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. Longfellow Day—February 27.
8. Shakspere Day—April 23.
9. Addison Day—May 1.
10. Special Sunday—May, second Sunday.
11. Special Sunday—July, second Sunday.
12. Inauguration Day—August, first Saturday after first Tuesday; anniversary of C. L. S. C. at Chautauqua.
13. St. Paul’s Day—August, second Saturday after first Tuesday; anniversary of the dedication of St. Paul’s Grove at Chautauqua.
14. Commencement Day—August, third Tuesday.
15. Garfield Day—September 19.
The long summer vacation, delightful as it is, always causes a sad falling off in the local circle mails of The Chautauquan. These letters from the scattered circles of the country are like the visits of those long absent, or the cordial greetings of new friends. We miss them in the long months of rest and are glad to get back again to our table and see the letters flocking in.
As the year begins it may not be amiss for us to chat a little with our friends about the work which we must do together in these local circle pages. It is something like a grand reception. No one can stay very long, and one can hardly hope to be more than introduced to the company—unless, indeed, they happen to be particularly famous in words or deeds. The letters that come to us will all sooner or later be noticed by us; but do you not see how impossible it is that all should be given in full? For the sake of the great Circle we must abridge each interesting letter, much as we might wish otherwise. And then, we really can not introduce you unless you will tell us your name and residence. Of course you mean to do so. We know that well enough, but you would all be surprised to know how many reports come to us nameless and homeless. There is nothing to do but put them in our waste paper basket, much as we dislike to be so rude to even unknown friends. Again, you must not complain of us if your report does not appear in the first issue after it is sent. Please remember that the local circle department of The Chautauquan is prepared for the printer a month before the appearance of the magazine, so that copy must be on our table at least five weeks before the appearance of a number, to insure its appearance in a particular issue. Be sure that The Chautauquan will open its doors to everybody that comes, and just as long as there is “standing room” in this Local Circle Hall, will gladly admit you. And now for the letter bag.
New Hampshire has given its own popular title to the Keene local circle, “The Granite C. L. S. C.” This circle is made up of ’87s, having been formed in the autumn of ’83 with an enrollment of forty members. They meet at the houses of the members, for, as they say, and we believe them right, the meeting at the homes cultivates a better social feeling. During the year they followed a most inviting plan of work, of which they give a brief but suggestive résumé. “Our method of work has been varied. Each study has been thoroughly investigated. There has been familiar conversation in regard to any matter not well understood, and the question box has been an interesting feature of the evening. Latterly the plan was adopted of assigning to different members topics upon which to prepare questions. They were printed by means of a hectograph, and distributed among the members previous to the next meeting. The design was to bring out all points of interest under consideration. The result has been satisfactory. A year of the course of study upon which we entered, so gladly and happily, has quickly passed, and we are already reaping the benefits in our everyday life. A few individuals can read in a desultory way with great profit, perhaps, but the majority require system and regularity in order to gain good results. Careless reading is a thing of the past. We have learned to think. Great changes have been wrought in our tastes for literature. We seek for something ennobling, striving to store the mind with enduring knowledge. The fifteenth of September we again organized with nearly our original number. Although we have done a good work we feel we can accomplish more in the future. We have a good start, and trust we shall land safely in port in ’87.”
Another circle of the Granite State just reported to us is the “Ivy Leaf,” of Newton Junction. A lively band of busy people they are, too, numbering in their year-old circle of eight members, a railroad station agent, a telegraph operator, a school teacher, a music teacher, and so on. The best and most efficient members are often those who work the busiest during the day. Our “Ivy Leaf” friends have our heartiest wishes for success in their coming year’s work.
Vermont.—The “Invincibles,” of Bradford, organized their band of seven only last March, but they have found the undertaking so pleasant that the secretary has written us a glowing account of their work and methods. She adds a couple of personals too good to be lost: “Our president is Mrs. A. M. Dickey, who graduated in 1882, one of the first two C. L. S. C. graduates in Vermont. She is energetic and self-sacrificing, and with her for our leader we are sure to succeed. One of our members has a drive of four miles to attend meetings, and during the past two years has lost but one session. This will be appreciated by those who know Vermont in winter. It is a sample of the ‘Invincibles.’”
