16. Garfield Day—September 19.
The present number closes Volume V. of The Chautauquan and interrupts for a time the pleasant monthly visits with Local Circles. A review of the year’s work must be satisfactory to all. It has been a progressive year for the circles; few have fallen out of line; numbers of new organizations have been formed; almost all have increased their membership; the circle work has been done more thoroughly than ever before; new methods have sparkled on every page of reports; the social life has been quickened and intensified; the circle evening has become the most important evening of the week; it has been made the occasion of practical discussions and of intelligent conversation; a stronger feeling of union exists; the local circle has become a permanent institution. There is much encouragement in the review, but there is much for each circle to learn in a study of the reports of the past year.
The present issue of The Chautauquan will contain all the reports received up to the date of going to press; those received after that date will necessarily be held over for the October issue.
Very interesting and encouraging reports have been received from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the local circles are prospering, and much earnest work has been done. While their routine work and the required course of reading and study are pursued by the several circles separately, their occasional reunions are found profitable, and furnish much real enjoyment for the members. One such was held on Longfellow day at Dartmouth, across the harbor, which proved intensely interesting to an expectant audience. Thorough preparation was made for this meeting, and the whole arrangement was admirable. On Shakspere day an equally excellent program celebrated the day. The programs for both were highly original. The annual conversazione of the “Central” circle, Toronto, was held on May 19th. The novel little arrangement for a program—three ribbon-tied circles—looks most inviting. A half hour of orchestra music preceded the address and concert, after which were stereopticon views and a promenade. The guests were entertained at the Normal School building, where the museum and picture galleries were thrown open to them.
Among the Maine circles is a goodly one at Rockport, composed at its beginning in 1882 of twenty-one ladies. They have clung together through separation in a way quite remarkable. One of their number spent last year at sea, but took her books along, and had her Chautauquan sent to meet her at various points. Another friend who has been around the world during the past year missed her books at Antwerp, but writes from San Francisco that she is ready to make up the year’s work. The Rockport circle has the peculiar honor of having for its president a lady over seventy years of age.——“Mountain Echoes” have reached us from Bridgeton—nineteen of them. This circle was formed in 1883, and for a year met monthly; the success was so great that they have doubled their number of meetings. A sufficient proof of their statement that “good work is being done.”——Fifteen members of a circle at Bangor write us that they have enthusiasm quite sufficient for a class much larger. It is the steady variety, too, we fancy, for since 1881 they have met, with few exceptions, every Monday night from October to July. The studying is done on this evening, and time has been faithfully used, for they have succeeded in reviewing several books. A talented young physician in their midst has favored them this winter with lectures on Animal and Vegetable Biology, with microscopic illustrations.——A spirited circle, the “Whittier,” of twenty-five members, is working at North Berwick. Debates are frequent features of their programs, and they have adopted the sensible habit of choosing timely questions. Shakspere day was observed by a reading of the “Merchant of Venice,” the characters being assigned by a committee. At North Berwick the circle is fortunate in having members of different denominations who mingle in perfect cordiality. The result of their work together has been, they write, “an improvement of mind and broadening of ideas.”
A pleasant gathering of C. L. S. C. folks has been carrying on local circle work since October last at Meredith Village, New Hampshire. Some fifteen members are in the company. A gentleman interested in the work kindly furnishes them a room, lighted, warmed, and furnished. The memorial days are held in honor, and recently they have had “an extra” in a talk on chemistry from a teacher of the town.
Vermont is represented this month in a lively letter from Montpelier: “Our circle is not dumb, as might be inferred from our silence, neither are we deaf to the appeals for reports from local circles. The trouble is this: Though an organization of about twenty members since October last, we have until this month been nameless. One name after another was suggested until ‘The Idea Hunters’ was proposed, and met with general favor. I think our motto should be, ‘Hunt until you find,’ for we are constantly hunting in reference books for settlements to the many questions proposed. We are learning, of course, and getting no little amusement out of our researches as well.”
