16. Garfield Day—September 19.
The sensible, social way in which the February memorial days were observed has brought to our mind a comment on Madame Mohl and her methods of entertaining, how, “beyond ordering a good and abundant meal, she gave little thought to the mere material details of her entertainments; but she took great pains with the intellectual menu. She would give time and thought and personal trouble to provide for each guest intellectually what he would most enjoy, and would carefully consider whether this person would like to meet the other, and to sit next So-and-So. Her great preoccupation was the combining of congenial elements for all in general and particular.” We feel very much as if our circles’ friends have learned Madame Mohl’s wisdom. As if the long desired reform in the methods of social entertainment was beginning in our own C. L. S. C. family. To give entertainments where wit and wisdom and social freedom prevail, where thoughts are more desired than feasts, and music and art take the place of supper tables is, it may be, the Quixote and blue-stocking way to-day—but it is the true social method. Any one who will take a glance with us over the receptions, “socials,” “at homes,” and public meetings which our circles held in February will, we believe, conclude that it certainly is the C. L. S. C. idea of “society,” and of a “good time.” Such delightful programs are rare to find.
Founder’s day is a new and very welcome occasion for observance, and very many circles made it the time of a special or public meeting. Some prepared an extra program, invited a few friends and spent a quiet evening in pleasant, friendly talk and merriment; others prepared a public meeting and strove to celebrate the day by increasing the interest in the work. At Franklin, New Hampshire, the “Webster” C. L. S. C. had charge of a joint meeting. The program they carried out was admirable. Two other Chautauqua societies assisted the “Websters” in the entertainment; the “Pemigewassett” C. L. S. C., and the “Crystal” C. Y. F. R. U.——February 27th was so close in the wake of February 23d that the celebration of the two days was united in several places, with excellent results, too, we should judge. At Milford, Mass., such a union meeting was held. The circle numbers twenty-eight, and as each member was allowed to invite one guest it made a goodly company. Vine wreathed portraits of the two heroes of the evening decorated the tables of the parlor where the circle met, and the program, divided into two portions, one devoted to Chancellor Vincent, the other to Longfellow, was happily arranged. We are glad that they have found out Lowell’s tribute to Longfellow; it makes a very appropriate number.——At Foxboro, Mass., the “Star” circle quite distinguished itself by its celebration of Founder’s day. There were present several out-of-town circles, among them those from Franklin, Medfield, and Mansfield. In the notice which a local paper gave of this affair, we find some comments which are particularly encouraging: “Many have expressed their great delight at the manner in which the whole entertainment was carried out, which shows that these seasons are becoming more and more popular. Says a lady somewhere in the fifties, ‘How I wish there had been such an organization when I was young. My advantages for gaining an education were limited. If my memory was not so poor I should be tempted to join, even at this late day.’ Another says: ‘I have enjoyed the whole program very much, and have got a better idea of the work of the Circle from this evening’s entertainment than from any other source.’ Still another: ‘I enjoyed the whole of it very much indeed. The program was nicely carried out,’ and asks ‘Why don’t the circle give such entertainments oftener, so that people can better understand the object of this organization?’ Says a gentleman, a graduate of one of the higher schools, ‘I enjoyed it immensely. The exercises from the commencement to the close were very interesting.’ Another, ‘It carried me back to school-days and spelling schools, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, supper included.’”——At Providence, Rhode Island, the plan of the Milford circle was followed by the “Milton” circle. A paper on “The Chautauqua Movement” was one feature of the evening. It seems to have been an evening of practical work as well as pleasure, for good results are promised us as an outcome of the meeting. The “Miltons” now number twenty-two, an increase of seven over last year. Indeed, we can hardly see how a meeting at all suitable for Founder’s day could do anything else but convert people. It would necessarily be brimming over with such sparkling ideas, such enticing plans, that the fortunate guests at such an entertainment would very naturally want to join the company.