Massachusetts.—We shall expect great things from the New England, and particularly the Massachusetts, division of the C. L. S. C. this year. The wonderful enthusiasm which animated the Framingham Assembly ought to keep the circles at the front the year through. Certainly they have begun well in their reports, at the head of which we want to put the modest announcement of the faithful class of ’82, sent us by their secretary, and let it be a warning to their successors, that they must take care or they will be outdone by the veterans: “At the Framingham Assembly, class ’82 held several meetings. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. Alfred Pike, Holliston, Mass.; Vice Presidents, Dr. E. M. White, Boston, Mass., and Mrs. M. J. Farwell, Brocton, Mass.; Secretary, Mrs. M. A. F. Adams, East Boston, Mass. Mrs. M. J. Farwell will write a poem for our reunion at Framingham next year, and a hymn will be written by Mrs. Rosie Baketel. Rev. O. S. Baketel, of Greenland, N. H., was elected president of the Society of the ‘Hall in the Grove.’”
Boston reports two circles unknown to us before. The “People’s Church” and the “Berkeley” circles. The first is under the leadership of the pastor of this famous church, Rev. J. H. Hamilton, and, although organized only a year ago, is a most enterprising circle. As yet it is small in numbers, there being scarcely twenty-five members, but it makes up in enthusiasm what it lacks numerically. This circle issues a paper semi-monthly, called the People’s Church Chautauquan, the editorship being undertaken by each member in turn, the other members furnishing articles upon such subjects as the leader may assign. This lively little body is not satisfied with prescribing routine programs, but it plans and carries out a different program for each evening, and in this way the exercises do not grow monotonous. The program for the evening of the Shakspere Memorial was especially interesting.
The “Berkeley” circle was formed in the fall of ’82: again in October of ’83 the circle was reorganized, meeting alternate Wednesday nights, and “although,” as they write in their letter of June last, “many things seemed to conspire against us, and we lost several members from various causes, and although the rain and alternate Wednesdays seemed synonymous, yet our circle ‘still lives’ and grows. Amongst our number we have a Harvard graduate of ’80, to whom our success has been largely due during the year just now at a close.” We hope it will not be long before the faithful “Berkeleys” will report their forty members gathered together for another year of work. A circle undaunted by loss of members and rain storms has the right sort of mettle.
There has been lying on our table all summer the following charming testimonial (received too late for the July issue) from Readville, a part of the town of Hyde Park, a short distance from Boston. It paints so happy a picture of home study one loves to linger over it: “Mother and I are the only ones here in Readville who are studying. We have all of the books, encyclopædias and books of reference. We read to each other and comment on what we have studied. Hardly a day goes by but most grateful words of praise for what the C. L. S. C. is doing, fall from our lips. We enjoy The Chautauquan exceedingly. It is a library in itself. A great deal of the work is review to me, but is just what I want. Believe that none of the thousands of Chautauquans are more grateful than mother and myself.”
And to follow this we have a “Pansy Triangle” of farmers’ daughters, two of whom belong to Cumberland, Rhode Island, the third to North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Busy girls, and living far apart as they do, yet they find the time and make the exertion necessary for frequent meetings. “Our girls,” indeed, are beginning to take a very prominent part in local circle work. From every quarter we hear of their busy coteries. The latest is the Tottenville (Staten Island, N. Y.) circle. They organised a year ago, and at the close of last year’s readings reported themselves more enthusiastic (if that could be) than they were in the beginning. Once in every two weeks they met at the house of some member of the class and spent two or three hours in talking over the readings; each member prepared a list of ten questions on one or several of the readings required; these questions were answered by the class from memory if possible. Sometimes in connection with the questions one of the Chautauqua games was played. Thus the meetings passed quickly and were thoroughly enjoyed by each member.
A pretty program containing the exercises arranged for each weekly meeting of the month has been received from North Cambridge. It is printed by hectograph on an engraved card, thus making both an inexpensive program and a pretty souvenir of the month’s work. Large circles which have their exercises arranged for each evening will do well to consider this manner of arranging their work.
Rhode Island.—In the beautiful town of Pawtucket, busy with mills and factories as it is, there was organized last January a local circle of fifteen members, which has been doing most excellent work. “Enthusiastic Chautauquans,” they report themselves. We trust we shall hear from them often during the coming year.
