Washington, D. C., gives us three breezy reports this month. A member from the “Foundry M. E. Church Circle,” organized in 1882, writes: “The four Chautauqua circles of this city have been doing excellent work, and their prospect for the future grows brighter and brighter as the Chautauqua Idea of self education becomes better known to the people. During the existence of our societies Dr. J. H. Vincent has paid us a number of visits, each time preaching and lecturing to large congregations in Foundry Church. His lectures and sermons never fail to exert a good influence, for it is a noticeable fact that each time we are honored with his presence our circles have the greatest increase in membership. We trust he can find it convenient to be with us more frequently in the future. The ‘Foundry’ C. L. S. C. is the largest in the city. The officers of the circle constitute a board of instructors; at the meetings each instructor takes charge of but one topic. If there remain other subjects of discussion they are distributed among individual members so that our lessons are always very satisfactorily discussed. After the recitations we have a literary exercise, consisting of readings, essays, recitations, debates, etc. We always take pleasure in observing each memorial day with an appropriate program. The C. L. S. C. of this city is yet only in its infancy, but as its members and friends become more enthusiastic for its success we hope to accomplish much for it in the near future.” The second comes from the “Pansy Circle,” of whom we have never before had the pleasure of hearing, and opens with an excellent plan: “In addition to our weekly meetings, where we discuss the subjects for the week’s reading, we have a monthly gathering. We began work late in the year, so that we have had but three such. At the first, Professor O. T. Mason, of Columbia University, gave us a lecture-talk on Vegetable Biology, which was delightful to all. The second entertainment was a lecture by Professor Cleveland Abbe, the scientist of the Signal Bureau, and he selected the topic ‘Thunder Storms, and the few things we know about them.’ He concluded an hour’s talk with a suggestion, which he said we should hear more of later. It was to this effect: The Signal Office needed many observers—those who were able to understand and appreciate this work—and they had proposed to have one or more in every county in the States. He had thought it a good idea for the Chautauquans to be invited to do such work in connection with their studies. The purpose expressed gave our little ‘Pansy Circle,’ although composed of ladies, considerable pleasure, and you may hear more of this, if we do. We spent our last monthly meeting celebrating Shakspere’s day, members of the circle reading selections from the ‘Merchant of Venice,’ and giving us all great enjoyment. Closed the evening with general conversation about the great dramatist.”
The “Meridian” Chautauqua Circle, of Washington, D. C., is now in its second year, throughout which period the interest has been great, notwithstanding the smallness of the circle; there being nine active and three local members. At the last weekly meeting was held the Shaksperean celebration. The exercises consisted, in part, of a brief sketch of his life and works, the question of their authenticity, citations of wit and wisdom, an argument relative to the sanity of Hamlet, together with selections from his plays. Among the decorations were sketches of his birthplace, the desk at which he studied “Little Latine and less Greeke,” his seal, his epitaph, and a portrait of the author. After the literary exercises a supper was served.
At Sudlersville, Md., there is a pleasant circle of two, which sends word that “Having for the first time observed information in the March number of The Chautauquan encouraging the report of two as a local circle, we, the ‘Eureka Circle,’ take great pleasure in reporting with the multitude of others.”
Snow Hill, Md., claims to have the finest C. L. S. C. on the Peninsula. “Of our twenty members one is a clergyman, two are lawyers, and six are school teachers. The study of Biology was facilitated by the use of a splendid microscope of 600 diameter power. We have a regular organization, a board of officers, and after the usual preliminaries of a formal assembly, the program. Three readers, one in each book, are appointed, a ‘commentator’ listens to each, then epitomizes the matter, and comments upon the manner. An examiner has been previously appointed in each study, whose business it is to prepare five written questions; these are thrown together and drawn by the members, who answer whatever falls to their lot.”
The “Bryant” C. L. S. C., of Toledo, Ohio, is a flourishing circle of about twenty-five members, part of whom are “regular” and part “local.” A lively interest has been manifested, and many warm discussions held concerning some of the characters studied about. Addison’s day was celebrated in a very quiet manner, at a regular meeting of the circle.
The C. L. S. C. of the Third Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, Ohio, had an unusually pleasant meeting on April 23. Although they have been organized for nearly two years, they have never before celebrated a Memorial Day. We trust their pleasant experience will lead to more frequent “special occasions” in the future.
The celebrations of Shakspere’s and Addison’s days were combined at Springfield, Ohio, and a very successful meeting was the result. This circle was organized in 1878, and the class of ’82 are happy to read the “White Seal Course” with the other classes, while they read the “Crystal Seal” alone. All the Memorial Days have been observed this year, commencing with Garfield’s and closing with Shakspere’s and Addison’s, but they claim that their Chautauqua picnic, given annually in June, is the jubilee of their C. L. S. C. year.
From the Toledo Evening Bee we learn that a very delightful evening was spent by the members of the Bryan, Ohio, C. L. S. C., in memory of William Shakspere. The circle here has been holding regular meetings since October, 1881. There are now sixteen members. Among the “days” none are more pleasant than Arbor Day. It does not receive much attention, we fear, but here is one circle at least that planted a tree. From Amelia, Ohio, a letter comes, saying: “In our little town we have a small C. L. S. C., and as you wanted all circles reported to The Chautauquan, we give ours as the ‘Elm-tree Circle.’ We are but four girls studying together, but a circle of one hundred could not be more enthusiastic. On Arbor Day we planted a tree and named it ‘Vincent.’ We hope that in another year we can report a much larger circle.”
The sixth annual reunion of the circle at Norwalk, Ohio, was held on April 23. They have thirty members enrolled, and are reading the books of the seal course in the circle, while the books in the regular course are read at home. The exercises at their reunion were conversational entirely. The questions of the authorship of what are known as Shakspere’s plays, and which is Shakspere’s best play, being informally argued until the party were summoned to supper. The circle expect to resume their conversations another year.