“‘Oak Knoll, Danvers, 12 Mo., 23, 1884.
“‘My Dear Friend:—Thy kind letter in behalf of the literary associations of Amesbury and Salisbury has just been received, and I hasten to express my thanks for the generous appreciation of my life work by “mine own people,” who know the man as well as the writer. That I am neither a prophet myself, nor the son of a prophet, may account perhaps for the rather remarkable fact that I am not without honor in my own country. I scarcely need say that among the many kind testimonials of regard which, on the occasion of my birthday, have reached me from both sides of the water, none have been more welcome than that conveyed in thy letter. If the praise awarded me is vastly beyond my due, I am none the less grateful for it.
“‘I know too well my own deficiencies and limitations, but my heart is warm with thankfulness to the Divine Providence which so early led me to consecrate the ability given me to the cause of heaven, freedom, and the welfare of my fellowmen. The measure of literary reputation which has come to me is as far beyond my expectation as my desert, and I am glad to share the benefit of it with my home friends and neighbors. With thanks to thyself personally, and to those whom thee represents, I am, very truly, thy friend,
“‘John G. Whittier.’”
The “Crescent” circle, of Wakefield, grew out of a meeting held last September, and addressed by Mr. Fairchild, of Malden, in the interest of the Chautauqua movement. A circle was formed as a result of their meeting. About twenty members are now recorded on the books, although more than that proposed at first to join. The meetings are quite interesting, the programs being varied.——The “Alpha,” of Uxbridge, is a new name on the books. This cutting from a recent letter is suggestive of their spirit: “We start with six members only, but all are very enthusiastic. We propose to do thorough work. Our object is improvement and genuine culture. We shall use the best means to bring in others to reap with us the golden harvest, and not be selfishly content with ‘our set.’”——There are in Fall River about sixty members of the C. L. S. C., but the “Amity” circle is the first organization in the city. It at present numbers only thirteen members. A larger number certainly ought to be in the organization. The “Amity” will undoubtedly soon bring them in.——From Pittsfield a friend writes: “I am happy to report to you a constantly increasing interest in the C. L. S. C. work in Pittsfield. Our circle reorganized in October for another year’s work. To the leadership of our efficient president, the Rev. Geo. Skene, we owe our present prosperity. We have now sixty-four members, twenty-three of whom belong to Class ’88. We have one graduate, our president, who took his diploma at Chautauqua last summer. We also have one member of Class ’85, making five classes represented in our circle. Our meetings are full of interest, and the attendance is excellent, the smallest number present at any meeting this year being twenty-five. Programs are arranged by a board of seven managers, who serve for three months. Singing, prayer, roll call, with responses by quotations and reading of minutes of last meeting, always form the opening exercises. We have also used the Chautauqua vesper service, and enjoyed it. Our pastor has had the Sunday vesper service several times, and we have found it very enjoyable in both church and circle. We have had, too, experiments in chemistry, illustrating some of the articles on that subject in The Chautauquan. As another specialty we have had ‘pronunciation of Greek names,’ conducted as the old fashioned spelling matches. This proved highly entertaining, as well as instructive. We have recently changed our name to ‘Bryant Chautauqua Circle.’ We think it particularly appropriate, as Cummington, the birthplace of Mr. Bryant, and where he spent much of his life, is situated only twenty miles from this town. Another circle has been formed here since November, taking as a president one of the members of our circle. They have at present thirty members. On Monday evening, February 2d, Dr. Vincent gave a lecture, both circles attending, and after the lecture a joint reception was given him. It is expected that arrangements will soon be made for occasionally holding union meetings. Thus the C. L. S. C. prospers in Pittsfield. We find that here, as elsewhere, the C. L. S. C. is promoting the best interests of the people.”——For several years the two or three members of the C. L. S. C. in Marshfield have been accustomed to meet weekly for reading, study and conversation, but they never dignified the gathering by the name of a local circle. Within a few months they have organized under the name of the “Webster” circle, inasmuch as they are the nearest members of the C. L. S. C. to the home and burial place of that great statesman. They meet once in three weeks, and have a membership of eight or ten, including representatives of nearly every class.
The “Phelps” local circle, of New Haven, Connecticut, of the C. L. S. C., started in November with five Chautauquans, and now numbers twenty-six, with a number of others who are reading. So far they have kept very closely to the Greek part of the course, and in the meetings have had a number of map exercises, which they find very interesting.——West Winsted, of the same state, has a year-old circle, from which we have had our first letter: “Our local circle numbers sixty, thirty of whom are regular members of the central Circle. Nearly all of these members belong to the ‘Pansy’ class, and are loyal to it. We have never labored under great difficulties, always having had good meetings. We have a most efficient lady president, to whom, in a large degree, the success of our circle is due. Early in the fall of 1883 a few enterprising men and women sent for the books for the year and commenced reading, hardly daring to hope that a circle would be formed. Our village is not lacking in literary circles, having an almost countless number of different kinds, and for this very reason it seemed that another one would not meet with success, but at the first call nearly forty responded. We organized our circle that night and continued the meetings during the year, taking up the work in essays, questions and readings, and observing, as far as possible, the memorial days, by appropriate exercises. This year we reorganized in October, and, if possible, have had more interesting meetings than last year. Some of our members who have a long distance to walk in order to attend have proved themselves filled with the Chautauqua enthusiasm by their regular attendance, whatever the condition of the weather. At our last meeting we had chemistry for the topic, and devoted the evening to experiments, having twenty or more, nearly all of which are given in The Chautauquan. We have had sometimes, in addition to the regular literary work of the evening, a personation of some author given by a member, the remaining members guessing the author personated. One feature of our program for January 20th was a match, similar to an old-fashioned spelling match, upon the questions on ‘Preparatory Greek Course’ in The Chautauquan for October and November. From the fact that new members join our ranks at almost every meeting, we are encouraged in the feeling that though popularity is not the winning feature, the good ‘Idea’ has taken deep root.”
