[We request the president or secretary of every local
circle to send us reports of your work, or ask the
circle to elect a member to write up your method
of conducting the circle, together with reports of
lectures, concerts, entertainments, etc.—Editor THE
CHAUTAUQUAN, Meadville, Pa.]
=Maine (Lewiston).=—The Scott C. L. S. C. was organized last October,
under the leadership of Rev. W. S. McIntire, for whom we named our
circle. We number twelve. We have taken the course as prescribed in THE
CHAUTAUQUAN. We had the benefit of a course of lectures on astronomy
this winter, made most interesting by the beautiful views shown us,
especially some of the sun spots, which were remarkably fine. One
evening our circle visited the observatory at Bates College. There, by
the use of the telescope we explored the heavens. We saw the craters on
the moon, the belts of Jupiter and his beautiful satellites, and faint
stars or nebulæ changed into double or multiple stars of great size and
brilliancy. We observed Shakspere’s Day in the usual manner. During the
study of “Evangeline” we are beginning our meetings with quotations
from Longfellow. The C. L S. C. idea having once taken possession of
a person, keeps him spellbound until he finishes the course, and then
will not let him go, but draws him into more and more interesting
studies, until he would fain spend his life under its beneficent
influence.
* * * * *
=Massachusetts (Plymouth).=—A local circle, called the Pilgrim Rock
Circle, was organized here last October, with a membership of ten; we
now number thirty. Our meetings, which are fortnightly, are instructive
and interesting. We have had one lecture, and an entertainment on the
night of Shakspere’s day.
* * * * *
=Massachusetts (Boston).=—A Chautauqua Circle has been formed by some
of the young men of the Warren street M. E. Church. There are thirteen
members at present. We have only taken up a part of the studies this
winter, but intend to unite with the Central Circle at Chautauqua next
fall, and take all the studies of the C. L. S. C. course. We have
named our circle the “Highland Inner Circle of the Chautauqua Literary
and Scientific Circle,” and mean to take advantage of this excellent
opportunity for improving our minds.
* * * * *
=Massachusetts (Rockland).=—We organized a Local Circle last October;
have a president, secretary, and committee of three to arrange programs
for our meetings which are held twice a month at the homes of members.
We have Chautauqua games, readings from THE CHAUTAUQUAN, and usually
recite fifty of the questions. We have also had many abstracts on
characters in Greek history, and on the lines and houses of English
history. We have kept memorial days, had sketches of their characters,
and carefully prepared readings from Longfellow and Shakspere on their
memorial days.
* * * * *
=Massachusetts (Cambridgeport).=—Our circle was organized last October,
with thirteen members, four gentlemen and nine ladies. We meet on the
fourth Wednesday of the month, at the houses of the various members.
All have been greatly interested and instructed with the studies of
the past year, and most of us have been particularly interested in
astronomy. A short time since we spent an evening in practical work
with the telescope; we had a good glass, the night was bright and
clear, and we were able to get fine views of the Moon, Saturn, Neptune,
the nebulæ in Orion, the Bee Hive, and several double stars. I suppose
this to be the proper place to make suggestions as to improvements in
our circle. One difficulty that we find is the fact that we have no
means of knowing who in our community are members of the C. L. S. C.
unless they come forward and make themselves known. Our local circle
has been looking this matter up, and we find quite a number of members
not connected with any local circle, and so unknown to the other
members in the city. If every member would connect himself with a local
circle, or at least give his name to a circle, would it not serve to
bind us together more closely?
* * * * *
=Massachusetts (Newbury).=—We have a local circle of forty members,
twenty of whom do the whole or a part of the reading. Charles J. Rolfe,
an earnest member of the class of 1884, did much to interest the
community in the C. L. S. C. course. Our first meeting was held on the
7th of October; Mr. Rolfe was unanimously chosen president. Besides the
regular studies we try to make the meetings entertaining by means of
music, reading, spelling matches, etc.
* * * * *
=Connecticut (Thompsonville).=—The Thompsonville C. L. S. C. was
organized in October last under the direction of Rev. F. S. Barnum,
and started with fifteen members. The original members have continued
zealous students, and nearly every meeting witnessed accessions
until the number has reached more than forty, all of whom testify to
the great value as well as interest to them of the winter’s work. A
“public” was held at the close of the first two months’ studies, and
also a second “public” at the end of studies for January. Essays and
addresses made up delightful evenings for the audiences assembled. On
the second occasion astronomy alone was the subject, and topics were
assigned to ten members of the circle. The ladies read essays, and the
gentlemen delivered brief lectures illustrated by diagrams, essays
and addresses confined to six minutes. Instrumental and vocal music
increased the pleasure of the exercises. Nine members of the local
circle have joined the main circle, and others propose to do so. The
next year a much larger number propose uniting in the work.
* * * * *
=New York (Springville).=—The circle in this place was organized in
January, 1883, and consists of fifteen members. Our officers are a
president and a secretary. We hold our meetings once in two weeks,
occasionally oftener, at the homes of the members. We have no regular
plan for conducting the meetings, but decide at each meeting the
reading to be done before the next, and then we try to review as nearly
as possible the work that has been done. Our president also prepares
questions on the subjects we are studying, and a portion of each
evening is very profitably spent with the questions. We have spent much
more than the appointed time on astronomy, but have enjoyed the study
so much that we did not wish to lay it aside. We have observed several
of the memorial days. We realize more and more the value of the local
circle, and find that we take much more interest in the reading than
would be possible if each were reading alone.
