Singing—Chautauqua Carols.
Supper—Toasts and Responses, including two original
poems.
Though small in numbers the circle is very enthusiastic in its work.
New members for the coming year were enrolled from the invited guests
of the occasion, and the readings will be commenced in October with
fresh vigor.
* * * * *
=Massachusetts (Haverhill).=—A local circle was organized in Haverhill,
March 14, 1883, with the following officers: R. D. Trask, president;
George H. Foster, vice president; Delia Drew, secretary. Whole
membership numbers seventeen.
* * * * *
=Massachusetts (Natick).=—The Natick local circle was organized
September 20, 1879. Eight of the original members, keeping in view the
motto, “never be discouraged,” have completed the four years’ course.
At the commencement of the present year our local circle numbered
twenty-five. We enjoy our reading greatly, and consider the Natick C.
L. S. C. a success.
* * * * *
=Connecticut (West Haven).=—Our circle was organized November 14,
1881, and numbers seventeen members. We meet once a week. Our circle
is divided into committees of three and four to arrange programs for
the month’s entertainments. They include reviews, essays on different
subjects connected with the course, readings and recitations.
“Shakspere’s Day” was observed by reading a portion of the play,
“Merchant of Venice,” the committee having previously assigned the
different characters to the members present. We are very social at
our meetings, and occasionally have a little collation at the close
of the exercises. Most of us are well up with the class, and find the
Chautauqua evenings not only instructive, but exceedingly enjoyable.
* * * * *
=New York (Angola).=—A local circle was organized here February 5,
1883, and consists of eighteen members. We usually do the reading in
THE CHAUTAUQUAN at our meetings, information being given, and questions
asked by all. We have made use of the questions and answers in THE
CHAUTAUQUAN, and found them to be of much assistance. Occasionally
topics are assigned, upon which we are to read or speak at the next
meeting. Criticism upon pronunciation is unsparingly given to all. We
intend to continue our meetings, and hope that another year may bring
us a larger membership.
* * * * *
=Pennsylvania (Allegheny City).=—In November, 1882, the Woodlawn
segment of the C. L. S. C. was organized and officers elected. The
president having drawn up a constitution, it was read and unanimously
adopted. Our constitution regulates the manner of conducting the
society, prescribes parliamentary rules, etc. During our study of
geology, we were favored with an interesting and instructive lecture by
A. M. Martin, Esq., General Secretary of the C. L. S. C. Our membership
now consists of seventeen persons, six being ladies.
* * * * *
=Pennsylvania (Gillmor).=—Our circle owes its being to the earnest,
persistent efforts of two or three persons who had read one year alone.
The first meeting was held October 24, 1882, and the circle organized
with fifteen members. We labor under some peculiar difficulties. Our
members represent several little villages, and are so scattered that
it is some times hard to get together. Then we are in the oil country
where people stay rather than live, so they gather around them only
such things as are needful for comfortable living. The majority have
but few books of reference, or other helps to study. Our meetings
were opened with prayer and the singing of a Chautauqua song, and
sometimes repeating the Chautauqua mottoes, any items of business being
attended to before beginning the regular work of the circle. Before
closing members were appointed by the president to conduct the various
exercises in the succeeding meeting. In the latter part of the winter
the president proposed a course of lectures. It was a decided success.
Our lecturers were J. T. Edwards, D.D., Randolph, N. Y.—subject:
“Oratory and Eloquence;” D. W. C. Huntington, Bradford, Pa., “Rambles
in Europe;” C. W. Winchester, Buffalo, N. Y., “Eight Wonders of the
World.” This course closed with a home entertainment, consisting of
vocal and instrumental music, readings, essays, etc., mostly by members
of the circle. Our number is at present nineteen, and we are happy to
have proved those to be false prophets who predicted that three months
would be the limit of our existence.
* * * * *
=District of Columbia (Washington).=—The Parker Circle has been
reorganized for the course of 1883-84. Several new members were
received, and the circle now numbers about thirty-six. On Tuesday
evening, the 18th, Dr. Dobson, our president, will organize a new
circle in another part of the city, beginning with a dozen members.
