Part 17

=Snow Hill, Md.=, claims to have the finest C. L. S. C. on the Peninsula. “Of our twenty members one is a clergyman, two are lawyers, and six are school teachers. The study of Biology was facilitated by the use of a splendid microscope of 600 diameter power. We have a regular organization, a board of officers, and after the usual preliminaries of a formal assembly, the program. Three readers, one in each book, are appointed, a ‘commentator’ listens to each, then epitomizes the matter, and comments upon the manner. An examiner has been previously appointed in each study, whose business it is to prepare five written questions; these are thrown together and drawn by the members, who answer whatever falls to their lot.”

The “Bryant” C. L. S. C., of =Toledo, Ohio=, is a flourishing circle of about twenty-five members, part of whom are “regular” and part “local.” A lively interest has been manifested, and many warm discussions held concerning some of the characters studied about. Addison’s day was celebrated in a very quiet manner, at a regular meeting of the circle.

The C. L. S. C. of the Third Presbyterian Church of =Cincinnati, Ohio=, had an unusually pleasant meeting on April 23. Although they have been organized for nearly two years, they have never before celebrated a Memorial Day. We trust their pleasant experience will lead to more frequent “special occasions” in the future.

The celebrations of Shakspere’s and Addison’s days were combined at =Springfield, Ohio=, and a very successful meeting was the result. This circle was organized in 1878, and the class of ’82 are happy to read the “White Seal Course” with the other classes, while they read the “Crystal Seal” alone. All the Memorial Days have been observed this year, commencing with Garfield’s and closing with Shakspere’s and Addison’s, but they claim that their Chautauqua picnic, given annually in June, is the jubilee of their C. L. S. C. year.

From the _Toledo Evening Bee_ we learn that a very delightful evening was spent by the members of the =Bryan, Ohio=, C. L. S. C., in memory of William Shakspere. The circle here has been holding regular meetings since October, 1881. There are now sixteen members. Among the “days” none are more pleasant than Arbor Day. It does not receive much attention, we fear, but here is one circle at least that planted a tree. From =Amelia, Ohio=, a letter comes, saying: “In our little town we have a small C. L. S. C., and as you wanted all circles reported to THE CHAUTAUQUAN, we give ours as the ‘Elm-tree Circle.’ We are but four girls studying together, but a circle of one hundred could not be more enthusiastic. On Arbor Day we planted a tree and named it ‘Vincent.’ We hope that in another year we can report a much larger circle.”

The sixth annual reunion of the circle at =Norwalk, Ohio=, was held on April 23. They have thirty members enrolled, and are reading the books of the seal course in the circle, while the books in the regular course are read at home. The exercises at their reunion were conversational entirely. The questions of the authorship of what are known as Shakspere’s plays, and which is Shakspere’s best play, being informally argued until the party were summoned to supper. The circle expect to resume their conversations another year.

From =Cincinnati= we have an encouraging account of the good things the circles have been enjoying there. The topics discussed at their Round-Table are particularly good. “The second Round-Table of the C. L. S. C. of Cincinnati and vicinity was held at Christie Chapel on April 22. An essay was read on ‘Stray Leaves from a Chautauqua Journal,’ and one on ‘Tent Life at Chautauqua.’ Then followed some impromptu talks on Chautauqua, and some experiences, amusing and otherwise, were related. The second topic of the evening was ‘The advantages of the study of the classics in the original, and as we study them in translations, in the C. L. S. C. Course.’ The discussion of this was fully participated in by the members, and a goodly meed of praise was given to the C. L. S. C. Classical Course. On April 24, at the invitation of the Grace Church Circle, the other circles were treated to a very fine lecture by their pastor, Rev. A. L. Reynolds. His subject was, ‘The Survival of the Fittest.’ The fifth annual reunion of the C. L. S. C. of Cincinnati and vicinity was held at Grace M. E. Church on Friday evening, May 9. It was a most enjoyable affair, and brought together members from some sixteen circles in and around the city, including Cheviot, Elmwood, Madisonville, Athens and Ironton, Ohio, and Covington and Newport in Kentucky.”

A very delightful thing it is to have a C. L. S. C. home, a room that belongs to your circle, where you may surround yourself with the emblems, mottoes and banners of your brotherhood, and with the implements for successful work. Such a home belongs to the circle of =Lima, Ind.=, of which they write: “We have a large and handsome room for our meetings. At present it is modestly furnished, but money is in the treasury to be used in making the room more attractive with bright rugs, fanciful screens and pictures.” This circle succeeded in doubling its numbers last summer by holding a Chautauqua reception, at which the attractiveness of the work was so well shown that no trouble was experienced in increasing the circle.

=Petersburg, Ind.=, reports a circle of seven members; =Rushville, Ind.=, one of twenty-two; and =Liberty, Ind.=, one of eleven. All three are energetic, faithful bodies, up in their readings, loyal to the customs of the C. L. S. C., and full of enthusiasm.