* * * * *
=New York (Naples).=—A small circle of six ladies, in the above named
place, commenced the course of study last October. We have held
meetings every week; each one takes a subject and questions upon it,
making us all teachers and all pupils. We have been through “Greek
History,” “English History,” and “Astronomy” _twice_; also took an
extra, “Smith’s Illustrated Astronomy,” which we are thoroughly
memorizing. The father of one of our circle having made astronomy a
life study, has kindly given us much valuable aid. We hope to have many
more in our circle another year, feeling the profit and happiness we
have obtained has been great.
* * * * *
=New Jersey (Jersey City).=—Through the efforts of Rev. A. P. Foster,
pastor of the First Congregational Church, a circle was organized here
last December. The meetings of the circle were held every alternate
Tuesday, and were varied to harmonize with the prescribed course of
study. Altogether the winter has been made profitable to all concerned,
and we hope to make our future meetings still more so. We now number
thirty and expect another year to increase materially.
* * * * *
=Pennsylvania (New Alexandria).=—About the last of November our local
circle began its meetings. Although so far behind in our studies, by
doing double work we were ready on the first of February to begin the
regular course for the month. Our circle is composed of six members,
and we were quite pleased to see that Dr. Vincent thinks that is the
best number for a local circle. We meet once every two weeks, and our
plan is for one of the members to ask the questions published in THE
CHAUTAUQUAN, and others to ask questions they have previously prepared
on the other branches of study. We read the “Sunday Readings” together.
We are greatly interested in this great intellectual movement, and
believe that while its present magnitude is very wonderful, the results
in the future will be even more so.
* * * * *
=District of Columbia (Washington).=—Another local circle has been
formed in this city, called the “Ideal Circle.” We have eight members
in all, and meet once in two weeks, at the houses of the members. We
did not commence the course until March, so we have been busily engaged
in “reading up,” and have devoted all the time at our meetings to a
review of the matter gone over. Our president conducts the review. We
hope to begin the next year’s work with all good Chautauquans at the
proper time, and so to have opportunity to engage in wider reading and
greater research in the subjects furnished by the C. L. S. C. We are
enjoying the course, and find it very profitable to know just what to
read when we have but a few minutes to spend in reading, and so improve
instead of waste the odd moments.
* * * * *
=West Virginia (Charleston).=—Last September the Charleston local
circle was organized with a membership of nine, which soon increased
to twenty-five, among whom we number two D.D.’s, the president of the
school board, superintendent of city schools, professional men, etc.,
and a full quota of interesting ladies. Commencing late, we did not
get under good headway for several weeks, when we followed the course
as laid down in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. At first the program was filled by
volunteers, but the necessity of more system was so apparent that we
divided ourselves into four classes, each one in its turn providing the
entertainment for the evening, thus giving to each class the program
once in four weeks. The Chautauqua course has been a source of much
pleasure and profit to its members here. Though belonging to the class
known locally as literary people, the readings of our circle heretofore
had been desultory and unprofitable. Now we have a systematic course
of good reading, and feel obligated by a sense of pleasure and duty to
do the work we have undertaken. At the future capital of West Virginia
ours is the only literary organization. May the C. L. S. C. increase
and multiply as the fishes of the Kanawha!
* * * * *
=Alabama (Eufaula).=—The Eufaula local circle was organized September
7, 1882, and now numbers twenty-seven members. Meetings are held on the
first Monday night in each month at the homes of different members,
and officers are elected quarterly. It is the first year’s reading in
the C. L. S. C. course for all the members except one. Preparatory
to our reading “Evangeline” in May, we had a “Longfellow” program
at our last meeting, May 7. Of that meeting the _Daily Times_ says:
“The Eufaula local circle of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific
Circle is in a most flourishing condition. The most interesting and
successful meeting that has yet been had was held at Mayor Comer’s on
Monday night. An excellent program was carried out and was a pleasant
departure from the usual exercises. The members of the circle were
quite enthusiastic yesterday; a good sign. A community takes a long
step forward when it organizes such a club as this, and we are glad
that the Eufaula branch of that greatest of all universities, ‘The
Chautauqua University,’ is growing in strength and interest.”
* * * * *
=Ohio (Ravenna).=—Because we have been silent all the year is no
sign that Ravenna does not possess a C. L. S. C. Long ago the grand
“Chautauqua Idea” struck us, and our pleasant town already boasts a
number of graduates of the class of ’82. Ravenna has four circles,
the Methodist C. L. S. C. being organized late in November, 1882,
with six members, this number rapidly increasing, and now we have a
flourishing circle of eighteen regular members, with six locals. THE
CHAUTAUQUAN is the valuable organ of our society, and the many choice
gems of reading form a very important part of our program. Besides
the regular work, we celebrate all memorial days, Milton’s Day having
been observed with select readings, music and biographical sketch.
Besides the social enjoyments of these occasions, we derive very
much benefit intellectually, and always welcome a memorial day. One
remarkably pleasant instance this season was the lecture given here by
Rev. J. H. Vincent, upon “That Boy.” After the lecture, upon the very
kind invitation of Judge Reed, a brilliant reception was given at his
spacious residence, and all Chautauquans were heartily welcomed. To
hear the encouraging words of Dr. Vincent and feel the friendly grasp
of his hand, gave a new impetus to our work, and to be a Chautauquan
had a more powerful significance. Long may the C. L. S. C. flourish.
* * * * *
=Ohio (Springfield).=—The following is a copy of the program for
“Shakspere’s Day,” as followed by our circle: