The local circle reports from the south are so encouraging that we can
not refrain from devoting an extra corner to them alone. Most zealously
must the friends of the movement have worked to have produced such
abundant results. Circles have been reported this year from:—
Hardinsburgh, Kentucky; president, Miss Anna L. Gardiner; secretary, Miss
Anna R. Bassett.
Jackson, Tennessee; president, Rev. F. P. Flanniker; vice-president, B.
S. McClaren; secretary, T. J. Porter.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee; secretary, H. H. Clayton, Jr.
Richmond, Virginia; chairman, Wm. M. Coulling.
Memphis, Tennessee; secretary, E. M. Schwalmeyer.
Oxford, Mississippi; secretary, Miss Mattie E. Dennis.
Also from the following places, though officers are not given: Fort Worth
and Bonham, Texas; Petersburgh, Virginia; Slaughterville, Kentucky;
Spartansburg, South Carolina.
Two circles from Washington, D. C.; secretary of one is Frank P. Reeside,
1219 D. Street, S. W.; of the other, Miss Nettie Love. Making _seven_
circles now reported as at work in Washington, D. C.
* * * * *
In Independence, Missouri, there is a circle of forty-seven members.
* * * * *
From Nashville a lady writes: “The ‘Nashville’ local circle of the C.
L. S. C. was organized at the rooms of the Y. M. C. A. the latter part
of September, with a membership of about twenty. We have had three very
interesting meetings, consisting of essays, lectures, questions on the
lessons, etc. We meet every two weeks at the Y. M. C. A. rooms. We intend
to give all the time we can to the work. All the members are deeply
interested.”
* * * * *
The secretary of a new circle in Salem, North Carolina, says: “We
organized a circle in Salem on November 3, consisting of twenty-eight
members, which has since increased to thirty-two. A president,
vice-president and secretary were appointed. These officers, with
a committee of two on instruction, are to arrange programs for
entertainment at the monthly meetings of the circle. For the first
meeting of the circle the program consists of reviews, in the form of
questions given to each member, readings and recitations, also music. We
began the readings in October, and have divided ourselves into a number
of small circles for the more careful study of the weekly readings. So
far we greatly enjoy the readings, and hope to derive profit from them,
both in the increase of knowledge and improvement of literary taste.”
* * * * *
A gentleman who writes to Dr. Vincent from Richmond, Virginia, says in
regard to the C. L. S. C.: “I believe there is a great field here, and
that one with time to devote to it could do a great deal of good. I
have every reason to believe that the leading paper here would do all
in its power to help forward such a work, and I think that some of the
Professors at the Richmond College would be willing to deliver a course
of lectures. My idea is that by having numbers of little circles—or
rather segments—formed in different parts of the city, a large, general
circle could be formed, such general circle to meet once in two weeks
for the purpose of hearing lectures, etc. The smaller societies could of
course meet every week in their own localities, for discussion of the
course being read. I think there is a desire for something of this kind
in the minds of a great many people here, and I have very ambitious ideas
as to the future of such a society. I would like quite a large number of
C. L. S. C. circulars for distribution here as soon as possible.”
* * * * *
A circle of ’87s was organized in September at Jackson, Tennessee.
Thirty-five members, two ministers, two lawyers, two editors, eleven
teachers, merchants, etc. The circle has about as many ladies as
gentlemen, and holds a meeting every Monday evening from 7:30 to 10
o’clock, at a private residence. The studies for the week are taken up
in order. Essays, discussions, lectures, query box, music, declamations,
etc., constitute the program. Each exercise is limited to fifteen
minutes, and every member prepares his exercise as he desires. Some have
drawn maps of Greece at its different historical stages. One evening
each month is devoted especially to some study which has been completed.
American Literature was first Monday in December. Mark Twain, Hawthorne,
Longfellow, Holmes and Whittier were treated by lectures and discussions.