Iowa (Manchester).—Our circle was reorganized in September. It numbers fifty, beside a class of young people who take the history only. We are divided into three classes. We held our first memorial November 3, Bryant’s day. Between eighty and ninety people were present at the exercises, which consisted of an address on Bryant and selections from his works, interspersed with music. The exercises were short, followed by a social which all seemed to enjoy.
The circle numbering twenty, at Independence, Iowa, reports a very interesting time with German History and Literature. The secretary writes: One evening was confined to the articles on “German History” and “German Literature” in The Chautauquan for November. The first thing on the program was quotations from some of the writers mentioned in the article on “German Literature.” Then followed written questions on the “German History,” and discussion. Then two essays were read, one on “Heinrich Heine,” another on “Goethe.”
The S. H. G. and the C. L. S. C. of Osceola, Iowa, united in celebrating Milton’s day, on the eve of December 10. The first named society has ten members, the latter twenty-one. Each member had the privilege of inviting three friends, so that about one hundred and twenty in all assembled. The president of the C. L. S. C. presided, and a fine program was rendered. The guests were all in sympathy with the Chautauqua movement. Some of the circle, who are members of the S. H. G., scarcely know how life would go without the inspiring influences of the Circle. They have no thought of giving it up either this year, next year, nor the one after that.
Dakota (Sioux Falls).—Our circle at this place numbers but twelve. We thought best to have a small number first year. Next year we shall make an effort to enlarge our number to fifty or seventy-five. We doubt whether you have in the East a more enthusiastic circle. We all enjoy the readings much, and the best people in our city are becoming much interested in C. L. S. C.
The first local circle which we have known to “ring out the old year, ring in the new,” is that at Omaha, Nebraska. From the local paper we learn that the meeting was one of unusual importance. Special preparations were made, as this was the closing meeting of the year, and coming as it did on the last evening of the year. The attendance was exceptionally large. The literary exercises were of a very high order, and were much appreciated by the large and fashionable audience assembled. An elegant banquet was served after the exercises, and speech making followed. In response to the toast “The Chautauqua Club,” a gentleman said that a little while ago he, himself, did not know what Chautauqua meant. It was a dim, indefinable something. He had been told that the meaning of the word in the Indian language is “a foggy place,” and it was a dim, distant, foggy place away off, but how real it came to him now! It meant intellectual study, literature, science and art. It had done more, it had led him into a new life.