The C. L. S. C.
The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle is a school at home—a school after school—a college for one’s own house, by which he may become acquainted in a general way with the school and college world, into which so many of our young people go, about which their parents know so little, and the benefits of which college people themselves need to recall in their later years.
It is for busy people, who left school years ago, and who desire to pursue some systematic course of instruction.
It is for high school and college graduates, for people who never entered either high school or college, for merchants, mechanics, apprentices, mothers, busy housekeepers, farmer boys, shop girls, and for people of leisure and wealth who do not know what to do with their time. College graduates, ministers, lawyers, physicians, accomplished ladies, are taking the course. They find the required books entertaining and useful, giving them a pleasant review of studies long ago laid aside. Several of our members are over eighty years of age. Very few are under eighteen.
The C. L. S. C. Course requires about forty minutes’ time a day for the term of four years. It need not be done every day, although this is a desirable way to carry on the work. The readings are comprehensive, clear, simple, and entertaining. They vary, of course, in interest according to the taste of the reader.
More than sixty thousand names are enrolled in this so-called “People’s University.” Although not a University at all, it has put educational influence, atmosphere and ambition into the homes of the people, which will lead many thousands of youth to seek the education which colleges and universities supply.
It is an easy thing to join the C. L. S. C. No preliminary examination is required; indeed, no examination is required at any time. Members are expected to fill out certain simple memoranda year after year, and forward them to the central office of the C. L. S. C., at Plainfield, N. J. But this is no task at all. A careful reading of the books is all that is necessary in order to graduate.
The following is the distribution of the subjects and books of the regular course through the year:
October.
Brief History of Greece. (Barnes.)
Preparatory Greek Course in English.
Chautauqua Text-Book, No. 5. Greek History.
In The Chautauquan:
- “Glimpses of Ancient Greek Life.”
- “Greek Mythology.”
- “The Temperance Teachings of Science.”
- “Studies in Kitchen Science and Art.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
Our Alma Mater—“Lessons in Every-Day Speech.”
November.
Preparatory Greek Course in English. (Continued.)
Art of Speech. Vol. I.
In The Chautauquan:
- “Glimpses of Ancient Greek Life.”
- “Greek Mythology.”
- “The Temperance Teachings of Science.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
December.
Preparatory Greek Course in English. (Concluded.)
Cyrus and Alexander.
In The Chautauquan:
- “Glimpses of Ancient Greek Life.”
- “Greek Mythology.”
- “The Temperance Teachings of Science.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
Our Alma Mater—“Lessons in Every-Day Speech.”
January.
College Greek Course in English.
The Character of Jesus. (Bushnell.)
In The Chautauquan:
- “Glimpses of Ancient Greek Life.”
- “Greek Mythology.”
- “The Temperance Teachings of Science.”
- “Studies in Kitchen Science and Art.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
February.
College Greek Course in English.
Beginner’s Hand-Book of Chemistry.
How to Help the Poor.
In The Chautauquan:
- “The Circle of the Sciences.”
- “Huxley on Science.”
- “Home Studies in Chemistry.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
Our Alma Mater—“Lessons in Household Decoration.”
March.
College Greek Course in English. (Concluded.)
Beginner’s Hand-Book of Chemistry.
In The Chautauquan:
- “The Circle of the Sciences.”
- “Home Studies in Chemistry.”
- “Talks About Good English.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
April.
Hurst’s History of the Reformation.
Beginner’s Hand-Book of Chemistry.
In The Chautauquan:
- “The Circle of the Sciences.”
- “Home Studies in Chemistry.”
- “Easy Lessons in Animal Biology.”
- “Talks about Good English.”
- “Studies in Kitchen Science and Art.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
Our Alma Mater—“Lessons in Self-Discipline.”
May.
In The Chautauquan:
- “Easy Lessons in Animal Biology.”
- “Talks About Good English.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
June.
In The Chautauquan:
- “Easy Lessons in Animal Biology.”
- “Talks About Good English.”
- “Sunday Readings.”
Review Full Year’s Course.