10. Addison Day—May 1.
11. Special Sunday—May, second Sunday.
12. Special Sunday—July, second Sunday.
13. Inauguration Day—August, first Saturday after first Tuesday; anniversary of C. L. S. C. at Chautauqua.
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.
Regularity is necessary to permanency. Whatever undertaking we desire to make a permanent success, we must make regular; whatever we wish to do successfully, we must do regularly. A tiresome, prosaic quality we are apt to consider it, and one which restricts our freedom. The regular return of small duties often makes them annoying, yet in large affairs regularity adds dignity and strength. It is essential for the establishment of any institution. A trite truth this may be, but trite truths are not always applied, and it is for the application of this homily to local circles that we sue.
It is most desirable that your local circle should become durable. Not a club, to which you can run in as you have leisure, or which can be adjourned for other engagements; which shall run this winter, and “perhaps,” “if nothing happens,” go on next winter. Not at all. There is a higher idea embodied in the plan. The true ambition of each member of a circle should be to make it the literary association of the community, the leader in practical ideas, clear thinking, intelligent talk and refined manners; but to reach this goal the circle meeting must be considered too valuable to be omitted for any occasion whatever. Its object is equal to that of any institution in the town. If you wish to develop this idea, to establish your circle, to secure for it recognition as a well founded organization, regularity in meeting and attendance must be secured. It is true that a social or religious event sometimes happens for which courtesy seems to demand an adjournment. In such a case it is quite possible to select another night. The one idea upon which we would insist is that the circle be considered and conducted as a permanent institution, that it be made the intellectual center of your life. How wonderful an impetus to thought and culture is such an organization, only those who lack its influence can tell. Some of the earnest letters which come to us from time to time give a suggestion of what a circle might be to lone readers. Is there not, indeed, in this delightful letter from Bulgaria, a hint of the real value of a circle, a value which we so often fail to appreciate? It comes from an old Chautauqua friend—Miss Lenna A. Schenck, now a missionary at Loftcha, Bulgaria: “How gladly would we report to you from this out-of-the-way corner of the earth the organization of a flourishing local circle. But, alas! alas! we can not boast of even a triangle or a straight line, only a point, a mere dot, but a thoroughly loyal one, keenly enjoying the good things of The Chautauquan, that most welcome and highly prized of all the white-winged friends that come to us by mail. Though so few in number, we keep the vesper hours and the memorial days, and begin each day happily by devoting the time from six to seven in the morning to Chautauqua reading, and so we are inspired by glimpses of charming circles away in the homeland, and by memories of delightful summers with our blessed alma mater, Chautauqua herself. Before another year rolls round, we hope to have at least a local triangle here at Loftcha, and perhaps a Bulgarian translation of some of Chautauqua’s best ‘ideas.’ Many things might be said of our new home and new work, but we remember the delicate suggestion given in the November ‘Local Circle,’ that ‘no one could stay very long,’ so with heartful greetings to the class of ’83 and to all good Chautauquans the world over, we bid you adieu.”