One of the most delightful of evenings was spent by about two hundred
of the C. L. S. C.’s of Cincinnati and vicinity, on Tuesday evening,
May 8. The occasion bringing so many of the members together in gala
attire was their fourth annual reunion. On the chancel railing were
large and beautiful bouquets of fragrant flowers, and the motto, “Never
be Discouraged,” hung in graceful curves across the front of the room.
But the event of the evening was the unexpected visit from Dr. Vincent,
who came to see the members of the circle, while passing through the
city from the South en route to New York.
When Dr. Vincent appeared on the platform a vigorous Chautauqua salute
and expressions of admiration and surprise showed the high esteem and
regard in which the Cincinnati circles hold Chautauqua’s chief.
He congratulated the circle upon its good work in the past, and
encouraged those present to redouble their efforts for the future. He
said he had been traveling for some time, had just left Louisville
in the afternoon, and had arrived in Cincinnati only a short time
before, and added: “I am really too weary to talk, for I have delivered
ten addresses in six days, and am worn out, but the sight of this
prosperous association revives me sufficiently to at least leave a
suggestion for your reflection after I am gone. One thing I wish to
impress upon your minds is the importance of giving expression to your
thoughts, either by talking or writing.”
“Americans are great talkers—always making speeches. But is it to any
purpose or improvement? Is it not full of verbiage, and too often
frivolous? Usually when reunions of ladies take place, does not their
conversation drift to commonplace subjects, and do they say anything
beneficial or worth remembering or generally proceed much further than
the weather and the fashions. But the C. L. S. C.’s propose remedying
this, and are succeeding admirably, and when they can not suggest an
ennobling topic they keep silent.”
He then told them of some of the treasures Chautauqua had in store for
its visitors of ’83, and closed his address wishing the Cincinnati
circles every prosperity, and invoking a blessing full of earnestness
and affection.
The following is the program of the evening: