God speed our cause! God keep it true,
Year after year its work to do,
Until the perfect morn appears,—
Until beyond the line of gray
Climbs up to heaven the perfect day
That ushers in the Thousand Years.
_From a C. L. S. C. poem read before the local circle of Franklin,
Mass., October 1, 1883._
* * * * *
In an editorial on the C. L. S. C. a Canadian editor makes the
following computation: “The classes of the past numbered a total of
34,800. If 20,000 are added this year we shall have a school of 55,000.
Last year’s class numbered 14,000, an increase of sixty per cent. The
same ratio will give us in another year a membership of 78,000, and in
another year of over one hundred thousand. Think of a school of _one
hundred thousand pupils_! Where will it stop?”
* * * * *
We have been asked to furnish the names and addresses of the various
class presidents. They are as follows: President of class of 1882, Rev.
H. C. Pardoe, Danville, Pa.; class of 1883, Rev. H. C. Farrar, Troy,
N. Y.; class of 1884, Hon. John Fairbanks, Chicago, Ill.; class of
1885, Mr. Underwood, Meriden, Conn.; class of 1886, Rev. B. P. Snow,
Biddeford, Me.; class of 1887, Rev. Frank Russell, Mansfield, O.
* * * * *
A Pittsburgh paper says: The Allegheny County Alumni Association of the
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle has become an institution.
Composed as it is of the thinking people of Pittsburgh and Allegheny
its success is not phenomenal, but is entirely merited. Last night the
alumni were “at home” for the third time at the Seventh Avenue Hotel
to their friends. They number about seventy people, and are as proud
of their badges with their seals attached as a Knight of the Legion of
Honor. The members and their friends met and chatted, much as other
people do on such occasions, in the ladies’ parlors. The guests were
taken care of by the president and secretary in handsome style, and
at 8:30 the banquet supper was announced. Supper over the guests were
provided with pure cold water, with which to toast the association. Dr.
Eaton said it was a most dangerous proceeding at that time of night,
nevertheless it prevailed. Dr. Wood announced a song at the conclusion
of his toast to the Circle. It was of the Chautauqua series, “We gather
here as pilgrim bands.” “The C. L. S. C., an untried experiment in
1878, but a grand success in ’83,” was the topic proposed for Prof. L.
H. Eaton. He is one of the oldest and most enthusiastic members of the
society, and has only missed one meeting in ten years at Chautauqua.
The struggles and triumphs of the order was an easy subject to him
and he was generally applauded at the conclusion of his remarks. “The
order of the White Seal” by Miss Jennie Adair, followed. Mr. A. M.
Martin, Secretary of the Grand Assembly of the Association, spoke upon
“The Heroes.” He gave a short history of the Circle. The women are
pronounced the heroes. “The class of ’83,” Miss N. G. Boyce; Alumni
Song of ’83; “Our public schools the pride of the American people,”
Miss M. E. Hare; Select reading, Miss Lizzie K. Pershing; Grecian
history, Mr. D. W. Jones; Lawrenceville class of ’82, Thos. J. Ford;
The Ladies, Professor Steeth. The toasts were all good, many of them
humorous. When the party rose, it was an “all rounder” (cold water) to
the prosperity of the Chautauquan culture.
* * * * *
A Pennsylvania member of the C. L. S. C. writes us: “I am a man in
middle life (44 years old) with a family of four children to look
after. I do a varied business, merchandising, lumbering and farming. I
believe they call me the hardest working man in the village, but I have
found time to complete the course, and have derived great benefit, as
well as enjoyment, while reading. My main object has been to prepare
myself as best I could, under the circumstances, to better educate
and direct the minds of the children growing up around me, and by
encouraging good reading to drive the bad away.”
* * * * *
The editor of the _Home and School_, Toronto, (Ont.,) has received the
following from a young man in Manitoba: “You will probably remember
that I wrote you in regard to some systematic sourse of reading just
about three years ago, and that you sent me circulars of the C. L.
S. C., and also said you would be happy to hear of my success in
prosecuting the ‘course,’ etc. Well, owing to a change of circumstances
and other unforeseen events, I have been unable to take the ‘course,’
though I procured some of the books, and have been a constant
subscriber to THE CHAUTAUQUAN. I must thank you for sending me those
circulars. The little I have read in the ‘course’ has been a very great
benefit to me, indeed. It has improved my mind, and given me a greater
desire for more knowledge; but, perhaps, better still is this: This
year myself and a younger brother—I am twenty-two years old—have joined
the ‘Circle,’ and we are at present talking about getting up a ‘local
circle,’ and, indeed, have things about arranged for it. I was so
pleased with all this that I could not refrain from writing and telling
you, as you were the one who first sent me the circulars.”
