At a recent meeting of the “Evergreen” circle, of Greenville, S. C., the circle expressed in a series of fitting resolutions the sorrow of the members at the death of Mr. Richard Grant White, and their appreciation of the value of his recent work for The Chautauquan.
A letter from Petersburg, Virginia: “We organized our circle last October, but it was almost January before we got fairly started. We follow closely the work laid out in The Chautauquan, occasionally having a public meeting. Our observance of the Longfellow and Shakspere days was as creditable as any literary exercises ever presented in our vicinity. Our desire for books has been so much increased by the C. L. S. C. that we have resolved to establish a library for the reading element of our city, and we have begun by the purchase of a few works as a nucleus.”
Orange City, Florida, has the beginning of, we hope, a large circle, in six readers who are taking the C. L. S. C. with their general reading. They use the questions and answers and make the general news of the week a feature of every program. The “Orange City” circle is looking forward to an assembly some day at Mount Dora.
Ohio comes in with a letter too good to lose: “I discover in your May number that a Kansas member of the C. L. S. C. class of ’85 says he is the oldest of that class and was born (1815) in the year of the great battle of Waterloo. I hope he will persevere and enjoy the exercises until he reaches the age of at least three of the ‘Irrepressibles of ’84,’ two of whom are 75 years of age and one 84. The last is still reading for another seal and hopes to be at Chautauqua in August. Hope the member from Kansas will press on in the work he has begun, for there are great possibilities before him which can only be attained by perseverance. He will retain his mental faculties fresh and vigorous as in youth. Press on, good brother, and you will reap your reward here and hereafter.”——The C. L. S. C. of Cincinnati and vicinity held their Sixth Annual Reunion on May 5th in the parlors of the First Presbyterian Church. A goodly number were present from “Alpha” circle, “Cumminsville,” “Christie,” “Mt. Auburn,” “Cheviot,” “Grace M. P.,” “Third Presbyterian,” “Emanuel,” “Covington,” “Newport,” “Madisonville” and “Walnut Hills.” The program consisted of an address of welcome by J. G. O’Connell, Esq.; prayer by Rev. S. N. Spahr, followed by music, readings, and recitations. The room was brilliantly decorated with mottoes and class emblems, and a profusion of choice and fragrant flowers. From the chandeliers were suspended the class dates, ’85, ’86, ’87, and ’88, and the letters S. H. G. and under these were grouped merry companies, who took part in the collation, which was not the least enjoyable feature of the program. The quarterly vesper service was held on Special Sunday, May 9th, at Grace M. P. Church. It was ably conducted by Mr. E. F. Layman, President of “Grace” circle. Rev. S. N. Spahr gave a very excellent address to the members upon knowledge rightly directed.——The “Young Men’s” circle of Cincinnati has been doing good work this year. The circle is composed of companion workers in church and Sabbath school, and the bounds of union have been strengthened by the united study of the “Word and Works of God.” The Chautauqua studies were taken up by them with an earnest desire to better fit themselves for successful work. Their faith and courage has been severely tried by the death of one of their active, earnest members, Mr. George E. Wilcox—a sorrow which they are struggling to make a blessing.——The class of ’88 has a live section at Morrow, the “Irving.” There are over thirty regular attendants in the band and their fortnightly meetings are conducted like college recitations, a pastor being the instructor. May the “Irvings” prosper and multiply.
A friend writes from Norway, Michigan: “We wish to be recognized by our fellow-workers as a prosperous circle, although a small one, and we are very glad we have joined them.” The “Norway” has made a splendid record in its year’s existence, having met every week since last October. It need not fear a lack of cordial welcome here.——“Thornapple” circle, of Nashville, boasts a history very similar to that of the “Norway.” It was first organized a year ago, and its membership is ten. The members are all workers, and kindly report themselves highly pleased with the Chautauqua Idea.——A letter full of the Chautauqua characteristics comes from Decatur: “Our ‘Pansy’ circle of twenty-five members have held regular meetings since October. We are enthusiastic, and have done genuine work. But it has not all been work. We have had a ‘question match’ upon Greek History and Mythology, the winner of the contest receiving as a prize an original poem. On Founder’s day the question box was on ‘What has Chautauqua done for me?’ On Longfellow’s memorial the circle visited a neighboring class, spending a merry evening. But the red-letter day of the year was April 23d, when a dinner party was tendered the members and their husbands by one of the circle. It was generally pronounced the most enjoyable affair the town had had in many a day and served as a good advertisement of what the C. L. S. C. does for its members. Few of our guests knew how much we had done or could do.”——An unusually good joint meeting took place at Flint in honor of Shakspere. Two circles of the C. L. S. C. and one of the Spare Minute Course united. We like one thing on the program particularly. After taking up in essays Shakspere’s Character, Home Life and Contemporaries, the essays were all studies of one play—“Macbeth;” thus the plot of “Macbeth” was outlined, then followed “Macbeth’s Character,” “Lady Macbeth,” “Who was Duncan?” “Witches and Ghosts,” and “Moral of Macbeth.” This is a much more satisfactory method than several disjointed readings or studies. The evening was closed by conversation and readings, conducted by an able Shaksperean scholar, Hon. E. H. Thompson.
Shakspere himself would, we wager, have been nothing loath to have taken part in the celebration given in his memory at Goshen, Indiana; for “Kitchen Science” illustrated took up the first part of the evening, and the supper, we are told, was not confined to the articles on which The Chautauquan has tried to instruct its readers this past year. In the evening, after these gastronomic exercises were finished, a literary program was carried out.——Here is a circle “of the first magnitude.” Read its record. “The Franklin C. L. S. C. of Indiana has increased during the past three years from a membership of twelve to forty-five. We have never failed in having our regular meetings every two weeks since we first organized. During the past winter the circle managed the lecture course of our city, and as one of the results cleared nearly $100. Chancellor Vincent was one of the lecturers, and the members of our circle were delighted to meet him after hearing ‘That Boy.’”——The C. L. S. C. at Lima, representing classes ’85, ’86, ’87 and ’88, is one of the brightest and most wide-awake circles in the State. The circle was organized three years ago, and now has a pleasantly furnished room with piano, library, etc.; meets every Friday evening, and observes all memorial days.——Shawnee Mound has a Chautauqua class of twenty-three members. We are pleased to notice that the circle passed, at a recent meeting, a resolution of respect in memory of Richard Grant White, expressing their sorrow at the loss which American scholarship, and in particular the C. L. S. C. have sustained.——We are pained to record the death of Mr. Hermon St. John, at Salem, on May 1st. The Chautauqua work loses in him a faithful friend.
It has been remarked in these columns already that “Alpha” of Quincy, Illinois, is famous for its novelties. Their latest sensation was the very practical illustration of a subject given before the circle by the secretary. This gentleman is a native of Hibernia, and so was chosen for a paper on dynamite. When called upon to perform he produced a package of the explosive, much to the consternation of the members.——There died at Rushville, on April 18th, the oldest member, without doubt, of the C. L. S. C. in the world, Mr. Van Rensalaer Wells. Three years ago his daughter began reading to him the books of the course. He took a lively interest in these readings, and finally joined the class of ’86. Had he lived it was his intention to have visited Chautauqua at the graduation of his class.——A good woman from Chicago writes: “I went about from house to house among my friends, and finally succeeded in inducing three young persons, all earning their own living, to begin the readings with me.… We sit around a table socially, and discuss freely our literary repast.… I forgot to say that I am a very busy woman, the mother of three boys. My best reading is often done after nine at night, when the little eyes are closed in sleep.”——The announcement of a new C. L. S. C. arrival is made from Oregon, where the “Ganymede” of twenty members appeared in October last. Busy people, but they feel that they can not afford to miss the Saturday evening meeting. The meetings are to be continued through the summer for the purpose of review.——Another Illinois addition made to the C. L. S. C. last fall was at Savoy, where a club of eighteen was gathered. Notwithstanding the very severe weather and deep snow, and the fact that the circle members are farmers, living far apart, the sessions are full and wide-awake. A very good plan has been tried by the circle in chemistry, the blackboard being used for exercises. Every circle ought to have a blackboard.——The history of the class at Buckley began in 1882, when six members met in informal meetings for discussion. In 1884 it was thought wise to organize formally. Since that time the circle has been making a decided impression upon the community. Two public meetings have been given, which have attracted general attention. At the last, the closing session of the year, thoughtful remembrance was made of the president by the gift of a beautiful chair.——A band of nine join the ranks from Warren. It is only of late the class has found a name. It is “Meridian,” from the fact that the town is situated on one of the meridians. The circle has been following The Chautauquan in its plan of work, using the published programs, with slight variation.——“It takes three to make a circle,” writes a lady from Farina, “and we are three; one ‘Invincible,’ one ‘Pansy,’ and one ‘Plymouth Rock.’ We are scattered as to time, but are united in interest, in enthusiasm, and in determination. Our circle was organized in November, 1881, only a dot—myself—but though alone, and unsuccessful in securing readers, and hindered in every way from doing the best of work, there was a satisfaction in doing the readings that nothing had ever brought into my life. What we shall accomplish as a circle, the future will reveal, but there is no ‘giving up’ to any of us.”——A Chautauqua circle of Moline, not yet a year old, and a Shaksperean circle, under the same direction as the former, have been coöperating the past season in a series of parlor meetings of great interest. In January it was a dinner party; on Founder’s day a literary performance with brief essays on Chautauqua subjects; and on Shakspere day a decidedly new thing—a Shaksperean quotation contest. No one was allowed to give a quotation that had been given by another, and the successful competitor took the prize on his ninety-fifth quotation.——We are in receipt of the Longfellow program of the “Oakland” circle, of Chicago; an excellent and varied list of numbers it is. The “Oakland” is a wide-awake circle.
From Markesan, Wisconsin, the secretary of “Climax” circle writes: “We are still in a flourishing condition. Although some who were with us last year have gone to new homes, we have new members to make up those we have lost. There are no very young students in the class, but one has to wear two pairs of spectacles to see. We have observed most of the memorial days, and found the programs in The Chautauquan very useful.”——What one zealous reader did is told in a note from Darlington: “Last year myself and daughter read the course alone. Before the beginning of the present year I put a short article explaining the C. L. S. C. scheme into our local paper, and called a meeting of all those who would like to take the course. The result is that we now have a circle of thirteen. There will probably be an increase next year.”
A beautiful souvenir of the Longfellow celebration of the “Vincent” circle at Milwaukee, Minn., has reached our table. The memorial was a perfect success, and with justice the members felt very proud of it. The “Vincent” is another circle sprung from the faithfulness of a single reader, a lady who in 1883 began the course, and in 1884 had gathered a circle of twenty-two about her, each one of whom responds promptly and faithfully to all calls for class work.——The “Quintette” of “Plymouth Rocks” at Duluth have been doing the regular work since October, in informal meetings led by the different members in turn. They expect soon to change their name to suit an enlarged membership.——The “Gleaners,” of Zumbrota, with a goodly number of their friends were treated to an interesting program of exercises on Shakspere day. The “Gleaners” are a power in their community, and have, they say, “enough enthusiasm to fill up an evening without refreshments.”——At Hastings a circle began life in October with sixteen regular members, besides several local members. The class has had a sad break in its ranks by the death of Miss Kate Stebbins, a bright young woman who had undertaken the C. L. S. C. studies.——St. Paul bids fair to become exactly what its Chautauquans are aiming to make it, a great C. L. S. C. center. To this end a “Central” circle has been formed in the city, composed of six circles, the “Wakouta,” “Itasca,” “Dayton’s Bluff,” “Plymouth,” “Canadian American,” and “Pioneer,” and numbering in all over an hundred members. The “Central” circle celebrated Longfellow’s day by a very enjoyable program, and is trying to make arrangements for other joint entertainments. The St. Paul friends are proud of having two of their number prominent at Lake de Funiak, Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, one of the founders of the “Pioneer” circle, and Dr. L. G. Smith, pastor of the First M. E. Church.——The home of the Minnesota Summer Assembly, Waseca, is the center of a stirring circle of twenty members. The increase in the circle is largely due to the efforts of the Rev. A. H. Gillet and his colaborers at the Assembly, which met at this lake for the first time last year. The “North Star,” of Waseca, offers a very attractive plan of work.
