Kansas sends word of two new clubs; one at Elk Falls, of nine members, and another at Andover, of seven.
From New Market, Platt County, Mo., we have received the program of the exercises held on Longfellow’s Day by the circle of four there.
The teachers of the Natchez union schools, at Natchez, Missouri, were formed into a circle in December.
In Southern Dakota, at Bijou Hills, the circle of ’87 has been holding weekly meetings all winter, and writes that notwithstanding the limited advantages on the frontier they are not discouraged, but live in hopes of having a larger circle next year.
In January there was formed a circle at McGregor, Texas. Two of the members are of the class of ’82, and until recently lived in New York state, having spent nine happy summers at Chautauqua. One of the beautiful things about Chautauqua is that you can carry it with you—even as far as Texas, and that, as these two friends have done, you can impart its strength and inspiration to others.
The first report which The Chautauquan has received from Wyoming Territory comes from Cheyenne, where, in February, a circle was organized consisting of eight active members, who pledged themselves to complete the four years’ course of study. With true Western vim they write: “Although small in numbers, we are earnest in purpose, and are determined to be in the front ranks among the classes of 1887.”
Canon City, Col., has organized a circle of ten busy housekeepers, who, though they have long been away from the discipline of the school room, yet find that it becomes continually easier to master the readings.
Linden, California, has a class of seven regular members, with a few “socials.”
There is a great deal of genuine, healthy, social life in the C. L. S. C., and a great many pleasant plans followed by different circles, which can not fail to be suggestive to others. The “Alpha” circle, of Lewiston, Maine, closed the year of 1882-3 with a social at the home of one of the members. While making merry over cake and ice cream, the writing of a book by the circle, each member contributing one chapter, was proposed. The idea was at once accepted by all. The plan of the book, subject, etc., was decided upon, two of the members volunteering to write a poem. The first meeting of the circle this Chautauqua year was a lakeside picnic, at which the party added to the usual picnic sports the election of officers for this year, and the reading of the first chapter of their book. We hope that book will be finished and reported. They are not alone in their “Chautauqua picnic.” The Galesburg, Ill. circle kept alive their enthusiasm last summer by holding one in the vacation, to which all Chautauquans of the city were invited, whether graduates or not.
Perhaps the chief social event in the C. L. S. C. world so far this year has been the Alumni banquet held by the classes of ’82 and ’83, in Boston, on February 23d, in honor of Dr. Vincent, and Dr. Hurlbut. The Boston Journal gave a full account of the event, and from it we quote: “The ladies and gentlemen who by virtue of their diplomas became members of the ‘Hall in the Grove’—so the menu announced—were presided over for the day by Rev. O. S. Baketel. Prof. W. F. Sherwin acted as toastmaster, and never did a more humorous or genial master call for responses. He wanted a short, pleasant, instructive, amusing, cheerful, delightful, jocose, scientific speech from every one, and thought that five or six minutes’ speaking would surely not take ten minutes’ time. The class representatives called upon endeavored to follow out this request, the first one, Rev. George Benedict, of Hanson class, of ’87, condensing his short, pleasant, etc., oration to half a dozen words uttered in one minute. As soon as the toastmaster realized that ’87’s speech was disposed of, he called upon him ‘who had been under the snow so long,’ Rev. B. P. Snow, of Biddeford, Me., class of ’86, and Mr. Snow described in glowing colors the work of the C. L. S. C. in popularizing culture for older people, declaring that it was not a college of universal smatter, but one of real work and progress. Rev. J. E. Fullerton, of Hopkinton, who responded for the class of ’85, spoke of the Chautauqua movement as Christian, popular, progressive and peculiarly American. For the classes of ’84 and ’83, Rev. W. N. Richardson, of East Saugus, and Rev. Alexander Dight, of Holliston, respectively, responded. Each speaker had naturally spoken in immeasurably high terms of the ability and wisdom of his own particular class, but it remained for the final class representative, Rev. Dr. J. L. Hurlbut, of ’82, to put the climax on humorous mock modesty and class exaltation by eulogizing the first graduating class of the Circle to the very highest skies, declaring that it possessed so much knowledge that there was scarcely enough left to go around among the other classes, and, moreover, it had laid the foundation of the great people’s college. A few hearty words laudatory of the founder of the Chautauqua movement, Dr. Vincent, and then the speaker announced that henceforth that day, February 23d, the anniversary of the birthday of the beloved Superintendent of Instruction, was to be recognized and celebrated as ‘Founder’s Day.’ When the applause which greeted this announcement had subsided, toastmaster Sherwin bade the assembly ‘do just as I do,’ and then taught them the ‘Chautauqua salute’ with variations, consisting of fifteen waves of the handkerchief in front and above the head. Dr. Vincent arose after this salute, and having expressed his appreciation and thanks, spoke to his pupils on the distinctive character of the C. L. S. C. ‘A short dialogue,’ announced toastmaster Sherwin, ‘will now be given,’ and in accordance with this instruction Rev. Mr. Full, of South Framingham, recited his prepared part, which closed with a presentation to the Superintendent of two valuable sets of books, the works of Hawthorne and Oliver Wendell Holmes, as a slight token of the admiration of the alumni. The second part of the dialogue came from Dr. Vincent, who, although entirely unprepared and taken completely by surprise, yet acknowledged in graceful terms the gift of his friends. A final prayer, and then the alumni of C. L. S. C. separated for their homes.”