——Another circle, that at Northfield, Ohio, adopted this theory, and combined the two memorial days, making their celebration a public meeting, to which about sixty guests were invited. The program was very skillfully arranged, including some excellent subjects for essays. The Northfield circle was organized last year by ten “Pansies,” and has been recruited this year by two of the class of ’88. A good idea of their program is that they begin each evening’s work with the vesper service. The “quiz” is a prominent feature of the evening, and as “discussion” sends them home alert, interested, and sorry that the evening is over. A discussion on a live subject, we would whisper to leaders, is one of the best methods of making your circle sorry that it is time to stop, a result which is the best possible proof of an enjoyable evening.——At Silver Creek, New York, Founder’s day was celebrated with much enthusiasm by the circle; an excellent program of the evening was prepared and published, the week previous, in the local paper. The program was divided into three parts—the first consisting of Chautauqua songs, mottoes, selections from Founder’s writings or sayings, a sketch of his life, and appropriate recitations; then a petit souper, and, on the principle, perhaps, that the best should come last, part third consisted of the reading of a letter from the Founder himself, sent in reply to a request from the circle for only a few words, and of a poem from the poetess of the class of 1886, Mrs. Cleveland.——The three Chautauqua circles of New Albany, Indiana, have now about seventy-five members, and all memorial days are observed by them jointly. Among the several pleasant meetings of the year, none have been so successful as Founder’s day. On the program of exercises we notice that roll call was responded to by giving quotations on the “Companionship of Books.” These were collected and printed in a local paper for preservation in the circle’s scrap books. Prof. R. A. Ogg, of the class of ’84, presented “The Founder and his Chautauqua Idea” in his happiest manner. “The Founder at Chautauqua” was vividly pictured by Rev. W. S. Austin, secretary of the class of ’86. Every Chautauquan present left this memorial meeting with the expression upon his lips, “The best of all our union meetings,” and the public were loud in their praises of it.——The sixth circle of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, young, enthusiastic ’88s, all ladies, and hard at work for their own improvement and for the advancement of their circle, make a right jubilant report of the pleasant time they had with their friends of the “Beta” circle on Founder’s day. They held their meeting in the afternoon, and carried out the program very nearly as The Chautauquan prescribed. “To some of us,” a member writes, “our second alma mater bids fair to become even dearer than the one of earlier remembrance.”——Right in tune with this glad greeting is a message which comes from the circle at Indianola, Iowa, another circle that celebrated Founder’s day. “We have received so many helpful hints and useful suggestions through your local circle column, that we take courage to say: ‘May the Chautauqua work we love so well go on until it spreads from east to west, from north to south.’” Our Indianola friends were organized six years ago. Two of their number were members of the first graduating class. A method of leadership, which we believe to be very effective in a small circle, is pursued by them. It is that each member take turns in the leadership of the circle.
The 27th of February is the memorial day most universally celebrated, and this because, perhaps, our memories of Longfellow are so peculiarly near and tender. This season the memorial services celebrated by the C. L. S. C. were particularly prominent. To begin “at home,” the “Willis” circle of Portland, Me., gave a charming entertainment. From a Portland paper we clip the following description: “The exercises were conducted in a very unique and pleasing manner. One of the double parlors was filled with about fifty invited guests, while the other, being fitted up in representation of the Wayside Inn, was occupied by members of the circle, each one representing in costume some one of Longfellow’s characters. Each of the participants in the exercises was introduced with appropriate selections by ‘John Alden,’ while by his side sat ‘Priscilla, the Puritan maiden.’ Other characters represented were the ‘Landlord and Daughter,’ ‘Evangeline,’ ‘Rabbi Ben Levi,’ ‘Astred, the Abbess,’ ‘Precissa, the Gipsy,’ ‘Spanish Lady,’ ‘Hiawatha,’ ‘Minnehaha,’ ‘Young Musician,’ ‘Paul Revere,’ ‘Theodore,’ and ‘Lady Wentworth.’ On the whole, the entertainment was decidedly a novel affair and will be long remembered by the members of the circle and their many friends.” This “Willis” circle was organized last September, and numbers eighteen members. They are blessed with the best of recommendations. They declare that willingness and good nature are their prominent characteristics. Certainly, with plenty of the sunlight and fresh air of society theirs, it is not strange that they “look forward from one meeting to the next, anticipating much pleasure and profit.” The “Dorionic” circle of Biddeford, Maine, laid aside its studies for one evening and held special exercises in honor of Longfellow. This circle has been doing exceptionally thorough work in chemistry this winter. A full course of lectures on the subject has been delivered in connection with the study of the text-book on chemistry.