New York.—In a letter received in June from the secretary of the “Literary Section of the Rochester Academy of Sciences” (Rochester), there was a pleasant prophecy expressed that the twenty-three members which the circle then numbered might be able this fall to add a cypher to the right hand of the number and send us an account of two hundred and thirty enrolled members, and they add in hearty appreciation of our words: “In a city so full of cultivated people as ours there ought to be double that number to which the course would be a blessing.”
The “Spare Minute” circle, of New York City, is one of the many which owe their origin to the interest of one or two readers. During the year 1882-83 there were two young ladies reading the course together, and finding it so interesting they tried to interest others. Soon three young ladies joined them, and in February they formed a circle, holding meetings once a month. The circle soon numbered seven, five ladies and two gentlemen. At a “special,” June 3d, they spent a most delightful two hours and a half with Latin Literature and Roman History. Their pastor, Rev. A. W. Halsey, of the Spring Street Presbyterian Church, met with them and took charge of the meeting. This circle wrote us of their plans for a C. L. S. C. picnic to be held in the summer. Was it a success?
New Jersey.—Everybody found the “Pictures from English History” in the course of last year a very delightful book, and at Marion, the circle of six organized late in the year was so pleased that they read it aloud, taking in connection with it the text-book on English history and the questions from The Chautauquan. A very interesting plan it must have proved. Our Marion friends hope this year to be able to report an increase of members and of interest in the work in that place.
Pennsylvania.—The reorganizing of the local circles has brought out many plans for the important work of collecting the old members again into the ranks, and of bringing in new members. That wonderfully energetic body, the Allegheny circle of the class of ’87, did a capital thing in sending out a large number of copies of the following letter:
“Allegheny, September 24, ’84.
“Dear Friend:—The Allegheny circle, class of ’87, C. L. S. C., will hold their first meeting for the term 1884-5, at 7:30 p. m., on Monday, September 29, 1884, at 55 Ohio Street, corner East Diamond. Members and friends cordially invited to be present.
“Have you any friends who may be made happier, wiser, and better, by using the spare moments of life in useful, pleasant and profitable reading? If so, bring them with you. Do you know any persons who have read part of the C. L. S. C. course, who, becoming discouraged, have given up the work? Speak to such ones and induce them to begin again and finish the course. We invite all to meet with us who wish to enter upon a four years’ course of useful reading, under the direction and wisdom of some of the best educators of the country.”
They wisely preceded this by issuing for September 9th the following invitation: “Yourself and friends are invited to attend the first annual picnic excursion of the Allegheny circle, C. L. S. C., class of ’87, to be given Tuesday, September 9th, 1884, at Conoquenessing Grove and Rocks.”
Similar to the letter was a notice sent out by the circle at Omaha, Nebraska, in connection with the Popular Education circular, which explains the methods of the C. L. S. C. The following announcement was included in the notice: “the branch organized in this city last fall, and known as the Omaha C. L. S. C., is now arranging for next year’s work. A preliminary meeting will be held in Y. M. C. A. Hall, September 16th, at eight o’clock. All members of the circle, and those intending to read the course for 1884-5, are invited to be present.” These plans are always effective, and they have the added value of being simple.
At Eldred (Pa.), the local circle was reorganized in September with an increased membership. In honor of Chautauqua’s distinguished visitor from England, the circle will hereafter be known as the “Fairbairn Circle.”
We conclude from the encouraging report which has reached us from Berwick, of the past work of the circle there, that they have undoubtedly resumed work again this fall. The second year of the class of ’86 closed very successfully, with an increased membership. The interest manifested at the outset continued to the last. The advancement and thoroughness in study were marked. Through the medium of the Y. M. C. A. the C. L. S. C. enjoyed lectures during the year from eminent Chautauquans. Among them were Dr. Lyman Abbot, Wallace Bruce and Mr. Frank Beard.
The Carbondale circle is a flourishing, wide-awake member of the great C. L. S. C. It numbers among its members clergymen, bankers, lawyers, business men, and many of the most accomplished ladies of the city, prominent among the latter, the popular author, Mrs. G. R. Alden, with whose nom de plume, “Pansy,” the class of 1887 has been christened. The circle closed its first year June 25th with an “English Night.” The “Customs,” “Life,” “Holidays,” “Parks,” “Roads,” etc., were subjects of short and pithy essays. The London Graphic’s bird’s-eye view of London from a balloon was the occasion of much interest and inquiry. Mrs. Alden transformed the circle into a party of tourists, and made a delightful and instructive excursion to England (on paper). After the circle’s return from England the leader of the Round-Table surprised the circle by an innovation on the “question slip” plan, in shape of ices and other refreshments. The circle finds the evenings are too short, and are discussing the advisability of meeting oftener. Its second year’s work begun on Garfield day, by a public meeting announced by press and pulpit, reviewing the past year’s reading and taking in new members.