A brief history of “Alpha Circle,” of =Quincy, Ill.=, has lately been sent us. This circle was formed in January, 1883, with thirteen members. Eleven were added the following season. At the close of the studies in June, 1883, a literary and musical feast was prepared at the home of one of the members. Fifty invitations were sent out to the members and interested friends of the circle. A public meeting was held in September, for the purpose of explaining the objects and aims of the Circle, and an effort was made to organize others. At least two societies resulted from this meeting: the ‘Beta’ Circle, composed entirely of ladies; they are great workers, and are giving the subjects very thorough attention; beside this, a small circle has been organized in the neighboring township—=Melrose=. The circle has had several little excursions, etc., and spent the fourth of July most delightfully in the woods on Bredewig’s Alps. The ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’ Circles joined in observing Longfellow’s day. Seventy-five invitations were sent out to friends, and the program was highly interesting. The meetings of the circle are very interesting.

=Alton, Ill.=, also has a circle with a steady membership of twelve.

On Longfellow’s day the three circles at =Sycamore, Ill.=, held a delightful service in the poet’s honor; essays, music and recitations made up the program. One of the circles at Sycamore reports: “Our first meeting was held November 14, 1882, when we organized a class with twelve members; now we have sixteen, four of whom are local members only. We have good officers and most of our class are doing very thorough work, though we are nearly all busy housekeepers and mothers. We grow more and more in love with the work. We have lively and free discussions on all topics studied, and meet every week, rain or shine.” The “Dunlap” local circle was organized in the fall of 1883, and consists of some thirty members, mostly of the class of ’87, but with two members who have completed the four years’ course. Considerable enthusiasm prevails. Each meeting has been well attended, and all who started in with the course are steadily pursuing it. April 21 a “Shaksperean Social” was held. A program was presented consisting of music, essays and readings. Refreshments were served to some forty members and their friends. Every one went home more enthusiastic Chautauquans than ever. A “Cicero” night was recently held, and a “Virgil” night is the next on the program.

At =Memphis, Tenn.=, the South Memphis local circle of the C. L. S. C. is composed of fourteen active members, beside several who are only local members. There is a good average attendance, and each one takes an active part. The meetings are begun with roll call, followed by reading of minutes, songs, and a full program of essays, readings, and “talks.” These latter are really essays memorized and recited without notes. The circle is very earnest in its work.

A few ladies of =Prairieville Center, Mich.=, belonging to classes 1886 and 1887, would acknowledge some of the pleasure brought into their busy lives by Chautauqua. Last year, as a nucleus, four ladies met once a week, read or held informal conversations on the lesson; now they are officered and dignified by the title of the “Kepler Circle,” including five farmers’ wives, one school teacher and one gentleman—five members, two local. As yet they have had no help, such as observance of memorial days or lectures, but are trying by personal influence to help on the work.

=Atlas, Mich.=, has a live C. L. S. C. organized in March, though several of the members began the course in October. There are eight regular members and ten local ones, who will probably take up the full course next year.

Dr. Vincent has kindly sent us a very remarkable report of the results of the circle work at =Detroit, Mich.= We have given much of the letter, for it shows vividly how much individual growth oftentimes is due to the thoughtful reading of good books. The writer says of the circle: “Nine persons met on October 1st, and formally organized. The growth both in numbers and interest was small during the first month, but continuing, we have held up to date twenty-one meetings, at which two hundred and twenty-two persons have been present; we keep a record of each evening’s work, and also a visitors’ list, trying to have a visitor each evening, which has generally ended in a new member. We open with singing, responsive reading, roll call with quotations, literary exercises, question box, Round-Table. For the first three months we were obliged to use ‘Gospel Songs,’ but, thanks to Miss Kimball, we now have the Chautauqua song books and are learning to enjoy them. By unanimous consent the responsive service consists of a selection of Scriptures by the leader, each member bringing her Bible. It has been our aim to conduct ‘Pansy’ Circle on as near the Chautauqua principle as possible; now for a few results. At the commencement of this season a neighbor was induced to visit the circle, with the promise of exemption from questions, etc. To-day that lady is a member of the general Circle, and an active member of the local, and from formerly being in such ill health that she was in a fair way of losing her mind, she has now quite recovered, and it is due to the C. L. S. C. Another member, who does not profess religion, was offered a copy of Ingersoll’s works, by a fellow workman, but it was refused, with the statement that he had a better book to read, which proved to be Walker’s ‘Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation.’ That book has done wonders, bringing into active Christian life several hitherto backward ones. Another member told me that having lacked educational advantages, and feeling the need of them, she made it a subject of prayer, but for a long time seemed to have no answer, until an apparently accidental call on a friend discovered to her the C. L. S. C., and now she is one of our most enthusiastic members. There are many other cases worthy of mention, where the C. L. S. C., working like leaven, transforms individuals into active factors in life’s warfare. It is indeed a glorious cause, and I am never weary of sounding its praises. We are a household altogether Chautauquan, singing the songs with our children; indeed, we have a six months’ old girl who will not be quieted by me unless I sing ‘The Winds are Whispering,’ and our boy looks anxiously forward to the time when he can join the Circle. May your life be spared to see the ingathering from the grand Idea.”