——One of the most novel programs with which we have been favored is from Richmond, Me. The “Merry Meeting” circle send it. A gay Japanese napkin, on which the title page, the committees and the exercises all find place. As in several of the programs, we find that tableaux take a prominent position. No better interpretation of striking scenes is possible than by tableaux vivants, and a strictly literary program can be readily enlivened by a well selected scene.——The Longfellow memorial day was especially and appropriately observed at Old Town. The pleasant and commodious vestry of the Congregational Church was filled with the members and invited guests to the number of a hundred or more. The program—an excellent one—contained beside its essays, readings and music, extracts with tableaux from “Evangeline,” “Miles Standish” and “Excelsior.” The “Old Town” circle is one of our new friends, having been organized last October; young yet, but vigorous, for it numbers already thirty-five members.——At Castleton, Vermont, the “Lone Pine” circle is doing very thorough work, and rejoicing in a good organization. Their Longfellow memorial program was very complete; though they have but fourteen members, they seemed to have no difficulty in securing the music, essays and readings for a full program. The closing feature of the evening was an informal conversazione over their ice cream and cake, on Longfellow. With such an entertaining “something to talk about” the circle must have gone home full of ideas and happy thoughts.——A very energetic effort was made recently by the “Berkeley” circle, of Boston, Mass., to bring the Chautauquans of Boston and vicinity into more intimate relations. A union meeting was the means chosen, and Longfellow’s day was the time. Fifteen circles in all participated in the exercises; among them were: “Phillips,” of South Boston; “Hurlbut,” of East Boston; “People’s Church,” of Boston; “Parker Hill,” of Roxbury; “Floral Society,” of Tremont Temple; “Longfellow,” of Cambridge; “Pericles,” of Brighton; “Clark,” of Jamaica Plain; “Sherwin,” of Dorchester; “Henry M. King,” of Roxbury; “The Pilgrims,” of Dorchester; “Bromfield Street Church,” of Boston; “Berkeley,” of Boston. About fifty persons were present. Letters were received from the Rev. B. P. Snow, the president of the class of ’86, and Prof. W. F. Sherwin, who were unable to attend. This brave effort to strengthen the bonds of fellow-feeling will not be fruitless, we are sure. “Berkeley” circle, in undertaking such a reunion, has instituted one of the most practical and useful ways of increasing the breadth and strength of the C. L. S. C. It is to be hoped that it will be made an annual feature of the Chautauqua work of Boston.——The “Mount Hope” circle, of Bristol, R. I. believes in the liberal use of printer’s ink. Accordingly, all of their meetings have been reported in one or both of the papers most widely circulated in the town. Three of the reviews which have been read before the circle this year have been printed, and an essay read at their recent Longfellow memorial also appeared. This “Memorial” was an unusually pleasant affair.——The circle at Gouverneur, N. Y., is the outgrowth of Mr. Hurlbut’s teachings at Thousand Islands Park, one year ago last summer. It has been successful beyond the hope of its organizers. At present its membership is about twenty-five, and these are all hard workers. Some two hundred of the circle’s friends met with them on February 27th to celebrate the day. There was music, recitations in costume, and an essay on a splendid subject—“Acadia”—and finally, a pleasant hour of social life. This circle at Gouverneur has done great good in the community and the members seem to grow more enthusiastic the longer their connection with the circle lasts. Two features of their meetings which they find very interesting are the review contest and conversation on a certain given subject.——A flourishing C. L. S. C. exists at Amsterdam, N. Y. It is composed of forty members—double the number of last year. The circle recently celebrated Longfellow’s memorial day in a pleasant manner. The program consisted of an essay on the poet and his works; music, songs and readings, selected from Longfellow; “The Black Knight” and “Nun of Nidaros” were read and illustrated by tableaux. The program closed with a series of tableaux, taken from “Evangeline,” portions of which were read.——The “Courtship of Miles Standish” was dramatized for Longfellow’s day by the circle at Johnstown, N. Y., and with music and a few additional numbers, made a very interesting program. This is the first memorial day observed by the circle, and it brought together many old Chautauquans, who professed themselves highly pleased with the vigor of the circle. We hope that if any of these “old Chautauquans” are not lending to the vigor of the circle, they will hasten after this happy evening to renew their allegiance.