Foundry Circle reorganizes the same night, and several new circles will
be organized during the fall. There is considerable interest manifested
in the course.
* * * * *
=Maryland (Baltimore).=—The Class of 1887 was organized on Thursday
evening, September 20, at the Young Men’s Christian Association
Hall. The membership for the coming year will be about thirty. The
officers constitute the committee on instruction. The class of the
past year, the fourth since its organization, was one of the best; the
method adopted was that of the question box; each member placing such
questions of interest in the box as he had met with in his reading.
The director, Prof. J. Rendell Harris, would read the questions one at
a time, and open the discussion upon them, in which all joined. Two
meetings each month from October to June were held, and the entire time
spent on the three books, the rest of the books being used for home
reading only. This plan was considered preferable to the study of two
or three at one time. The outlook for the new class is good.
* * * * *
=Ohio (Harrisburg).=—We have eleven members, of whom ten are regular
members of the C. L. S. C. Our method of work thus far has consisted of
essays, readings, and conversations. The interest in the work increases
with each meeting.
* * * * *
=Illinois (Fairburg).=—We have here a small circle of eight members. We
have met regularly once a week, taking each study in its course, and
in an informal way have discussed the various subjects presented. Much
interest has been felt and expressed, and we all feel that a prescribed
course of reading is by all means the best and most direct means of
self-culture.
* * * * *
=Illinois (Yorkville).=—For the past two years quite a number of our
people have pursued the course of studies, but not until last year
did we see proper to unite with the home society. Our class comprised
lawyers, bankers, insurance agents, carriage trimmers, preachers,
teachers and farmers. All feel that it has been two years of very
profitable study for us. We closed our last year’s study by a meeting
at the residence of one of the members, where we were entertained by a
program consisting of essays, character sketches, class history, music,
and last, but not least, refreshments for the inner man. It was indeed
an enjoyable occasion. We hope to organize a much larger class for the
coming year.
* * * * *
=Tennessee (Knoxville).=—The local circle at this place reorganized
this year with a membership of twenty-eight, an increase of twenty
over last year. How was this accomplished? The secret can be given in
just two words: _personal influence_. At the close of last year we
felt that our circle here was dying. The members were negligent about
the preparation of lessons, careless and indifferent about attendance,
and we disbanded for the summer feeling almost discouraged, yet in the
heart of each member was a secret determination to do something to
make the circle more interesting next year. One of our members went
to Monteagle, another to Europe, and another to Chautauqua. Those
who remained at home worked also for the C. L. S. C., and all worked
earnestly and with enthusiasm. We thought, wrote and talked C. L. S.
C. until our friends laughingly called us “people of one idea.” We
sent for circulars, which we gave to every one whom we could betray
into the slightest expression of interest. We loaned our books and
magazine with the request, “please just look it over and tell us what
you think of it.” The seventh of September we held a meeting at the Y.
M. C. A. rooms, kindly tendered to us for that purpose. All who were
interested in the C. L. S. C. were invited, and two of the ministers of
our city also encouraged us by their presence and cheering words. Then
we began to reap the fruits of our summer’s work. Seven new members
were reported and two more asked for membership. Another meeting was
held September 21 for reorganization, at which six new names were
reported and five more requested admission to the circle, making our
number twenty-eight. The circle will meet once a week, and we hope to
accomplish results worthy of our enthusiasm. We send greeting to our
sister circles, especially to the weak, to whom we would say: _Use your
influence_ as a society and as individuals, and _success_ is yours.
* * * * *
=Michigan (Niles).=—Our circle was organized last October, with
thirteen members. We have held thirty-three meetings, at which reviews
upon the topics studied and readings from THE CHAUTAUQUAN have formed
part of the program. In addition, we have read Bryant’s translation of
the “Iliad,” and “Evangeline.” All the Memorial Days have been kept.
Selections from the author, sketches of his life and home, responses to
roll-call with quotations from the same, and familiar talks upon the
subject of the memorial, have made these occasions of unusual interest.