A Rhode Island friend writes from Warren: “To the numerous reports from local organizations, I am pleased to add a few lines from the ‘Delta’ circle, organized last October, in this part of ‘Little Rhody.’ It consists of nineteen ‘regular’ and four ‘local’ members, assembling on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month. Our president and vice president are enthusiastic Chautauquans, respectively of the classes of ’86 and ’87, the remainder belonging to the class of ’88. Our programs are arranged by ‘the committee of instruction’ during the intermission, and reported to the circle before its adjournment each evening. In the arrangement of these great help is rendered by those published in The Chautauquan. Our memorial days have been pleasantly observed, and we shall shortly have a Sunday evening vesper service. We also intend to have a supper, the cooking of which is to be ‘à la Chautauquan.’ While waiting for the Chautauqua songs our president has carefully prepared by hektograph, for our use, both notes and words of several selected from his copy, and we are delighted with the harmonies. Should we discover any new departure that would be helpful to local circles, we shall write again.”
Almost as numerous reports reach us this month from the “Empire State” as we received last; several are of circles hitherto unknown to our columns. The “DeKalb” circle, of Brooklyn, is one of these. It was organized in the fall of 1883, with fifteen members. Since that time the membership has increased to twenty-six.——At Batavia a local circle was formed in October last, and consists of about fifty members. These are mostly beginners in the Chautauqua course, with a few who will finish next year. They have done some good work in the way of essays, readings and experiments, and hope to do more. The work upon Greece has been made particularly interesting, from the fact that the leader, the Rev. C. A. Johnson, has described so faithfully many of these landmarks of the past as seen by him in recent years.——In October, 1884, a new C. L. S. C. was organized at Whitestown. It is called the “Hestia” circle, and has fifteen enthusiastic members, all ladies. At one meeting leaders are appointed to conduct the exercises on the various readings at the next meeting, having as many different leaders as there are different subjects in the readings for the week. The leaders are appointed in alphabetical order, so each member is required to lead in some exercise as often as once in every three or four weeks.——The “Lakeside” circle, of Fair Haven, is to be counted “one of us.” Many readers have been at Lakeside, but the circle is a new organization. Thus far the work has been, most of it, on the Greek course; they take the questions in The Chautauquan, have essays on the leading characters, selections, questions, discussions, etc. The president drew for them a large map of Greece, which was a great help in fixing the position of the different places in their minds—an admirable plan, which more presidents would do well to follow.——A delightful circle of seventeen exists in the pleasant city of Rome. Unfortunately, they have recently lost their president, a gentleman of scholarly taste, to whom the success of the first two years of their life was largely due.——At Little Genesee there is an enthusiastic circle of sixteen members. At each circle one of the members presents a program for the next session, every member taking his turn in the order in which his name stands on the secretary’s book. Although not formally made a rule, it is understood that no member shall refuse to undertake any work assigned on the program. Chautauqua songs, roll call, and “Questions and Answers” from The Chautauquan are the standard features of the programs. Essays, discussions, select reading, questions, etc., furnish variety, and conversation is always in order. At the last circle the responses were to be from “Kitchen Science.” The responses assumed form, as well as expression, and a bountifully spread table gave opportunity for practical tests of kitchen science.
At Latrobe, Pennsylvania, a C. L. S. C. was properly organized, and went earnestly to work October 1, 1884, with twenty-five members. It being the first Chautauqua circle in the place some difficulties had to be overcome before getting rightly started. The circle is now under good progress, and doing a good work. They have enjoyable monthly meetings, where a regular program is carried out, consisting of readings, recitations, music, etc. The benefit gained by the members is far beyond expression. Both old and young are alike profited and pleased with the readings. October 22, 1884, the circle was called to mourn the sad death of Miss Alice Newcomer, one of their most beloved members.——A very interesting variation from the usual response by roll call has been introduced into a program of the Harrisburg circle. It is that each person respond by mentioning some one important event which has occurred in the past month. This circle sends a very skilfully prepared program.——At Berwick the C. L. S. C. pursues the plan of study laid down in The Chautauquan, finding it admirably adapted to complete the required reading in the given time. A friend telling of their prosperity says: “We have lost a few members by removals, and one or two have withdrawn, after a year’s study, but the backbone and sinew of the circle remain, and the body is growing vigorous and symmetrical. At the dawn of the Chautauqua year we were compelled to part with our learned and valued preceptor, Prof. L. H. Bower, who was called to the Dickinson College Preparatory School. The circle, with appropriate ceremony, presented him with a copy of ‘Knight’s Illuminated Pictorial Shakspere,’ in eight volumes, as a token of their appreciation of his services. His talented brother, Prof. A. V. Bower, was elected to succeed him as president of the circle, and the change was made without any friction whatever. We congratulate ourselves upon being members of the Class of ’86.”