About the middle of last February six ladies and one gentleman met at the house of a lady interested in the C. L. S. C. workings, to see if a circle could not be started in =Markesan, Wis.= It was not until March 11 that they had a regular working meeting. They call the circle the “Climax,” and now have fourteen enthusiastic regular members, and five local members. Shakspere day was observed with an interesting program, consisting of roll call, response to be a gem of thought from Shakspere, a biographical sketch of his life, a paper on his eccentricities, songs, and several readings.

Monona Lake Assembly has aroused enthusiasm for the C. L. S. C. work among very many of its visitors. Another tribute to its good influence comes from a friend writing of the origin of the oldest circle at =Eau Claire, Wis.=: “In 1882 one of our circle visited the Assembly at Monona and came back full of enthusiasm, which resulted in the organization of a circle. We started with six members. It took us some time to get acquainted with the method of instruction, and to gain the necessary discipline for memorizing (we are none of us very young). We have never increased our original membership, because we found that six who were congenial could work profitably together. Our circle, with one exception, visited Monona last summer. We gained a fresh inspiration from the ‘Round-Table.’ Last fall two other societies were organized, one consisting of members of the Congregational Church, numbering eighteen, and professing great pleasure in their work. The other society consists of young ladies, graduates of the high school. They have a membership of ten; they feel great satisfaction in the work. They are all young, fresh minds, and enjoy that advantage over our circle, but they can’t exceed us in enthusiasm. When the societies multiplied we gave our little society a name. We are now known as the ‘Alpha Society.’ We often bless good Dr. Vincent in our hearts for originating and developing the plan of C. L. S. C. work. I recently met a Chautauquan from a little town of a few hundred people—=Knapp=. She said: ‘We have only a little circle of six. We are farmers’ wives, and are very busy, but we do enjoy our reading. We can see we are doing better work this year than we did last year, so we feel encouraged.’”

=Iowa= never fails to send us fresh and interesting items. This month two circles organized in October of 1883 are reported, one from =Corydon= of ten members, and another of fifteen members from =Humboldt=. In both the interest is good and the work growing.

=Anamosa, Iowa=, has a circle of fourteen now on its second year of work. The secretary writes: “Our hearts and minds are aglow with genuine Chautauqua enthusiasm. It has all been full of suggestive life and interest. We have kept all the Memorial Days, and followed out its principles and precepts.” At their Longfellow memorial the circle kindly opened their doors to their friends, hoping by this means to extend the field of C. L. S. C. work in the town. A well written article in a local paper on the work done, shows how thoroughly its influence is appreciated: “When one has passed an evening with such a club, that has been faithfully kept up year by year, not for social delight but for hard study of history, philosophy, _belles lettres_ and the evidences of the Christian religion, he realizes the worth of it and since music, good music too, is ever added to the mental labor as joint refiner of mind and heart, he approves the ‘club’ as one of the finest social and literary organizations that has ever blessed this city.”

A capital subject for a talk or essay is this, which we find on the program of the Shakspere exercises at =Shanandoah, Iowa=: “How Shakspere is regarded by literary men.”

At =Carthage, Missouri=, a “Chautauqua Anniversary” was recently held by the two-year-old circle there. Between forty and fifty were present. The literary exercises were followed by an elaborate supper. The subjects of the evening’s toasts were the Memorial Days, taking them in order.

The various local circles of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle of =Kansas City, Missouri=, united in a service commemorative of Shakspere. The church in which the exercises were held was handsomely decorated for the occasion with flowers and plants, and with three elegant banners prepared for and presented to the circle in Kansas City by the Columbus Buggy Company, of Columbus, O. The gift of these was prompted by the Milton Memorial Services held by these circles several months since, at which the donors were present. Beside the circles of Kansas City and the Wyandott circle, a large audience was present to listen to the exercises. The local circles of Kansas City are the “Kansas City Circle,” the “Dundee,” the “Central Circle” and the “Clyde Circle,” the “Ladies’ Forest Avenue Circle,” and a circle on Summit Street.