* * * * *
In a pleasant letter to THE CHAUTAUQUAN the secretary of the local
circle of Muscatine (Iowa) says: “The graduates of 1882 still remain
banded together, and are this year pursuing the special course of
Modern History. ‘Fifteen’ is still a favorite number, the number with
which the class was organized in 1878, the number that graduated, and
the number that are at present pursuing the special course.”
* * * * *
A paper in Muscatine, Iowa, furnishes this word picture: The Bryant
memorial, at the residence of P. M. Musser, was one of the most
pleasant and successful anniversary meetings in the history of
the Muscatine Chautauqua circles. There was a large attendance of
both circles and invited guests, and the program proved unusually
interesting and entertaining. The music, which was so appropriately
interspersed through the program, was of a high order of merit, each
number exhibiting much practice and study. The literary program
consisted mainly of finely-rendered recitations and readings from
Bryant’s poems. There was a charmingly-written sketch of Bryant’s
life, which abounded with valuable and interesting facts in regard to
the great poet’s life and the development and growth of his poetic
genius; also a description of Bryant’s 80th year memorial vase, whose
design was so exquisite in beauty and expressive in sentiment. The
special interest of the evening centered in the discussion on the
question—Resolved, that Bryant, as a poet, is more American than
Longfellow. The question was evidently adopted, not for the purpose of
drawing odious comparisons or in any way detracting from the renown or
genius of either of America’s greatest poets, but for the purpose of
presenting the special characteristics of both. After extending thanks
to Mr. and Mrs. Musser for the cordial hospitality of the evening, the
exercises closed. The Bryant memorial is an occasion to be remembered.
* * * * *
A lady has related to us this interesting experience in the C. L. S.
C.: “In the fall of 1879, while going across the Rocky Mountains in
a stage, a lady (a perfect stranger) told me about the C. L. S. C.
She had the text-book on English History with her and was studying
it. I had just completed a college course, but felt so unsatisfied
with the little I knew, and was longing for some one to direct me. I
knew not what to read, nor how to read. We were in the same town that
winter—Bozeman, Mont.—and with a friend formed a circle of three. Next
year I returned home (Missouri), but too late to have a circle. Our
people had never heard of it. Well, a meeting was held and our numbers
ran up to forty-seven. How our hearts were gladdened! They have all
joined as regular members, and seem so interested. Quite a number have
expressed their regret to me that they did not join before.”
* * * * *
The president of the Knoxville circle, Mrs. Delia Havey, graduated
at Monteagle last summer, being the first graduate from the southern
Chautauqua. THE CHAUTAUQUAN has neglected to mention that there was a
graduate at Monteagle, but is very glad to note the fact.
* * * * *
At Lake View a New England Branch of the class of ’85 was organized,
with the following officers: President, Rev. J. E. Fullerton,
Hopkinton, Mass.; vice-presidents, Miss Lena A. Chubbeck, New Bedford,
Mass., Miss Alice C. Earle, Newport, R. I., Miss Marcia C. Smith,
Swanton, Vt., Mr. J. B. Underwood, Meriden, Conn.; secretary and
treasurer, Mr. A. B. Comey, South Framingham, Mass. The badge of class
’85 can be obtained of the president. Each member of the class of ’85
residing in New England is requested to send his name and address to
the secretary at South Framingham, Mass.
* * * * *
The Augusta, Me., local circle puts a copy of THE CHAUTAUQUAN into
the Y. M. C. A. reading-room of that city. Through the efforts of the
secretary of the circle, a C. L. S. C. circle has been formed among
the young men of the association. The Y. M. C. A. reaches in most
places a large number of young men whose opportunities for culture are
limited. Wherever a society is formed which offers them a systematic
and thorough course of reading, they almost invariably will avail
themselves of its advantages. Other circles may profitably follow the
example of our Augusta friends.
* * * * *
Under the very efficient management of the president, Rev. B. P. Snow,
the interests of the class of ’86 are being subserved. He requests
that secretaries of local circles in New England forward to the
secretary of the New England organization of class of ’86, Miss Mary
R. Hinckley, New Bedford, Mass., name of circle, officers, number of
members, and number of class of ’86. Those reading alone are requested
to forward name and residence. Let this be promptly attended to, that
the organization of this energetic branch of the class of ’86 may be
completed.