Introduction President
“Shakspere Day,” 1882 Secretary
Select Reading from “Julius Cæsar” Miss Lyda Ellsworth
The Story of “Much Ado About Nothing” Miss Elissa Houston
Recitation from “Hamlet” Mrs. O. B. Williams
“Bacon’s Claims to Shakspere’s Plays” Mrs. R. A. Worthington
Chautauqua Supper.
* * * * *
=Ohio (Bethel).=—There are ten in our circle, of whom seven are
regular and three local members. Our meetings are held semi-monthly,
at the homes of the members. The program consists in reviews, general
questions, and half the questions in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. We are not only
interested in the reading, but delighted with it. We find that it just
meets our wants, and we are thankful that the means of culture are thus
placed within our reach.
* * * * *
=Indiana (Orland).=—Our circle was organized in the fall of 1880. Some
members have moved out, and others have been added, so the membership
continues about the same—ten—all women, and none are behind in this
year’s reading. We meet in the afternoon every week, and have a session
of three hours. We make our meetings conversational, each member being
expected to ask a question on each paragraph of the lesson under
consideration. Number one asks a question, and any in the class who
have anything bearing on the subject have liberty to speak of it. Then
number two asks _her_ question, providing it has not been asked before,
and so on around the class. At the close of each month we have had
a special day for review of the month’s work. We had the geological
charts, and enjoyed them very much, but our time was limited, so we
expect to take it up again during the summer vacation. We have all
enjoyed the English history, while some of us know a little of Russian
history; and we are sure Dr. Vincent would be very happy could he see
the facility with which we forget the dates.
* * * * *
=Indiana (Union City).=—In October last we organized a circle of about
twenty-five members. Probably more than thirty have read the course.
Our meetings have generally been at the homes of the members and very
pleasant times have we had. Rarely has the attendance fallen below
fifteen, and often it has exceeded thirty. Besides the exercises usual
to such occasions, we purchased three “Geological Charts” and also had
the use for several evenings of an excellent telescope which, though
small, enabled us to see distinctly the moons of Jupiter and the rings
of Saturn, etc. It is agreed by all that the scheme is not only a grand
success, but a godsend to those who are glad to read, yet need to have
their reading directed. We hope, another year, not only to retain our
present membership, but also to enlarge it greatly.
* * * * *
=Illinois (Peoria).=—The first Chautauqua circle in Peoria, Illinois,
was organized by the Rev. C. O. McCulloch, September 20, 1882, and
is known as the “Hale Chapel Circle.” It numbers at present eighteen
regular and two local members. A growing enthusiasm has pervaded the
class, a result largely due to the faithful, earnest spirit manifested
by its instructor. In connection with the reading, some very excellent,
carefully prepared essays have been presented by members of the class.
We will close the year’s work, glad that we have had the privilege of
taking so profitable a course of reading.
* * * * *
=Illinois (Farmer City).=—We organized a local circle last year with
a membership of seven. We now number fourteen members, with a local
circle in the country, a branch of this, with which we anticipate
much pleasure in the exchange of visits. We appoint a class conductor
for each evening. We are now quite fairly started in the work of the
present year, and esteem it of much value to us as a means of culture
and information.
* * * * *
=Illinois (Monticello).=—Our circle numbers ten. We have determined
upon doing the work thoroughly, and have so far done a great deal of
reference work, particularly in the Greek history. We meet Thursday
evening of each week, and have regular class exercise, usually
conducted by the president.
* * * * *
=Illinois (Astoria).=—Our local circle is small in numbers, there
being only a dozen of us, but we are not lacking in enthusiasm. We
organized late last fall and began two months behind time, but have
almost made up the lost time. The oldest member of our circle is
nearly an octogenarian. We have a variety of methods for conducting
our meetings—nothing stereotyped. Recently one program was somewhat
as follows: Each member responded at roll-call with a brief poem
(selected) on the stars; seventy-five questions were asked on
“Preparatory Greek Course,” and twenty-five on “Astronomy;” a paper
was read on “Plato and his Philosophy,” and last came a “pronouncing
contest;” fifty words having been selected by the leader, they were
lettered and given to the members in turn to be pronounced. We have a
“Chautauqua missionary,” in the shape of Pansy’s “Hall in the Grove,”
which we are sending into different homes to awaken enthusiasm, and the
result is likely to be a doubling of our numbers next year.