From the “Chautauqua Quintette,” of Chelsea, Mass., we have this cheery report: “We are a little company of five ladies, all intensely interested in the C. L. S. C. work. We derive great benefit from our work, and some of our programs would be creditable to a larger organization.”——A slightly discouraged circle, finding it “hard to exist,” is the “Thaxter,” of Attleboro. The small membership troubles them. It should not, it seems to us, especially since they have five members who write “fine essays.” We surmise that if the “Thaxter” has five good essay writers it is better off than many a large circle, and from the program of their Longfellow entertainment it is evident that some one of their number knows how to manage such things. Cheer up, friends.——A really joyous letter comes from Melrose, where the secretary of the “Alpha” has been delaying her report because the new members would not cease coming in, and she wanted to get them all. She writes: “Every member is enthusiastic, and I believe that excellent work is being done. This is my last year—that is to say the last of my first four years’ course. Please accept the most cordial greetings of our circle; we hope to send annual greetings for many years to come.”——A dainty hand-painted souvenir of the Shakspere evening of the “Alpha,” at Uxbridge, accompanies their report of good, strong work. The circle is small, but, says one of their number, “Chautauqua means a good deal with us.” The “Alphas” are to be congratulated on the success of the memorial exercises they have held this year.——Twenty-eight “Pilgrims,” of Dorchester, with their pastor as leader, are pursuing their course up the hill of knowledge courageously. Their meetings are well attended and interesting. Their verdict is: “We certainly feel that our circle has been a great benefit to us all the year, though it has been our first attempt at such work. We have no reason to regret starting, and look to next year for greater results.”——At Lynn the “Raymond” circle carried out a very taking list of exercises in celebration of April 23d. It was the first entertainment of the kind the circle has ever given, and certainly they ought to be pleased with their success. Their program has that unusual merit, originality.——The “Vincent” circle, of Needham, was organized early in the fall, and has been flourishing since. Nearly forty members are in the class, and next year additions are expected. The “Vincent” is going to do what we wish every circle in existence would do, have a representative at their nearest Assembly—if you can not go to Chautauqua. The ideas and stimulus gained would be worth many times the cost and fatigue.——A suggestion comes from “Clark” circle, of Jamaica Plain, that deserves a comment. It is that The Chautauquan print more of the programs which it reports. Did we not furnish at least four programs each month for the use of circles we should certainly do this. As it is, we prefer to take the many good suggestions which we get from the programs sent us, and use them in our monthly programs. We do this because the programs sent us can not be printed until so long after the performance has taken place that they are of no practical use to circles; by readapting them we can give them to circles in a way in which they will be of use. The “Clark” itself has sent us a program that deserves reprinting, only of what practical good would be a March program in The Chautauquan for July?——“Although but a very small part of the great Chautauqua army, we have caught something of its spirit, and wish it ever increasing success.” So writes the secretary of the correspondence circle of “Earnest Workers,” of which Alice C. Jennings, of Auburndale, is president. The circle has a thorough and systematic plan of work. Frequent letters from the president offer counsel and hints. At each monthly meeting memoranda from the students are read. These memoranda contain answers to a list of printed questions, such as: “What books have you read in connection with the C. L. S. C.? What three subjects in them have most interested you? Have you met with any difficulties, and if so, what?” etc. The whole plan of their work is admirable——The “Acadia” circle of Franklin, Mass., was organized in 1882. It has now sixty members. The president, although pastor of a large church, has been absent but five times since the circle’s organization. One of their great helps has been the pronouncing matches on Greek names and common English words. On Shakspere day the circle had the pleasure of listening to a lecture from Dr. R. R. Meredith, on “Leisure Hours.”
From Woodbury, Conn., comes a plea: “Pray receive into your host of local circles the ‘Lone Star,’ for we are alone. There were others with us who are not faded, but gone.” Marriage and going west has robbed the circle of its members, until but one is left to keep the fire burning on the shrine. We are glad to find a corner for that one here—certainly in these columns there is plenty of company and no need to grow lonely.——The “Newfield” circle of West Stratford is still “marching on.” On Shakspere day the circle read “Merchant of Venice” and “Julius Cæsar” with hearty appreciation, closing their celebration with a C. L. S. C. experience meeting. Many were the stories told of what Chautauqua had done for them.——Mansfield Center, a rural village in a dear old fashioned Connecticut street, is the home of a circle of eleven members. It was not begun until January last, but has shown its colors by having quite caught up. Two of the professors of the neighboring Agricultural College have given them very interesting lectures, and on Longfellow and Shakspere days recitations and music furnished pleasing entertainments.