——The program of a literary and musical entertainment given on this chosen day by the circle at East Norwich, N. Y., has reached our table, in company with a genial letter about the C. L. S. C. life of that town. “We have been sarcastically spoken of,” our friend writes, “as that great Chautauqua Circle, and no doubt we have rather bored the people by our enthusiasm. Hawthorne compared religion to a painted window in a cathedral; seen from the outside it is not admirable, and one wonders that they can be so much praised; for it must be viewed from the inside to see its full beauty. The C. L. S. C., it seems to me, could be fittingly compared to the same thing. You see, I know, for it is not very long since I was outside myself. Our entertainment was a great success. We have considerable talent in our circle, both elocutionary and musical.”——Another delightful entertainment was the social given by the “Alyssum” to the “Argonaut” circle, of Buffalo, N. Y. The program was brightened by an excellent variety of tableaux, refreshments were bountifully served, and the delighted guests departed after a hearty vote of appreciation of the pleasant evening with Longfellow.——The program carried out by the “Allegheny” circle of Pittsburgh was characteristic of the circle—that is, very good. This circle always does something good.——The “Pansy” circle, of Chester, Pa., observed the “Longfellow Memorial” in a very appropriate and spirited manner, by a program which included the singing of Chautauqua songs, sketches and recitations. A pretty feature was the reading of “The Nun of Nidaros,” with organ accompaniment and tableaux. The greater portion of “The Courtship of Miles Standish,” with numerous tableaux, was given. The evening’s program ended with choruses from the songs. This “Pansy” circle was organized last October and its membership is divided between “Pansies” and “Plymouth Rocks.”——Another Pennsylvania circle formed last fall is the “Longfellow,” of Philadelphia. The circle is made up of eight members. Their regular order of exercises is capitally arranged to cover all points of the readings. They invited the “Sappho” circle to join with them in commemorating Longfellow’s day, the members of both circles to take equal part in the entertainment. They spent such a very pleasant and profitable evening, that it has been decided to keep all the memorial days in the same manner.——In a recent letter from a Washington, D. C., friend, we find the following interesting points about one of the circles of that city: “The weekly meetings of ‘Parker C. L. S. C.’ during the past winter have been, for the most part, very interesting. The annual celebration of Longfellow’s day was no exception. An appropriate program was carried out, one of the best features of which was the account of the poet’s life. The whole time was divided into periods and assigned to different members. After the exercises, Mr. Lowe, Engineer U. S. N., at whose home the circle met, kindly gave a most interesting and instructive account of the Greely Relief Expedition, by previous request, he having been one of those brave rescuers. He was listened to with attention, and the scenes he pictured were rendered more vivid by the exhibition of various articles of fur clothing worn in that region, by photographs of the relief ships, natives, etc., and also by some of the identical food upon which Greely’s party were subsisting when found.”——The “Crescent” circle, organized at Fremont, Ind., three years ago, would like to extend greeting to their many fellow students, and claim a place in the great family of workers who are reading the same books and thinking the same thoughts. The circle is not large, but has abundant hope and ambition to make the work enjoyable. Every meeting is a treat to them, they say. They, too, observed Longfellow’s day and carried out an excellent program, in which some of the “little folks” carried off high honors for their share in tableaux and charades.——At Hampshire, Ill., the most interesting memorial service of the year was that celebrated on Longfellow’s day. A large audience collected to listen to the exercises and went away seemingly well satisfied with the ability of Chautauquans to furnish an evening which should be both literary and social. This circle is doing good work in Hampshire. The members are more active than ever, and there is a prospect of an increase in numbers.——Another delightful parlor entertainment was that at Elk Horn, Wisconsin. The circle, bubbling over with C. L. S. C. devotion, mingled an occasional purely Chautauqua subject with the Longfellowana, not at all to the detriment of the program, so we think. At the close of the literary exercises, the guests, numbering about forty, were invited to a lunch, in quality and quantity “fit for a king.” Then came the “good-nights,” and each guest left with the wish that C. L. S. C. might long continue to flourish, and that such evenings might be in the ascendant among the diversions of the town.——A dainty invitation has come to us to be present at the Longfellow memorial exercises and social reunion held March 2, at the Grand Avenue Congregational Church in Milwaukee, Wis. The program which accompanied it has an essay subject which we hope our friends will tuck away in their memories for next year’s use. It is “The Women of Longfellow’s Writings.”