Canto II. Stanzas 2 to 9.

5. Essay—The Proposed New Word, “Thon.”

6. Question Box.

7. Talk on the New Orleans Exposition.

SECOND WEEK IN JANUARY.

1. Roll-call—Responses by Mottoes.

2. Essay—Use and Abuse of Food.

3. Fifteen minutes’ talk on “Temperance Teachings of Science.”

4. Recitation—“Pericles and Aspasia,” by the Rev. George Croly, found in

Chambers’s “Cyclopædia of English Literature.”

Intermission.

5. Essay—Herodotus.

6. Select Reading—“Cautions to be Observed in the Reading of Ancient

Greek and Roman Historians.” By Addison.

7. One-half of the “Questions and Answers” for January.

8. Conversation on the Topics of the Times.

THIRD WEEK IN JANUARY.

1. Talk and Questions on the Month’s Readings.

2. Essay—Thucydides.

3. Recitation—“Psyche and Pan.” By Mrs. Browning.

Music.

4. Select Reading—“On the Athenian Orators.” By Macaulay. [The last third

of the article, beginning, “Oratory is to be estimated—”]

5. Essay—Visible Forms of Electricity.

6. Chemical Experiments.

MONTHLY PARLOR MEETING.

Music.

1. Roll-call—Quotations from Readings of the Month.

2. Paper on Plato’s Republic, carefully prepared, followed by discussion

of the subject by the members.

[Articles upon it may be found in Mahaffy’s “History of Classical Greek

Literature,” and in De Quincy’s writings.]

3. Recitation—“Marriage of Psyche and Cupid.” By Mrs. Browning.

Music.

4. Essay—Apples.

[It need not be entirely practical; allusions may be made to the apples

of mythology and history.]

5. Select Reading—“Dissertation on Roast Pig.” By Charles Lamb.

Music.

6. Question Match—Answers relating to Greek History and Literature given

to all questions in THE CHAUTAUQUAN of the present volume.

LOCAL CIRCLES.

C. L. S. C. MOTTOES.

“_We Study the Word and the Works of God._”—“_Let us keep our Heavenly

Father in the Midst._”—“_Never be Discouraged._”

C. L. S. C. MEMORIAL DAYS.

1. OPENING DAY—October 1.

2. BRYANT DAY—November 3.

3. SPECIAL SUNDAY—November, second Sunday.

4. MILTON DAY—December 9.

5. COLLEGE DAY—January, last Thursday.

6. SPECIAL SUNDAY—February, second Sunday.

7. FOUNDER’S DAY—February 23.

8. LONGFELLOW DAY—February 27.

9. SHAKSPERE DAY—April 23.

10. ADDISON DAY—May 1.

11. SPECIAL SUNDAY—May, second Sunday.

12. SPECIAL SUNDAY—July, second Sunday.

13. INAUGURATION DAY—August, first Saturday after first Tuesday;

anniversary of C. L. S. C. at Chautauqua.

14. ST. PAUL’S DAY—August, second Saturday after first Tuesday;

anniversary of the dedication of St. Paul’s Grove at Chautauqua.

15. COMMENCEMENT DAY—August, third Tuesday.

16. GARFIELD DAY—September 19.

* * * * *

How shall we arrange a program? It is a constantly recurring query

for instruction committees. A skillfully planned program insures an

interested society, but it is no easy undertaking for even a very wise

committee to plan a series of exercises which shall be of just the right

length, of pleasing variety, and on topics in which every one will be

interested. Only a careful study of the reading of the month, a knowledge

of the taste and ability of the circle, and considerable practice will

guarantee a really good program. Many hints may be gathered, we believe,

each month from the programs presented in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. At least,

many circles report that they find them helpful. The QUINCY, ILL.,

circle writes: “Those programs are a very great help to us.” At KITTERY,

MAINE, where a circle of ten active members has been in operation for

three years, they have adopted THE CHAUTAUQUAN programs, and express the

belief that with them they will do better work than ever before. This

modest little circle has never made itself known before, but in a quiet

way has done much good with the “Popular Education” circular. At least

one circle in another state owes its existence to its efforts. One of

their amusements is the Chautauqua games, and they say that the use of

these games has led to much close reading of the books and articles.