Another wide awake Pennsylvania circle is that at Elizabeth. It was organized just a year ago. Since that time it has given two public entertainments which were well received. At the last meeting, when the circle adjourned for three months, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: “Resolved, That we have found pleasure and profit in pursuing the course of reading laid down by the C. L. S. C., and in attending the meetings of the local circle, and we hereby individually pledge ourselves that if circumstances permit we will follow up the readings until we have completed the four years’ course.”
The “Whiting” circle (so called from its president, Dr. H. C. Whiting, of Dickinson College), of Carlisle, had enrolled last year its first year of work—thirty-two members. Their methods of work were excellent. The circle resolved itself into groups of five or six, to meet each week for the study of the several subjects. The meeting of the whole circle was generally held monthly. Some time prior to the general meeting the president arranged a program and assigned work to the members. The plan was varied from time to time. Occasionally a whole work was divided into topics to be reviewed and summed up in essays. Again, special subjects connected with a work were assigned for essays; then again, questions were given to the several members, upon which preparation was to be made, and answers rendered by the members of the circle, with comments by the president. These exercises have been supplemented by excellent music. Last year they prophesied a material increase in this year’s membership. We trust it has come.
Ohio.—The closing exercises of the “Home” circle, of Cleveland, were of more than usual interest. They were held June 23d, nearly every one of the twenty-one members being present. A fine literary and musical entertainment was given, and refreshments were served, after which the president, W. P. Payne, delivered a very forcible address on the Chautauqua Idea. We wish we had space to quote it, but can give only the closing lines: “Sooner or later we shall learn that the great Man works not before men with gold and greed, with affectation and noise; but withdrawing himself, alone with his soul, into the inner temple, in solitude solves the problems of highest and deepest interest to men. I know not who the coming Man shall be, but I believe that to Chautauqua shall be the glory of his coming and the praise.”
Another Ohio circle of great interest is that of Tallmadge. It was organized in October, 1883, with six members, all of whom belong to the class of ’87. Eight local members were added to that number before the close of the year. The meetings, which are held semi-monthly, were well attended. A charming program was carried out on Longfellow’s day.
About the time that the Tallmadge circle came into existence, a pleasant circle was formed at Findlay, of the same state. The membership grew to the goodly proportion of twenty-nine regular members, and reported to us at the closing of the year that their meetings had been unusually profitable and pleasant.
Indiana.—We are indebted to the Terre Haute circle for one of the most beautiful programs which has ever reached us. It is satin backed and hand-painted. A lovely little memento of what must have been a charming evening. The annual reception of the club was the occasion of its use, and a correspondent writes us that one of these pretty affairs was laid at every one of the sixty plates spread for the banquet. The painting was all done by members of the circle. Prominent on the program was an admirable poem, “A Symposium of Classic Tales,” by Rev. Alfred T. Kummer, of the Centenary M. E. Church in Terre Haute. We quote the opening stanzas, and had we space we would gladly give it all:
All hail! ye noble seekers after truth;
All hail! ye spirits growing still in youth,
Though years roll on, and Time, with hand of strength,
Plows furrows deep, but brings us home at length.
Chautauquans come with joyful hearts to-day,
Their homage true, and faithful vows to pay
To the Circle wide, a star of holy light,
A Circle blazing with its truth and right.
With brow of care, and smoother brow of youth,
With eye of fire, and strength of conquering truth,
We come with brilliant hopes for days to come,
To glance in haste at days forever gone.
We come to-night from sacred desk divine,
We come from noble learning’s sacred shrine,
We come from halls where justice righteous reigns,
We come from happy homes where peace remains.
In learning’s name, in friendship’s pure delight,
To close a happy year, we meet to-night;
Chautauquans all, our courage to renew,
To plight our vows to all that’s pure and true.
