_Canada._—It was a bitter disappointment to me that I was compelled
to leave school at fourteen and earn my own living, giving up the
idea of a college course. The C. L. S. C. has been to me therefore an
unspeakable boon.
* * * * *
_Vermont._—I have received large benefit as well as pleasure during the
year that I have been a member of the C. L. S. C. The course of reading
has taken me into broader fields, opened new avenues of thought and
reflection, widened my field of vision, and altogether made me a better
man.
* * * * *
_Vermont._—According to Isaiah xxx:7, I have been trying to show my
strength by “sitting still” four years. I often ask myself, what
should I have done had I not had this interesting course—the C. L. S.
C. During these four years of deprivation how many sorrows have been
almost forgotten while reading the many interesting thoughts that are
presented in our reading. I thank God many times for this glorious
enterprise.
* * * * *
_Connecticut._—I have been very much interested in the studies of
the C. L. S. C. during the first year. It is an honor as well as a
privilege to be a member.
* * * * *
_Rhode Island._—Many times home duties have occupied time and thought
so fully as to discourage me. But realizing that I am to live “heartily
as to the Lord,” and viewing the course as his special blessing, I have
gathered inspiration and journeyed on patiently.
* * * * *
_New York._—I have enjoyed my four years’ course very much, and hope
that it has been profitable to me. Though having reached the age of
sixty years my love for improvement has not been gratified, and I
purpose to continue the course that is marked out.
* * * * *
_New York._—I am surprised at the pleasure and advantage the C. L. S.
C. has been to me. I have read no more than usual, but have read more
systematically, and received greater benefit. There is inspiration in
being “one of many.”
* * * * *
_New York._—I have taken great pleasure in the reading. Am very
enthusiastic over the course, and will try my best to graduate. I do it
a great deal for my children, hoping that I may be a better mother, and
train their minds so that they will make better men and women than they
would have been had I not become a member of the C. L. S. C. Am all
alone in my reading, except what my boy of fourteen does with me; even
my little girl just turned seven studies geology with me, and is much
interested in finding specimens.
* * * * *
_Pennsylvania._—I have only been a member of the C. L. S. C. for about
four months and in that time I have done most of my reading at night,
reading usually from eight o’clock until eleven. As I have to work hard
all day, I have little time for reading except at night, I find the
course very interesting, and I am deriving a great amount of good from
it.
* * * * *
_Pennsylvania._—For almost two years my work has required my presence
twelve hours every week day, and part of the time sixteen and eighteen
hours. I gave up last summer, thinking I could not finish the course,
but after being present at Chautauqua I had a greater desire than ever
to continue. I have at leisure moments read up for the two years, and
must ever feel grateful to Chautauqua influence.
* * * * *
_Ohio._—I am a farmer’s wife, but with all the care of the work that
position in life brings (and a good share of the work too), I still
find time to read the regular four years’ course of the C. L. S. C.,
and desire to do as thorough work as I am capable of doing. Am reading
not merely for pleasure, far less to criticise, but for _instruction_,
and have been greatly helped by this first year’s study.
* * * * *
_Ohio._—In many ways I think the C. L. S. C. has been of benefit to
the little ones. This last winter my eldest daughter said: “Why can’t
we have a society of our own?” “We,” meant the family. I seconded it
gladly, and my husband also, and we resolved ourselves into the “Clio
Clique” and took as our work “Art and Artists,” as mapped out in the
_St. Nicholas_. Each member pledged themselves to take the work given
them by the president (who was our only officer), and also to commit
not less than eight lines of some poem to memory. We had no outside
members, and we did our work right well, I think.
* * * * *
_Illinois._—The C. L. S. C. has done much for me. Life has been
brighter, sweeter and better than it might otherwise have been.
Friendships have been formed which I am sure will survive life, and add
another link in the golden chain that binds us to another world.
* * * * *
_Michigan._—To the C. L. S. C. I owe everything.
* * * * *
_Michigan._—Were it not that I still may keep a place in the Circle,
I should be sorry the four years were over. They have been pleasant
ones, so far as the Circle was concerned, and have passed swiftly. It
seemed a great undertaking to me four years ago, when I commenced the
course. For one thing, I did not see my way clear to get the books, but
I resolved to try, and it has seemed all along that it was God’s way of
helping me to the knowledge I had so much desired.
* * * * *
_Wisconsin._—A lady writes: The regular methods of the C. L. S. C. have
suggested to me the plan of having a little home monthly, contributed
to only by members of the family, written, and read aloud on a
specified evening each month. The children write prose and poetry that
are a surprise, but only the effect of a regular course of reading and
conversations by one member of the family. While reading astronomy,
one of the little girls, aged ten years, took two looking-glasses and
illustrated, in play, the motions of a planet. She held them by the
window in the sun, so as to throw the reflection on the ceiling. One
she had stationary, for the sun, the other she caused to go around
it, causing the motion to hasten at perihelion, and to become slow at
aphelion, describing the motions correctly. Then she imagined a comet,
causing it to go out of sight, then return, and upon its approach to
the sun rushing it past with lightning speed. I called the attention
of their father to their play with much delight, for I had no idea
they understood the motions so well, simply from conversations on the
subject in the family circle. They all joined in the conversation at
play, and seemed to comprehend it all.
* * * * *
_Iowa._—The studies have benefited me much more than I can express
in words. May heaven’s choicest blessings rest upon the officers and
everyone connected with the C. L. S. C.
* * * * *
_Kansas._—I am one of the busy housekeepers, but always find time
to read. My reading has uplifted my soul, and led me to a fuller
appreciation of the power and love of God, and I feel thankful that I
am numbered with the army of Chautauquans.
* * * * *
_California._—When I read the C. L. S. C. testimony in THE CHAUTAUQUAN,
I always think Chautauqua has been _all that_ and _more_ to me, for
it has led me from cold, dark skepticism to my Bible and my Father in
heaven, and it is gradually leading some of my friends into the light.
I prize my C. L. S. C. books more highly that they are worn and soiled
by many readers, and I believe I can do no better missionary work than
by enlarging the Circle.