The regular programs are used, too, at SHENANDOAH, IOWA, where a circle

of twenty-five members, representing the classes of ’86, ’87, and ’88,

are meeting weekly. The plan has proven very successful with them, they

write. Bryant’s Day was celebrated by special exercises. This circle

has found, as we believe all readers will, that bringing all the Greek

studies into one year is a great help, instead of a drawback. The more

one knows on any subject, the greater his interest. The Greek course of

this year enables us to learn a great deal on that subject.

At PUTNAM, CONN., WEST MIDDLESEX, PA., and DARTFORD, WIS., circles

report the adoption of these same programs. The organization at Putnam,

numbering eighteen members, is of recent date, although there have been

several young people there pursuing the prescribed course for the past

five years. An interesting variation to their program is a paper called

the _Olla Podrida_. It is made up of original contributions from the

members, and is issued monthly, a different editor being appointed each

time. The Middlesex circle is in its second year. It has had already an

addition of four ’88s. Dartford circle of six members is a new addition

to our ranks, and a very welcome one. We feel sure that the hope they

express of gaining great benefit from the Required Readings will not be

disappointed.

While many circles find the prescribed exercises satisfactory, we are

glad to know that others vary performances to suit the talents and

interests of their members. This is found necessary in the BOWLING GREEN,

OHIO, circle, we learn from a recent letter. They use the programs simply

as a model, and work according to their talent. All the features of a

first-class circle are found in this year-old circle at Bowling Green.

They boast a goodly membership, an efficient president, a thorough

organization, a constitution which all cordially support, and much social

life. The first annual reception of our Bowling Green friends was given

last summer. In September they wisely held their first meeting, that

their plans might be laid to begin work the first week of October—a

point which many of us would do well to bear in mind until next fall.

Bryant’s Day was observed, and very flatteringly noticed in their local

paper. Among the virtues which we infer belong to this circle we must

include the missionary spirit. They have in mind the conversion of their

whole county to the C. L. S. C.

The same plan in regard to programs is followed at LUDINGTON, MICH.,

where there is a new circle of twenty-seven members, called “Père

Marquette”—a magnificent beginning. Our correspondent writes: “We enjoy

our reading and our weekly meetings very much indeed; the only regret I

have is that I have let so much time slip by before taking the course.”

Some of the programs sent us contain novelties which when introduced

into a purely literary program are very agreeable diversions. One which

is capable of being made very entertaining we find in a program from a

newly organized circle of thirty members—nearly all ’88s—at NORWICH,

CONN. It is character personation (“Who am I?”). The well known game,

“Characters,” is another number on one of their programs. The response

to roll-call by quotations on Bryant’s Day was improved by stating

after the quotation an interesting fact from the life of the poet. The

Norwich members are certainly to be congratulated on the variety in their

exercises.

Another CONNECTICUT circle which has a particularly good plan for its

evenings is the “Quintette” local circle, of SHARON. They have but

recently organized, and report their plan for work as experimental;

successful, too, we prophesy it will be. The secretary informs us: “We

intend to learn the questions and answers in THE CHAUTAUQUAN, and recite

at our regular meetings, held every two weeks. For the present we in

turn are to read aloud selected articles from THE CHAUTAUQUAN and ‘Cyrus

and Alexander;’ after each reading discussing in general conversation,

what has been read, commenting on pronunciation, looking up references

concerning people and places mentioned, and trying to inform ourselves

thoroughly about what has been read.” That plan of preparing programs

a month in advance, and giving to each member a printed copy has been

adopted by the “Longfellow” circle, of NORTH CAMBRIDGE, MASS. This circle

has begun its second year with extraordinary vigor, the membership being

largely increased.