A new Memorial day has been adopted by the Danville Circle, in honor of the late Bishop Simpson. This circle closed a prosperous year’s work on June 20th. And at Martinsville of the same state the circle closed the year by a brilliant reception at the opera house. Several hundred invitations were sent out, and the house was filled with an appreciative audience. From the neighboring town of Spencer a C. L. S. C. delegation of twenty-two ladies was present. The Martinsville circle furnished a rich program, and sent their friends away deeply impressed by the sterling worth of the C. L. S. C. work. We are pleased to notice also a new circle of twelve members at West Newton, organized in November, 1883. We hope to hear the particulars of their work soon.
Illinois.—A letter from Pana contains a suggestion which might, we are sure, be adopted successfully by any circle: “As an addition to our program, each lady is requested to bring to every meeting some selection that seems to her particularly fine. It is to be written out, so that it may be pasted into a book that shall be kept as a sort of memorial of the society.” This circle writes that they had their first public entertainment this winter, which their friends kindly pronounced a success.
Michigan.—We are pleased to introduce for the first time a circle of fourteen in Grand Rapids. They write us that they have been enjoying a prosperous existence since October last, and are looking hopefully forward to an increase this year.
Wisconsin.—Two more Wisconsin circles from whom we have heard before in these columns have recently sent us notices of interesting sessions. At Markesan the circle commemorated Garfield’s death by an afternoon session, at which an able program was carried out.
From Rusk a lady writes: “We are only a small circle of six members living in the country, but try to be very zealous Chautauquans. To say that we are thankful for the institution of the C. L. S. C. would but feebly express our feelings, for we truly feel that it brightens our homes and helps us enjoy life. We are all housekeepers, and have all its attending cares, yet we feel that the pleasure we get from these readings more than compensates us for the little additional labor in the direction of the C. L. S. C. We are doing the work much more thorough this year than our first year, and find the better we do our work the more pleasure, as well as profit, we derive from it.”
Minnesota.—The “Flour City” circle of Minneapolis writes that “as we could not expect to visit Chautauqua this summer we decided to celebrate the closing of our first year at our own lovely Minnetonka. In answer to an invitation from a lady member of our circle we went to the lake to spend the day with her; and a wonderful day we had, going by sail twenty miles to the cottage, where we were met by words and faces full of welcome.” At the gay banquet, which was one of the features of the day, they found a unique device: “As we sat down to the sumptuously loaded and elegantly decorated table, some curiosity was aroused at the sight of a small sack by the side of each plate, filled with something, and tied with bright ribbon and labeled ‘F. C. C., 1887.’ Presently, as one noticed that the sacks were of fine bolting cloth, through which the flour began to sift, the riddle was solved. The badge of the ‘Flour City’ circle is a sack of flour, and we wore them proudly home. Next dinner was discussed, and everything proved to be of the best—appetites and all. Then came the feast of reason, and so pleasant did we find it that we lingered quite as long as over that of strawberries and cream.” Fishing, boating and gathering lilies finished their happy day. The “Flour City” circle certainly could not have had a more delightful time—even at Chautauqua.
Missouri.—The third annual meeting of the literary societies of Carthage took place in June. A C. L. S. C. class is one of the prominent members of the association, and on this occasion, as its part of the entertainment, took the audience on an imaginary tour. The Carthage Press thus speaks of the conductors of the tour: “Mrs. Ross was a bright companion in the trip from Carthage to New York; the pictures of the ocean voyage and a visit to Scotland were given by Mrs. Nailon; Miss Belle Ross escorted the party to England in so charming a manner that all hated to give her up, but Mrs. Clarkson proved a worthy successor as she guided them through France; Germany received so original and philosophical a treatment from Mrs. Rombauer that we would fain have lingered longer in the Fatherland; Mrs. Miller took us to Greece and explained entertainingly all the wonders to be seen there; Miss Hayne showed ancient Rome; Miss Devore’s description of the Rome of to-day was so well written and so vivid that we felt as if we had really stood in old Rome in the rooms of new Rome; Mrs. Heywood gave the trip from Italy home to America; and Mrs. Case closed with an entertaining account of a visit to Lake Chautauqua.” A capital idea for some of our friends who are longing for “something new.” At about the same time of this celebration the St. Louis circles, “Vincent” and “Round Table,” held their third annual meeting. These two circles number jointly about seventy members, and they prepared for this entertainment an exceedingly fine program. One attractive feature of the entertainment was the “Tangent,” a monthly paper made up of original articles contributed by the members of the circles, and read by an editor. The idea is to develop and strengthen any latent literary talent possessed by the members, and to furnish an audience for their productions without the embarrassment of making known the authorship.