* * * * *
=Wisconsin (Whitewater).=—We organized our club in October, 1882,
shortly after a visit from Rev. A. H. Gillet. We now number twenty-one
members, and hold our meetings once in two weeks. A program committee
assigns parts to different members, and each topic for study is
presented either by means of questions or a paper. We are enjoying the
work very much, and feel that we are greatly benefited by it.
* * * * *
=Wisconsin (Mauston).=—The Delphian class of the C. L. S. C. was
organized last January with a membership of thirteen, but the number
has since increased to twenty. Shakspere’s day was pleasantly observed
by the class. The program consisted of readings, recitations, vocal
and instrumental music. The guests, numbering about forty, seemed well
pleased with our efforts.
* * * * *
=Wisconsin (Milwaukee).=—Our circle is the fourth formed in Milwaukee,
hence, named “Delta Circle.” We have ten regular and several local
members. We meet once a week at the house of one of the members, so
that ours is a “parlor” circle. We generally have a leader appointed
two weeks ahead, who takes charge of the literary exercises of the
evening, topics for special study being generally given out by the
leader a week ahead. Questions and informal discussion form a large
part of our exercises, and we find our circle to be an inspiration to
higher work, and a great mutual help.
The following notice of the celebration of Shakspere’s birthday by
this circle is taken from a Milwaukee paper: “The recent gathering
at 146 Fifth Street, in response to the invitations sent out by the
Delta Circle, C. L. S. C., was a very unique and pleasing affair. The
company met to celebrate the 319th anniversary of the birth of William
Shakspere. The parlors were appropriately and tastefully decorated
with evergreen flowers and smilax. Upon a banner over the large bust
of Shakspere was seen “1564-1883.” Each of the fifty persons present
was provided with a program printed on satin, the Chautauquan badge,
a green leaf and the symbols representative of the society’s name,
being hand-painted. The literary exercises consisted of roll-call,
to which the members responded with quotations from Shakspere,
readings, recitations, and a discussion upon the question, ‘Did Bacon
write Shakspere?’ The debaters were very persuasive. The lady on the
affirmative, at the close of her argument, veiled Shakspere, and at the
close of the negative, the veil, touched by an unseen hand, fell, and
Shakspere stood vindicated. The music was very fine, being Shaksperean
in character. After the literary program, the company partaking of
refreshments, was made merry by the passing of a handsomely decorated
birthday cake, containing a small coin, which the happy finder was to
invest in Shaksperean literature. The guests departed, wishing many
happy returns of the day of immortal Shakspere.”
* * * * *
=Michigan (Lisbon).=—This is our first year. We commenced with seven
members. Our books did not reach us until late, but by increased labor
we caught up by the first of January. We now hope to finish the year’s
work according to the plan marked out in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. We have one
member who lives six miles away, and who rarely fails to meet us at the
monthly meetings. Two worthy M.D.’s, who have little time to spare,
have taken up the course, and are very enthusiastic. The one the class
most “delighteth to honor” is a lady who has nearly rounded her sixty
years. She is our questioner. We trust that our Heavenly Father may
spare her these many years, that she may be able to finish the course,
and to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Another of our members is a
mother with poor health. She receives the Chautauqua Idea as a godsend
to help her keep pace with the five active, restless minds that are
beginning to pour their questions in upon her. It has been a year of
profit to each one, and one that we have all enjoyed.
* * * * *
=Iowa (Council Bluffs).=—The circle is well attended, and has many
animated seekers after true culture, and more spirit is manifested
in its meetings now than when we first started. We meet every Monday
evening, at the pastor’s home. One of our professors here gave a
brilliant lecture recently on the subject of “Astronomy,” and Hon. W.
J. Armstrong, another eloquent orator, was secured to speak on “London
Society.”
