The following notice of the celebration of Shakspere’s birthday by this circle is taken from a Milwaukee paper: “The recent gathering at 146 Fifth Street, in response to the invitations sent out by the Delta Circle, C. L. S. C., was a very unique and pleasing affair. The company met to celebrate the 319th anniversary of the birth of William Shakspere. The parlors were appropriately and tastefully decorated with evergreen flowers and smilax. Upon a banner over the large bust of Shakspere was seen “1564-1883.” Each of the fifty persons present was provided with a program printed on satin, the Chautauquan badge, a green leaf and the symbols representative of the society’s name, being hand-painted. The literary exercises consisted of roll-call, to which the members responded with quotations from Shakspere, readings, recitations, and a discussion upon the question, ‘Did Bacon write Shakspere?’ The debaters were very persuasive. The lady on the affirmative, at the close of her argument, veiled Shakspere, and at the close of the negative, the veil, touched by an unseen hand, fell, and Shakspere stood vindicated. The music was very fine, being Shaksperean in character. After the literary program, the company partaking of refreshments, was made merry by the passing of a handsomely decorated birthday cake, containing a small coin, which the happy finder was to invest in Shaksperean literature. The guests departed, wishing many happy returns of the day of immortal Shakspere.”
Michigan (Lisbon).—This is our first year. We commenced with seven members. Our books did not reach us until late, but by increased labor we caught up by the first of January. We now hope to finish the year’s work according to the plan marked out in The Chautauquan. We have one member who lives six miles away, and who rarely fails to meet us at the monthly meetings. Two worthy M.D.’s, who have little time to spare, have taken up the course, and are very enthusiastic. The one the class most “delighteth to honor” is a lady who has nearly rounded her sixty years. She is our questioner. We trust that our Heavenly Father may spare her these many years, that she may be able to finish the course, and to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Another of our members is a mother with poor health. She receives the Chautauqua Idea as a godsend to help her keep pace with the five active, restless minds that are beginning to pour their questions in upon her. It has been a year of profit to each one, and one that we have all enjoyed.
Iowa (Council Bluffs).—The circle is well attended, and has many animated seekers after true culture, and more spirit is manifested in its meetings now than when we first started. We meet every Monday evening, at the pastor’s home. One of our professors here gave a brilliant lecture recently on the subject of “Astronomy,” and Hon. W. J. Armstrong, another eloquent orator, was secured to speak on “London Society.”
Iowa (Clinton).—The Clinton branch of the C. L. S. C. was organized October 16, 1882, with a membership of twenty-five, three being graduates of 1882. Our circle meets every alternate Monday evening, at the homes of members. Our president, Rev. S. H. Weller, D.D., of the Presbyterian Church, conducts the meetings in a very interesting manner. Papers on the lesson have been prepared and read by different members, occupying the time for about half an hour, and followed by a general talk on the same subject. One evening while studying geology all were requested to bring in at the next meeting geological specimens, and tell what they could about them. Several evenings each brought two or three questions on the lesson written on slips of paper, which, after being shook up in a hat, were drawn and answered by the members. The plan we enjoy most is to pass round the circle, each member in turn stating a fact concerning the lesson, until all the principal points are brought out, this being followed by a “round-table talk.” During the first week in April, while we were still studying astronomy, an excursion party, in charge of Dr. Weller, went to Chicago for the purpose of studying the stars by the aid of the large telescope at the observatory there.
Iowa (Panora).—We organized a circle last October with a membership of eleven. We meet every Monday evening, review the lesson as outlined, or in other words talk over the work, every member expressing his views, asking questions, etc. At our last meeting Mrs. Haden treated the circle to lemonade made from lemons grown in her home by the fireside. The discussion that evening was “Lemon Culture in Iowa.”
Iowa (Manchester).—In this modest county seat of less than three thousand people, there is the largest C. L. S. Circle in Iowa. There were seven graduates last summer from here. Some of these are prosecuting the White Seal Course. All of them have been active in one of the three local circles which together number in all some forty-eight, besides a history class which is composed of young people, and is an outgrowth of the C. L. S. C., and the Young People’s Lyceum of the M. E. Church, which may be said to have received its inspiration from the same. We meet in three different classes and all come together on “Memorial Days.” We have tried various plans, but we find a good leader who has the tact to draw the different members out in a conversational style is the most satisfactory and beneficial, and as we have two or three in our class who are happily possessed of this tact, we utilize it to the fullest extent, always to our profit and pleasure.