The Iowa friends come in as strong as ever. Winterset reports a new circle of twenty-five members, with a weekly program published in the local paper, and growing zeal.——Dunlap reports another which is in its second year, and which numbers twenty-three. An especially good program was arranged by these friends recently. A number of their members visited New Orleans the past winter, and an evening of sketches of Exposition sights was arranged.——“Sunny Side Straight Line,” of Hamburg, is composed of two school ma’ams. They meet whenever and wherever it is convenient; after five p. m., before eight a. m., at the gate or in the kitchen. Pleased with the course, they are looking forward to joining the “Pansies” at Chautauqua in 1887.——The Afton circle had the pleasure of celebrating its first memorial day on April 23d. They succeeded so admirably that Addison day was observed as well. The Afton circle pays a kind tribute to the work: “We are glad the Chautauqua Idea struck us, but sorry it failed to reach us sooner. It has been of untold benefit to us, opening to our view new fields of thought, and arousing new resolutions for the future.”——At Blanchard the “Pansy” class gave an entertainment not long ago for the benefit of their work. An elocutionist was secured and after the performance the C. L. S. C. and its aims were presented to the audience. The circle realized a nice little sum from their venture, which they propose to turn into maps, charts and the like for their room. An excellent idea.——Kindly mention we must make, also, of the Decorah circle. Like all Iowa circles, it “grows.” The secretary writes: “We began last year with quite a small number, but have kept adding to our numbers until there are eighteen now who are reading the course. Our circle is composed entirely of ladies, the most of whom have work that takes up the greater part of their time. We have very pleasant meetings and derive much pleasure and profit from them.”——Washington, Iowa, has a circle of thirty members. It has been holding weekly meetings for over two years. At the close of last year this circle held a picnic with the Fairfield circle, and this year they have distinguished themselves by an elaborate Longfellow entertainment. “Miles Standish” was read and illustrated by tableaux. The Washingtonians certainly displayed extraordinary artistic ability in arranging one, at least, of these tableaux. They wanted “Priscilla” led in on her “Snow-white Bull,” but how to manage the “palfrey” was a question. Here is how they did it: A long narrow table was padded, the legs wrapped, a head with suitable horns constructed, and the whole thing finally wrapped with white cotton-flannel. “Necessity is the mother of invention.”——A beautiful memorial comes from one of the members of the circle at Humboldt. “My mother, aged eighty-one years, died March 4th. She was the first one in this county to become interested in the C. L. S. C. She made her eldest grandson a member, bought the books for the first year’s course, and read them first, marking whatever she wished him to notice. At our class meetings she always selected from the Bible the chapter to be read at the opening exercises.… A grand helper has left us.”——At Keosauqua a circle was organized as long ago as ’82. Of the original eight members only three are left, but the circle has more than held its own, now numbering twelve or more members. They are fortunate in having as a leader a teacher of unusual ability.——At Tabor a circle was organized last September, which, with a goodly membership of interested members, is doing excellent work. A Professor from Tabor College has helped this circle much by performing for them chemical experiments.