presbyterian pastor started a third. The mother circle is undenominational, as best becomes her position. One feature of this circle’s year is its annual reception. Let the secretary tell how it is managed: “We have heretofore held a reception at the close of each year, to which were invited the people of the place presumed to be most interested in education. The exercises have always been highly commended, and our work well appreciated by those in attendance—indeed, we consider our best missionary work has been done by this means—and many members added through the instrumentality of a sugar-coated dose of hard work (or its results, rather). Many people would attend a party, to whom a literary meeting of any kind is a ‘delusion and a snare.’”