* * * * *
=Michigan (Imlay City).=—On Tuesday evening, November 28, 1882, we
organized a local circle of the C. L. S. C. We have eight regular and
three local members. The meetings have been held once in two weeks,
at the houses of the members, and from the interest manifested in the
work, we have every reason to hope for a large increase in numbers next
year. On the evening of February 27 we observed Longfellow’s birthday
by an interesting program of essays, readings, recitations and songs.
We closed with a sentiment from each one present, from Longfellow.
* * * * *
=Wisconsin (La Crosse).=—A local circle was organized here last
January. The membership is small, but we have been faithful to the
work. Although we began very late, we have nearly completed the year’s
work. We are all glad we began such a course of study, and have found
much pleasure in gathering round our “round-table.” The prospects for
an increase in numbers and interest for the coming year are encouraging.
* * * * *
=Minnesota (Minneapolis).=—The Centenary Circle has just finished the
work of the year. Our circle has numbered forty-two in all, with six
local members, though six, at least, have been unable to attend the
meetings on account of distance,—one even living in another State—but
most are keeping up their work. There has been more interest and
enthusiasm all through the year than during our first year.
* * * * *
=Minnesota (Albert Lea).=—This is the first year of our local circle,
and we number five, all ladies with home cares. We have short sketches
of the “Required History Readings” in THE CHAUTAUQUAN, which we think
make us remember them better. We are reading the “White Seal Course”
aloud, and enjoy it so much. Can not be glad enough that we have taken
up this course.
* * * * *
=Iowa (Muscatine.)=—The Acme Circle is composed of fifty-five members,
with an average attendance of thirty-five. We are very enthusiastic,
and expect to take the examinations. We recite the lesson, occasionally
reading a part which it does not seem worth while to commit to
memory. Our exercises are varied by essays on topics of importance in
connection with the lesson.
* * * * *
=Iowa (St. Charles).=—I wish to report from our town a circle of three
(myself and family). We hold no regular meetings. Although we began the
first year’s course late last December, we have completed the reading
up to this month. It has been very profitable and entertaining to us.
We are each determined to complete the course. We will advertise it
in our county papers, and do our utmost to solicit members and get
up local circles. We do not think any better plan than the C. L. S.
C. could be devised for furnishing those who have not the privilege
of an academic or collegiate course an opportunity to acquire a good
practical education.
* * * * *
=Texas (Palestine.)=—The Houston _Daily Post_ gives the following
history of the local circle in Palestine: Some young people and some
adults of Palestine have formed themselves into a branch of the now
world-renowned Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, and have
entered upon the four years’ course of study prescribed by that
institution. The circle was organized in October, 1882, and now has a
membership of twenty-three. Meetings are held every week at the homes
of the members. The evenings thus spent are highly profitable to the
members, socially and intellectually. Dr. Yoakum has assisted the
circle greatly by lectures and talks on geology, astronomy, botany and
history. The program of exercises is varied semi-occasionally from the
regular channel, and the evening is spent in purely a literary way.
Such seasons of refreshment occur on the birth anniversaries of popular
authors. On the 23d of April a Shakspere memorial meeting was held
at Sterne’s Hotel, on which occasion Mrs. Overall read “The Fall of
Cardinal Wolsey.” Miss Kate Colding rendered “Hamlet’s Soliloquy” most
admirably. Miss Florence Finch presided at the organ and lead in the
Chautauqua songs. On May 1 the circle did honor to the life and memory
of Addison. Mrs. J. C. Bradford read a sketch of his life and writings,
Miss Ena Sawyers read “The Omnipresence and Omniscience of the Deity,”
and Miss Fannie Reese read “The Vision of Mirza.”
* * * * *
=California (Brooklyn).=—Our circle is an informal quartet of congenial
spirits who have been close friends and companions for some time past.
We meet every Monday evening and have a delightful free and easy
discussion over what we have read during the week, with Webster’s
Unabridged in its post of honor—the piano stool, and the encyclopædia
rack within reachable distance. We are enjoying the course very much,
and feel that it is just what we need.