Kansas.—From Emporia we had the pleasure of receiving in June a pleasant letter from a faithful C. L. S. C. worker in that town. The circle was organized only a year ago, but soon became so large that it had to be divided. Our correspondent thinks it would be hard to find more enthusiastic workers. She says: “We have resolved to be ever true and faithful in the grand work. It is generally understood that nothing but sickness—not even Kansas mud—will keep us at home Chautauqua evenings. We have imitated Cæsar in his plan of a speedy construction of bridges—ours, not across the Rhine, but across the muddy street, for some of us live off the sidewalk.”
California.—Our thanks are due to the “Vincent” local circle of Sacramento, for a copy of their excellent rules of government. From the appearance and character of these regulations we conclude that our “Vincent” friends have come to stay.
In the scattered farming community of San Lorenzo, across the bay from San Francisco, there has been for five years a lively circle of C. L. S. C. workers. It began with but two members, and has increased until there are eleven workers in the club. “During the nine months’ study of each year scarcely a week has passed,” writes the secretary, “without our meeting together for review and talk over the lesson. We have never allowed ourselves to fall behind in the course as marked out in The Chautauquan.”
In a letter received too late for the July issue of The Chautauquan, the secretary of the Yuba City local circle writes: “I believe our local circle has had a report in your columns every year, and we desire to be represented this, our third year, which finds us even more zealous (were it possible) than any preceding one, and realizing more and more each day the great benefit of this systematic course of reading. Our method is to carefully go through the lesson as it is marked out in The Chautauquan, and to have a general exchanging of ideas and views on all its principal topics. This consumes so much of our time that we have had as yet but little outside work, such as essays, and the like. We observe all Memorial days.”
Los Angeles has a very interesting and prosperous circle. It was formed in 1881 with twelve members. In 1882-3 they kept up the readings, but becoming discouraged they abandoned the regular meetings until October of 1883, when a circle of thirty-nine members was reorganized. The plan which their president has found most successful has been to bring carefully prepared questions into the class and encourage free conversation on the book study of the week. The topics in The Chautauquan she assigns to some gentleman or lady particularly interested in the special themes, who comes prepared with illustration, demonstration, and experiment, to instruct and please. The work grows, and its influence is being felt in the strangely mixed populace of that growing coast city.
Another Pacific Coast Branch is that of Bakersfield. Its members, twenty-five in all, include ministers, lawyers, judges, doctors, farmers, bankers, and their wives, together with a large number of lads and lassies, most of whom are enthusiastically interested in their studies. There is one German lady now in her sixty-second year, who is endeavoring to compete with other members of the class, and will come out victorious if she continues to be as thorough in the next three years as she has been in the past few months. The evening gatherings are enlivened occasionally by essays, readings, music, etc. This circle predicts for the coming year a membership of forty. We hope that the prediction may be verified.
Mrs. Mary H. Field, the competent and enthusiastic secretary of the Pacific Coast Branch of the C. L. S. C., has sent us the following full report of last year’s work in her district: “The Pacific Coast Branch of the C. L. S. C. has grown and prospered during the past year. Its affairs were all so well ordered and arranged by her predecessor that but little remained for the secretary to do save to carry out their good designs. It has been like sailing on a smooth sea in a well manned ship, with all the machinery in perfect order, and with a fresh breeze filling every sail. The work has consisted chiefly in an immense correspondence, the issuing of three thousand circulars, the writing of series of newspaper articles, and the keeping of records and accounts.
“I have the pleasure of reporting six hundred and twenty-four new members, and the renewal of more than two hundred old members. About forty circles are reported as being in prosperous condition. Probably in no other part of the United States is there so scattering a population as on this coast, and it is in the isolated hamlets, the solitary homes, and in the one man or one woman “circles” that the C. L. S. C. does its most salutary work.
“Southern California is a growing center of C. L. S. C. influence. The secretary deeply regrets that Monterey is so far from Los Angeles and San Diego, and that those excellent circles are not represented there.
“It has been my sad duty during the past year to write the little star, which means deceased, against several names in our record. Against one, that of Mrs. M. H. McKee, of San José, I mingled deep personal regret with my official task. Alas for us that one so bright, so useful, so variously endowed, should have passed from earth in the midst of her years and usefulness.”