——A houseful of Chautauquans and their friends gathered on the evening of Longfellow’s day at one of the delightful homes of Marshalltown, Iowa. The “Vincent” and “Alden” circles held a joint meeting which was a source of great pleasure to both the Chautauquans and guests present. The social notes of the local paper of Marshalltown contain a very complimentary reference to this pleasant affair.——Along with the notice of a Longfellow dinner given by the secretary of the circle at Maple Hill, Kansas, comes a sparkling letter of the birth and growth of that same circle. Perhaps it will be more suggestive than even the pleasant exercises of the dinner would be. Our correspondent writes: “It would be too long a story to tell of the first infection of the secretary of this circle by visiting a live Chautauquan in Topeka during the fall of 1883. Enough to say, she ‘caught’ the fever, as the diagnosis plainly showed. The first pronounced symptom, enthusiasm, was increased by the purchase of Pansy’s ‘Hall in the Grove,’ and finally culminated in the Chautauqua brain fever. She went home and showed a ‘method in her madness’ by inoculating her friends through the loan of that same ‘Hall in the Grove,’ and she was delighted to see the usual symptoms develop in due course of time. This same secretary was dubbed the ‘She-Talker’ by her friends, but all to no purpose, so far as discouragements go, for she had the satisfaction of forming a class in November of 1883, consisting of four members. Now be it known, Maple Hill is a sparsely settled farming town, made up mostly of large farms and ranches, and this makes it the more difficult to carry on such an enterprise. We, however, read on during the winter, but were disappointed when the fall of 1884 came round, to find that one of our most enthusiastic members had ‘taken a school’ some twelve miles away, and would have to read on alone, ‘probably,’ but before our first month had passed we had taken five new names, and had adopted two honorary members, who, although they were fully in sympathy with the movement, could not this year take up the regular line of work. So we number eight regular members, making a class of ten. It would make my letter too long to tell of all our work. Our readings have been not only profitable, but exceeding pleasant this ‘long and dreary winter,’ and this united class of ’87-88 extend the right hand of fellowship to their comrades all over our goodly land.”——At Chanute, Kansas, the memorial service was equally pleasant. The circle there is composed of seventeen members, and they all contributed their best to make the program bright and taking. The success which attended their efforts is peculiarly gratifying, when we remember that for all save one of the members this is the first year of C. L. S. C. work.——Longfellow’s day was appropriately observed at Clinton, Missouri, by the “Excelsior” circle, with a program modeled on that published in The Chautauquan. This circle, organized with four members, now numbers nineteen, all ladies. There is a growing interest in the work at Clinton which insures future prosperity and increase of strength.——“Out among the Rockies,” at Boulder, Colorado, Longfellow’s day was appropriately observed by the circle. The meeting was made doubly pleasant by the fact that February 27th is the birthday of the hostess of the occasion.——“Central” circle of San Francisco, California, has never yet been reported to The Chautauquan. It was organized in 1883, and reorganized in 1884, with a membership of twenty-three, fourteen of whom belong to the “Plymouth Rocks,” ’88. Their plan of work is to have a special leader for each study, and a paper or select reading has a place in nearly every program. Longfellow’s day was observed in a pleasing manner. In addition to a biography of the poet, each chapter of which was written by a different member, “The Bridge,” and “The Day is Done” were sung, and “The Builders” given as a recitation. At roll call responses were given from Longfellow’s most beautiful thoughts. A good degree of interest is manifested, and young and old find places in their ranks. Two of the members expect to graduate this year, but, writes one of them, “I shall be none the less a ‘Chautauquan,’ for that I intend to be through life.”
A large number of new circles are reported this month, with a few which, though organized for some time, have never be fore reported to us. At Augusta, Maine, a circle of fourteen members was formed in October last. The circle has been so interesting that the numbers usually swell beyond the actual fourteen—a good sign of the manner in which the circle conducts its meetings. They have observed the memorial days, and send us an excellent program of the Longfellow exercises. One of the numbers on this occasion was an original poem—from the pen of a “Pansy,” we suspect—one stanza of which we quote:
“Take whatever God sends,
As the blossoming pansies do;
He clothes them with royal grace;
Shall he not take thought for you?
Trust—for the trustful heart