A Pennsylvania member of the C. L. S. C. writes us: “I am a man in middle life (44 years old) with a family of four children to look after. I do a varied business, merchandising, lumbering and farming. I believe they call me the hardest working man in the village, but I have found time to complete the course, and have derived great benefit, as well as enjoyment, while reading. My main object has been to prepare myself as best I could, under the circumstances, to better educate and direct the minds of the children growing up around me, and by encouraging good reading to drive the bad away.”
The editor of the Home and School, Toronto, (Ont.,) has received the following from a young man in Manitoba: “You will probably remember that I wrote you in regard to some systematic sourse of reading just about three years ago, and that you sent me circulars of the C. L. S. C., and also said you would be happy to hear of my success in prosecuting the ‘course,’ etc. Well, owing to a change of circumstances and other unforeseen events, I have been unable to take the ‘course,’ though I procured some of the books, and have been a constant subscriber to The Chautauquan. I must thank you for sending me those circulars. The little I have read in the ‘course’ has been a very great benefit to me, indeed. It has improved my mind, and given me a greater desire for more knowledge; but, perhaps, better still is this: This year myself and a younger brother—I am twenty-two years old—have joined the ‘Circle,’ and we are at present talking about getting up a ‘local circle,’ and, indeed, have things about arranged for it. I was so pleased with all this that I could not refrain from writing and telling you, as you were the one who first sent me the circulars.”
In a pleasant letter to The Chautauquan the secretary of the local circle of Muscatine (Iowa) says: “The graduates of 1882 still remain banded together, and are this year pursuing the special course of Modern History. ‘Fifteen’ is still a favorite number, the number with which the class was organized in 1878, the number that graduated, and the number that are at present pursuing the special course.”
A paper in Muscatine, Iowa, furnishes this word picture: The Bryant memorial, at the residence of P. M. Musser, was one of the most pleasant and successful anniversary meetings in the history of the Muscatine Chautauqua circles. There was a large attendance of both circles and invited guests, and the program proved unusually interesting and entertaining. The music, which was so appropriately interspersed through the program, was of a high order of merit, each number exhibiting much practice and study. The literary program consisted mainly of finely-rendered recitations and readings from Bryant’s poems. There was a charmingly-written sketch of Bryant’s life, which abounded with valuable and interesting facts in regard to the great poet’s life and the development and growth of his poetic genius; also a description of Bryant’s 80th year memorial vase, whose design was so exquisite in beauty and expressive in sentiment. The special interest of the evening centered in the discussion on the question—Resolved, that Bryant, as a poet, is more American than Longfellow. The question was evidently adopted, not for the purpose of drawing odious comparisons or in any way detracting from the renown or genius of either of America’s greatest poets, but for the purpose of presenting the special characteristics of both. After extending thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Musser for the cordial hospitality of the evening, the exercises closed. The Bryant memorial is an occasion to be remembered.
A lady has related to us this interesting experience in the C. L. S. C.: “In the fall of 1879, while going across the Rocky Mountains in a stage, a lady (a perfect stranger) told me about the C. L. S. C. She had the text-book on English History with her and was studying it. I had just completed a college course, but felt so unsatisfied with the little I knew, and was longing for some one to direct me. I knew not what to read, nor how to read. We were in the same town that winter—Bozeman, Mont.—and with a friend formed a circle of three. Next year I returned home (Missouri), but too late to have a circle. Our people had never heard of it. Well, a meeting was held and our numbers ran up to forty-seven. How our hearts were gladdened! They have all joined as regular members, and seem so interested. Quite a number have expressed their regret to me that they did not join before.”