14. St. Paul’s Day—August, second Saturday after first Tuesday; anniversary of the dedication of St. Paul’s Grove at Chautauqua.
15. Commencement Day—August, third Tuesday.
16. Garfield Day—September 19.
One of the most profitable half hours of the local circle evening is that spent in general conversation on a particular topic. It furnishes a practice which is of incalculable value. At the same time it is not possible to put a number on a program of which it is more difficult to make a perfect success. Of course many circles have learned the art of talking. At Shiloh, N. Y., the “Atlantic” circle of sixteen members, a busy, prosperous organization, to introduce variety into their programs, often hold a “meeting of informal conversation,” but very many of us can not succeed. At the root of our trouble lies that totally false idea that the ability to converse is the gift of a few. When leaders suggest a conversazione the difficulties presented seem almost insurmountable. The members contend that they can not talk; they will not try; they urge that while history and science make excellent studies, they are too “heavy” for conversation; they fly the subject and intrude a chit-chat which totally destroys serious conversation. Some time ago we saw successfully tried in a circle of about twenty members, the following method for cultivating conversation: The subject was introduced by the leader in a brief and earnest talk. He showed the barrenness of ideas and the lack of fine and exact expression in our social converse. He urged the possibility and the duty of every one becoming an entertaining talker. An interest was thoroughly aroused, and a vote was carried by the society to devote a half hour to talking on subjects suggested by the C. L. S. C. readings. Each member promised to confine himself to the subject, to come prepared to follow the whole subject, and to give particular items on certain points. Members were bound to ask questions, to look up pictures to illustrate, anecdotes to enliven and wise words to enforce the points brought out. They learned to talk, and to talk on worthy subjects. Their experience soon grew to be a little like that which happened to a member of the Hollister, California, circle. A lady meeting her, remarked: “I am getting jealous of those Chautauquans, for if two of them meet they can talk of nothing but those old Greeks.” Our friends grew to talk so well that a lady, applying for admission, said: “I want to join your society, for it seems to me that a society which inspires so much intelligent conversation must be very valuable.” Every circle of the C. L. S. C. which has had experience in this work should lend to others its ideas and suggestions. But now let us turn to something which is much easier to chat over than are methods for improving ourselves in conversation—our circles.
Nova Scotia gives no hint in its report from the Halifax C. L. S. C. of the bleakness which we usually associate with its stormy northern coast. This Halifax circle announces itself in a flourishing condition, with a regular membership of fifteen and with twenty or thirty regular attendants. The growth of the work in Nova Scotia is apparent to them and they look for an addition of many members soon. Already the number of members in Nova Scotia is nearly double that of last year.
At the extreme eastern point of Maine, in the pretty village of Lubec, the “Pansies” have taken root. The busy little “Quoddy” circle of eight members forms the nucleus around which, we trust, will collect a future legion of as interested members as are our present friends.——Another Pine-Tree state town, Brownfield, has a circle reading its third year’s course. It would be difficult, they think, to find more enthusiastic workers.——On the southern point of the beautiful Moosehead Lake, in the town of Greenville, a circle of “Plymouth Rocks” was founded in November, 1884. The class express increasing interest in their readings, and are confident of a large growth in numbers during the year. The “North Star” is the pretty name they have chosen for their circle.
New Hampshire sends two year-old circles to our columns this month. One from Tilton reorganized last fall with twenty-four members. They meet fortnightly and remember all the memorial days. May their name, “Winnipisaukee,” prove auspicious, and the “smile of the Great Spirit” be ever with them.——The “St. Paul” circle, which was organized in the fall of 1883, at Manchester, N. H., but not reported to The Chautauquan, was reorganized last fall with a membership of thirty-seven. They have in the circle twenty-one of the class of ’88, while only five are of the class of ’87—a proof that the “Chautauqua Idea” is growing in favor. They prepare interesting programs consisting of essays, readings, talks, etc. Also, they use the “Chautauqua Songs,” and find them a great help.
The circle at Plainfield, Vermont, consists of fourteen hard working members and is in its first year. They find great enjoyment in their reading. Last November, the loss by death of one of their most active and loved members, Mrs. F. A. Drinell, threw a shadow over their circle, but they have persisted in their work.——To the numbers of pretty programs which have come to our table has been added a neatly painted one from Rutland, Vt., a souvenir of the Milton Memorial Reception held by the “Alpha” branch of the C. L. S. C. This entertainment was very highly complimented by the local press.
A member of the “Mizpah” circle of New Bedford, Mass., pays a very high compliment to the character of that circle’s work. He writes that he has learned more of Greek history and literature in the four meetings which their circle had held when he wrote, than in all the time he gave last year to solitary study. Certainly the circle must be accomplishing its design of doing “solid work.” Nor are their numbers, though but six, a drawback. A small circle, if perfectly congenial, has some strong advantages.——Last month East Weymouth, Mass., reported the circle which has had such a vigorous growth this year. Now we hear of a new circle in the sister city of South Weymouth, and very soon we may hope to do something more than formally introduce our new friend.——The “Parker Hill” local circle, of Boston, organized in September, 1883, has become so much interested in the circles which month after month send their greetings and their suggestions to The Chautauquan’s columns, that it joins our number. Very glad we are to present it—the only circle, so far as we remember, composed entirely of young men. Thirteen of them form this club, all of them connected with the Highland Congregational Church, of which the Rev. A. E. Dunning, the honored president of the “Plymouth Rocks,” has been pastor. A particularly happy suggestion, it seems to us, is contained in a special feature of their program. They require each member to suggest at each meeting, in writing, some subject for the next meeting’s program. These suggestions being read by the president, the circle selects from them a sufficient number of topics to occupy the allotted time. The subjects are then assigned to the various members.——From two other Massachusetts circles come pleasant letters. One from Cape Cod says: “We call ourselves the ‘Seaside’ circle, and our name is very appropriate, for ‘the sea’ lies both east and south of us. We are located in the ‘elbow’ of the ‘right arm’ of Massachusetts, and scarce an hour in our lives passes that we do not feel the invigorating breezes of the Atlantic Ocean. At present we number fourteen regular and three local members, one ’85, four ’87s, and the rest ’88s. Our enthusiasm is great, and, as is the experience of every local circle, increases with every meeting.”——And another from Falmouth: “Our ‘Neptune’ circle is prosperously started this year with twenty-three active members. We are encouraged, as this is more than double our last year’s membership. We try to keep the line of study for each evening separate, one evening being devoted to science, another to Greek. Last week we took up the ‘Iliad,’ different members giving five-minute sketches of its gods and heroes. At other meetings we have had successful experiments in carbon and hydrogen. Our local badges bear the letters C. L. S. C., with the trident, the symbol of our circle.” With this letter the writer sends a bit of experience which is very interesting. “Last summer,” she writes, “while visiting the ‘Morning Star,’ as she lay at the wharf before starting on her noble life work, I found the C. L. S. C. books in the captain’s library. I never before so fully realized the bond of sympathy between Chautauquans. Mrs. Bray, the captain’s wife, told me that she and her husband belonged to the class of ’85. They take the readings together while far out on the deep.”