In a letter from a circle in =New Orleans, La.=, we find some interesting points. The circle selects topics for discussions at their meetings. Each member is required to bring in thoughts, statistics or quotations bearing upon the subject. Popular topics are taken, as for example, one given at a recent meeting was “The Higher Education of Women.” The idea is a good one. Such discussions give an agreeable change from so much historical and scientific reading. Among their officers they have a chaplain who conducts the opening exercises of the evening; another excellent plan. Just now they are meeting a difficulty which comes to many circles. The writer says: “The majority of the circle are of class of ’85. They commenced the course as _young_ members, with no outside interests, and now at their maturity are branching off to their respective callings; one an ordained Episcopalian minister, in a distant parish; another leaves this summer to finish a collegiate course for the Presbyterian ministry, and others go elsewhere, yet we may feel assured, never to lose interest in the C. L. S. C.” Losing the tried, trusty “stand-bys” of a society is generally one of the most dangerous trials it goes through. Only a persistent putting of the shoulder to the wheel will carry it over, but that _always_ does it.

From =Cañon City, Col.=, a lady writes: “We have organized a little circle of about ten members and have worked hard up to this time to demonstrate to ourselves our interest and determination to prosecute the studies. For housekeepers who have long been out of the discipline of students the work pushes us so that we, as yet, have not been able to read anything additional to the course. One of our number prepares questions on the lessons and acts as president or referee. These questions are on slips of paper, and each member draws one, on which to gather information to report to the class at the next meeting. Enough to say thus far we enjoy our reading very much, and hope it is but the beginning of a systematic study, which will end only with life.”

A friend sending us the program of the Longfellow celebration at =Durango, Colorado=, writes: “I send you a copy of our Longfellow program. While it may suggest nothing new as a literary program, it may be a satisfaction to lovers of the C. L. S. C. to hear that in this new frontier town of Southwestern Colorado, sandwiched between the Ute and the Navajo Reservations, the ‘Chautauqua Idea’ has taken root.” One exercise of the evening we do not remember to have seen before in any report: “The exercise—quotation guesses—was a pleasant little diversion. The president distributed slips of paper amongst the members, each slip containing a line from some one of Longfellow’s poems. Each slip was numbered, and as the president called the number the member holding that number would read the sentiment from her slip and finish it in the language of the poem from which it was taken. The evening’s entertainment closed with a banquet, and everyone went home feeling better acquainted with Longfellow and more deeply in love with the C. L. S. C.”

The pastor of the M. E. Church at =Idaho Springs, Col.=, last fall called a meeting to organize a club in the interest of good reading. “When the people came together some friends of the Chautauqua Idea were found; three or four of them had been regular or local members of the C. L. S. C., and it was decided that we form a branch of that great home college. We have a membership of about twenty. We frequently have a half-dozen visitors, but we do not consider our meetings public; they have been very interesting, and the interest is unabated. We have adopted various methods of examination on the required reading, but none seem to us so good as that of giving to each person present a written question; this being by him answered is then discussed by any person who so desires. We strive to be informal, and since we have become acquainted, are able to express ourselves on the subjects being discussed better than at first. Since the first of January we have recruited by taking in some desirable local members, thereby filling the places of those who have dropped out of the ranks by the pressure of other business. We can see the good effects of our circle on our little town in many ways already. With one or two exceptions we belong to the class of 1887; at the end of April, in our first year, we report ourselves as making good progress.”

C. L. S. C. TESTIMONY.

_Massachusetts._—I want to say for the encouragement of any who urge objections to the C. L. S. C. course, that I took it up to please my wife, but ’twas but a short time before I was earnestly reading and studying to please myself. It seemed quite an undertaking, but, though we are forty years old, and have four children, we have found time to keep abreast of the work as carried on by the Circle. We (myself and wife) are of the class of ’86, and began reading together, but the next year, ’83, there was a circle formed, and we joined. You would only have to glance into our sitting room to-night to learn that we are disciples firm and true in this course and its kindred branches; my wife and myself reading French History, two older children at the other end of the room reading the Home College Series, while the two youngest (seven and ten) are reading the course of the C. Y. F. R. U., and the benefits, the blessings and the pleasure we gain from all of this can never be counted in time. We are enthusiastic over the C. L. S. C., because we can see and feel some of its benefits already. We know the forty minutes a day pays better interest than any similar time spent in any secular business. We know its value can not be computed by any known tables. We recommend it to everybody, and we feel ’twill grow here among us. It is succeeding everywhere, it must succeed, and must produce good results, for “We study the Word and the Works of God.”

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_Massachusetts._—I am quite an invalid, so I take the reading slowly and in small doses, but I can not begin to tell the good it has done me.

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_New Jersey._—Life seems to me to have been lifted on a higher plane since my association with the C. L. S. C. I know I am a better wife, I love my Christian work better, I am better acquainted with the Master, and as the intellect is cultivated, the soul is pushed out into greater depths and heights and breadths.

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_Pennsylvania._—I enjoy the reading and study more than I can express, believing that its influence is elevating. I regret that I can not enjoy the advantages of a local circle. I did try to interest some in my own neighborhood, but did not succeed.

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