* * * * *
=Iowa (Clinton).=—The Clinton branch of the C. L. S. C. was organized
October 16, 1882, with a membership of twenty-five, three being
graduates of 1882. Our circle meets every alternate Monday evening,
at the homes of members. Our president, Rev. S. H. Weller, D.D., of
the Presbyterian Church, conducts the meetings in a very interesting
manner. Papers on the lesson have been prepared and read by different
members, occupying the time for about half an hour, and followed
by a general talk on the same subject. One evening while studying
geology all were requested to bring in at the next meeting geological
specimens, and tell what they could about them. Several evenings each
brought two or three questions on the lesson written on slips of paper,
which, after being shook up in a hat, were drawn and answered by the
members. The plan we enjoy most is to pass round the circle, each
member in turn stating a fact concerning the lesson, until all the
principal points are brought out, this being followed by a “round-table
talk.” During the first week in April, while we were still studying
astronomy, an excursion party, in charge of Dr. Weller, went to Chicago
for the purpose of studying the stars by the aid of the large telescope
at the observatory there.
* * * * *
=Iowa (Panora).=—We organized a circle last October with a membership
of eleven. We meet every Monday evening, review the lesson as outlined,
or in other words talk over the work, every member expressing his
views, asking questions, etc. At our last meeting Mrs. Haden treated
the circle to lemonade made from lemons grown in her home by the
fireside. The discussion that evening was “Lemon Culture in Iowa.”
=Iowa (Manchester).=—In this modest county seat of less than three
thousand people, there is the largest C. L. S. Circle in Iowa.
There were seven graduates last summer from here. Some of these are
prosecuting the White Seal Course. All of them have been active in
one of the three local circles which together number in all some
forty-eight, besides a history class which is composed of young people,
and is an outgrowth of the C. L. S. C., and the Young People’s Lyceum
of the M. E. Church, which may be said to have received its inspiration
from the same. We meet in three different classes and all come
together on “Memorial Days.” We have tried various plans, but we find
a good leader who has the tact to draw the different members out in a
conversational style is the most satisfactory and beneficial, and as we
have two or three in our class who are happily possessed of this tact,
we utilize it to the fullest extent, always to our profit and pleasure.
* * * * *
=Missouri (Kansas City).=—We have just celebrated Shakspere’s birthday.
Kind friends of the circle gave us the benefit of their excellent
musical talent, “and all went merry as a marriage bell.” We can not
measure the benefit we already have derived from our connection with
the “People’s College.” Next year we think our membership will be
doubled, making it over one hundred. The possibilities for good that
lie within the compass of the C. L. S. C. seem infinite.
* * * * *
=Utah (Salt Lake City).=—Our circle was organized February 3, the
present year. Rather late to take up the course with the class of
1886, but we are working hard and hope that by continuing our studies
through the summer months we may be ready to commence with the class
next October. We have thirteen regular members. Our meetings are held
weekly in the parlor of the M. E. church. They are quite informal.
Each member is appointed a committee of one to bring to the circle as
much of interest as possible in the way of notes, references, bright
thoughts, criticisms, etc., in connection with our studies.
* * * * *
=California (San Jose).=—Our little city contains about seventy-five
Chautauquans. They are divided up into several neighborhood circles,
which meet either weekly or semi-monthly. All are in a thrifty
condition, and in some there is much enthusiasm. One is called “the
University Circle,” not because it aspires to take a full university
course, but because it is so fortunate as to have for its meeting place
the parlors of the University of the Pacific, an admirable college
under the vigorous care of President Stratton, who is also president
of our Pacific Coast C. L. S. C. This circle has about twenty members,
who have met regularly, read all the required reading, and had the
great advantage of being often instructed by various members of the
university faculty. Two or three of the members of this circle will be
among our graduates at Monterey. All the San Jose circles combine for a
monthly meeting, and have enjoyed a series of delightful lectures and
papers which ripe scholars might listen to with profit and pleasure. We
are all now on the _qui vive_ for Monterey, and expect to have the most
enthusiastic meeting that Pacific Grove has yet seen.