One objection that may be urged against the majority of the programs is

that they are too long. It is difficult to make them short. There is so

much we want to talk about; so many charming selections to read, such

a wealth of subjects for essays, it is not strange that sometimes we

tire out ourselves and our guests by overdoing matters. To avoid this

try the plan of the SACRAMENTO, CAL., circle, which introduces midway

in the evening a “recess of fifteen minutes.” It will prove many a time

a saving clause. Another feature of their plan of work may furnish some

one an idea; it is that a committee should prepare a set of questions,

distribute them one week, and that at the following meeting, the

answers, as original and concise as possible, should be read. The circle

which has given us these two ideas enrolls itself among the strong and

enthusiastic circles. Their year opened most promisingly, six new names

being added to their roll. “We all,” they write, “seem to have caught the

true Chautauqua inspiration, and it has fired our hearts and elevated

the character of our work.” To the hints on programs which the letters

of the month have given us we must add two programs, which seem to us

particularly good; the first one comes from the circle at BALTIMORE, MD.,

now in its sixth year, and is of the Bryant memorial service:

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT—BORN NOV. 3, 1794—DIED JUNE 12, 1878.

Chautauqua Vesper Service.

Bryant Letter to C. L. S. C.

Quotations from Bryant.

Anniversary Hymn.

“Bryant as a Student of Nature.”

Illustrated Readings.

The other is from the “Vincent” circle, of ALBANY, N. Y. We print the

slip in full. It will furnish a useful model for those who may wish to

send out similar notices:

C. L. S. C.

THE FIRST

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE

VINCENT CIRCLE

WILL BE HELD

In the North Second Street Methodist Church,

_Thursday Evening, November 6, 1884_,

At half past seven o’clock.

PROGRAM.

1. Geography of Greece.

2. Glimpses of Ancient Greek Life.

3. Our Every Day Speech.

4. Why are the French at War with China?

5. William Cullen Bryant—A Conversazione.

6. Our Round-Table.

The New Year opens invitingly. Its wealth of instruction is

proffered to the earnest student. Remember our motto: “WE

STUDY THE WORD AND WORKS OF GOD.” There is no royal road to

learning—save that of hard work! We hope to greet the older

members of the Circle. A welcome to all.

The “Bryant Memorial Day” is November 3; let us work up a hearty

conversazione. Every monthly meeting we shall have at least one

current topic: No. 4 is such. Remember the Round-Table and make

it witty and wise. Come promptly.

H. C. FARRAR,

_President_.

A. M. WRIGHT,

_Secretary_.

The many newly organized circles which are coming in day after day

testify that a great amount of work has been done by somebody in the

interests of the C. L. S. C. It is true, much has been done. Much more is

being done; of how much nothing that we have received is more suggestive

than the following letter from a prominent member of the class of ’87,

Mr. K. A. Burnell, and it must be remembered that there are many more

workers as zealous as is Mr. Burnell:

WALLA-WALLA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, November 10, ’84.

DEAR CHAUTAUQUAN:—As a member of ’87, and deeply interested in

every one of the 18,000 whose names appear on the two big books

at Plainfield, as well as every one reading in any one of the

classes of all of the great Chautauqua household, I venture

an account of an evangelistic tour over the Northern Pacific

Railroad.

Miss Kimball most kindly mailed me the names of the two to three

score of readers in Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington

Territories, and I wrote eighteen letters to as many points,

indicating that as one deeply interested in the C. L. S. C., I

was to be over the Northern Pacific Railroad on an evangelistic

tour, and should be happy to meet circles or individual readers,

and render any service possible, and I felt sure if I imparted

nothing I should not fail to be a recipient. I heard from most of

the messages, and with uniform and marked interest in the fact of

meeting one late from Chautauqua, and especially with a member of

the Pansy class of ’87.

At Fargo, Casselton, Cooperstown and Mandan, Dakota, I found

individual readers, and did what I could to induce others to take

up the course. My habit was at the close of each service to make

a few minutes’ statement concerning the C. L. S. C. readings,

their rapid growth, and their very great advantage and exceeding

helpfulness. I received from Plainfield a generous package of the

green books, admission sheets, and circulars, and at each place

these documents were placed in the hands of the people at the

close of the public service, and were received gladly.

At Gladstone, Dakota, the very patient and self-forgetting

Scotch-Irish minister brought from his five miles distant ranch,

his three sons and two daughters, with whom after the service I

drove home, passing the night and most of the next day, the good

minister then driving me to my next appointment (Dickinson),

which also was one of his preaching places.

This family, as a whole, became so interested in the C. L. S. C.

readings (it was not new to them) as to fully decide to take the

course, and at once enter upon it. These bright, thoughtful and

inquiring young people will be benefited beyond estimate by their

thought, research and study, and by their intimate relations to

the great numbers who are pursuing the same stimulating studies.

The adaptation of our grand everybodies’ college to meet a great

want has striking application in this exemplary minister’s home.

At Helena, Montana’s capital, rich and wicked, there is a

single reader, but I failed to find her after repeated public

intimations. At Rathdrum, Idaho, the only reader (a school

teacher) had gone away to the mines. No readers from Oregon were

announced from Plainfield, but I was glad indeed to find a circle

in good beginning in connection with and at the rooms of the

Young Men’s Christian Association of Portland.

The Portland Y. M. C. A. is a vigorous and hard-working company,

and in its adoption of the C. L. S. C. readings is doubtless a

prophecy as to the future. At Seattle and Tacoma, Washington

Territory, under the shadow of grand, old, snow-capped Mount

Tacoma, the only glacier mountain in this county, I found a

single reader, and one family reading. Steps were taken for

forming a circle at an early day. The delights of an evangelistic

campaign of forty-five days on the Northern Pacific Railroad have

been deepened because of our Chautauqua classmates.

K. A. BURNELL.

This individual effort has been supplemented by a great deal of newspaper

work. Through the past year very many valuable articles on the C. L.

S. C. have appeared from time to time. The _Daily Arkansas Gazette_,

of LITTLE ROCK, recently contained such an article from the pen of

Mrs. Myra Vaughan. It gave all the details of our work, correctly and

interestingly—an article that everybody would read, and having read would

ponder. These efforts have told. The number of new circles claiming our

recognition this month is the best proof of their success. Listen while

we run through the list: A club called the “Clio” club has been formed

at NEWPORT, VERMONT. There are sixteen members, and the meetings are

held weekly. The club has a corresponding secretary, and would be glad

to open communication with other circles.——At WOODSTOCK, VT., seven

ladies organized, on September 19, the “Mayflower” circle. They began

on Garfield’s Day, with a celebration—an admirable plan—and on November

10th observed Bryant’s memorial day. A bit of personal effort comes

with our report, which is worth saving. The lady to whom the circle

largely owes its life is the mother of five children, two of whom she

teaches at home, while she does all the work for a family of eight. Still

she finds time for the C. L. S. C. Another demonstration of our old

proverb about “a will” and “a way.”——A letter from NEWTONVILLE, MASS.,

says: “We have started this year a local circle, and hasten to inform

you of the fact which gives us so much pleasure; although our number

is at present small, being but thirteen, still we are in earnest, and

interested in our work, and propose to go through. Our number is made

up of very busy people—housekeepers, teachers, young men of business,

etc. We attended—that is, most of us—the Framingham Assembly, and there

became filled with enthusiasm which terminated in the foundation of

our circle.”——Another Massachusetts circle is heard from at IPSWICH,

whence the secretary writes: “This fall a C. L. S. C. was formed in our

town in time to begin work October 1. We organized with about fifteen

members; since then our circle has steadily increased, additions being

made at every meeting, until now we are thirty in number. We follow, with

slight variation, the programs laid out in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. The chemical

experiments are performed, and the Bryant memorial day was observed.

We are young yet, but we start out under quite favorable auspices,

having an intelligent and enthusiastic president, and a circle of busy,

wide-awake members. You may hear from us again.”——Last year a few persons

at ROCKVILLE, CONNECTICUT, subscribed for THE CHAUTAUQUAN and read its

numbers with growing interest. This year the fervor was unabated, and

steps were taken in October to organize a local circle. They number at

present thirty-one members, including one or two graduates—twenty-five

belonging to the general Circle, class of ’88. The present prospect is

of much profit and real enjoyment in the literary field, during the

winter months.——In the quiet old town of BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND, upon the

borders of the beautiful Narragansett, a number of persons have been

pursuing the Chautauqua course of reading by themselves. “Last autumn

the idea of forming a local circle was advanced. A preliminary meeting

was held October 23d, and the ten Chautauquans present agreed to form a

circle. As we are all busy people, with no spare time, we shall hold our

meetings but once a month, but we intend to make every meeting a decided

success. As Bristol is noted for having within its limits the classic

hill where Philip—not of Macedon, but of Narragansett—lived and died,

we call ours the ‘Mount Hope’ circle. We hold our meetings at private

residences, as this gives them a more social air, and those who have any

part assigned them feel more at ease than if in a public hall. At our

meeting on November 13th, twenty-one members were present, and responded

to roll-call by quotations from Greek authors. Brief papers were read

upon mythological events; an interesting biographical sketch of Bryant

was also read, and a humorous poem, written for the occasion. Vocal and

instrumental music also found a place. The enthusiasm manifested was

a promise of future success. The ‘Mount Hope’ circle is exceptionally

fortunate in having for its president, Mr. George W. Arnold, the

librarian of our excellent ‘Rogers Free Library.’ His familiarity with

this choice collection of books, and his ability to place before us

just the reference needed at any time, is of inestimable value to us as

readers and students. We have, in our membership, representatives from

every Protestant church in town. Many of us are teachers, either in the

Sunday-school or in public schools, or in both. We are confident that the

C. L. S. C. is a power for good, and in the words of an old Sunday-school

hymn, ‘We’re glad we’re in this army.’”——In that pleasant summer resort

by the sea, WESTHAMPTON, N. Y., a few “Pansies” have been studying

together, but this year they generously opened their doors, and by their

genial influence have drawn together a pleasant set of twenty-one young

people. Much good is naturally looked for from this circle. “Already,”

writes a friend, “beneficial results are manifest.”——At BUFFALO, N.

Y., the “Alyssum,” an offshoot from the old circle in that city, has

been well organized. They have a plan in their program committee which

seems practical. At each meeting a new member is appointed. The former

chairman drops out and the next in order takes the position. In this

way each member of said committee becomes chairman in turn, serves

at three committee meetings, and those who have never done such work

have the advantage of seeing how others do before their turn comes. It

works admirably. Each member is assessed ten cents a month for the nine

months. The circle has decided it shall be the social duty of each member

unable to be present to send notice of such absence to the hostess of

the evening.——A fine compliment, evidently deserved, is paid the circle

at SCRANTON, PA., in the following letter: “It affords us pleasure to

report the formation of a C. L. S. C. in PITTSTON, PA. We have long felt

the need of such an organization, but it was at a parlor entertainment

given by the ‘Vincent’ C. L. S. C. of Scranton that we fully determined

to have one of our own, and we are indebted to that circle for help

and encouragement received in forming our circle. Ours, known as the

‘Riverside’ C. L. S. C., was organized in September, and has already

reached the limit of its membership—twenty. We meet on Monday evening

of each week, at the home of one of the members, and follow the program

given in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. We are all delighted with the work, and are

already satisfied that the time spent in the pursuance of the course

could not be spent more profitably.”

Another new Chautauqua circle is reported in SULLIVAN, OHIO, from

which place a lady writes: “I think our members all appreciate the

value of this great educational movement and have the success of the

work at heart. We number but five members, but have met regularly

since October 8th, the time of organization. We celebrated Bryant’s

Day, spending a most delightful evening in the study of Bryant and his

productions.”——A local circle of five members has entered upon the

work of the class of ’88 at MONTEZUMA, IND. Full of enthusiasm for the

present, and determination for the future, we do not for a moment doubt

that they will be able to accomplish the good report which they express

themselves so anxious to have ready in 1888.——Two readers in the village

of ONARGA, ILL., last year, were the leaven from which has risen this

year a prosperous circle of eighteen members. Busy mothers and teachers,

young ladies at home, and one professor make up their membership. Their

methods and plans we hope to hear of in the year.——Three new circles

are reported from MICHIGAN: The “Mayflower” of twenty-two members, all

“Plymouth Rocks,” at SCHOOLCRAFT, where, as they write, they are brimming

over with Chautauqua enthusiasm; a circle of a dozen energetic young

people organized by the Rev. and Mrs. L. F. Bickford, at PONTIAC, and at

CLIMAX a very enthusiastic circle of ten members organized in October

through the effort of J. H. Brown, a member of the class of ’86; the

nine remaining members belong to the class of ’88. They follow the plan

given for local circles in THE CHAUTAUQUAN.——Two circles are reported

from IOWA—a state which always has a C. L. S. C. report. At CHEROKEE,

owing to the energetic efforts of a young lady graduate from the State

Normal, a local circle of eleven members was organized on Bryant’s Day.

Though the plans of the infant association are still indefinite, great

hopes are entertained of its ultimate success. From ALTA, also, a friend

writes us of the “Summit Gleaners,” a society lately organized. They

began with four members, but have quickly increased to eleven, and hope

for more. Two or three of their circle are members of the “Pansy” class;

the rest are of the class of ’88. They follow the course prescribed in

THE CHAUTAUQUAN as near as possible, for, as they write, they find it

better than anything they can suggest.——In October last a local circle

was organized in EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS. Special credit is due the

Presbyterian minister of the place for working up an interest in the

“Chautauqua Idea.” He undertook it at the suggestion of an earnest

Christian lady belonging to his church, who has been reading the C. L. S.

C. books for more than a year. They have in the circle thirty members,

nearly all of whom are reading the books, and more are joining all the

time. The circle is popular. The course of reading is well received by

their most intelligent people.——MISSOURI presents the last new circle—a

class of seven members formed at MOUND CITY. The books have been secured,

and they are now ready for work. All have started with a determination to

finish the four years’ course.

The circles of other years are writing us of much that is interesting

and suggestive. Many of their bits of circle history and circle social

life are so good that we feel a little envious; for example, of the good

fortune of the circle at BRANTFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA, where they were

recently honored by a visit from Chancellor Vincent. The organization

at Brantford, which town, by the way, is a former reserve of the Six

Nations, dates from October, 1883, and numbers twenty-one members; “up

to the standard” they must be, for they write: “Last month we tried some

of the chemical experiments given in THE CHAUTAUQUAN, some of which

proved quite successful. Another evening we tested an experiment made

by our hostess in cooking potatoes after one of the rules given in THE

CHAUTAUQUAN, and they were pronounced by all to be excellent.”

A name we have, too, this month, which is particularly pleasing to those

of us who read the “Art Readings” of last year. It is the “Dorionic”

Circle, of BIDDEFORD, MAINE. From its start the circle has been much

interested in Greek history and literature. In comparing the two

leading types of Grecian character, the Doric and the Ionic each found

enthusiastic champions. Excellent qualities were discerned in both,

and in recognition of the value of the combination the circle decided

to call itself “Dorionic.” This circle, formed November, 1883, has had

a prosperous and pleasant experience. It now numbers sixty, with new

members coming in every evening. The Bryant memorial exercises were of

special interest. The president of this circle is the Rev. B. P. Snow,

president of the class of ’86.

The “Alpha” circle, of RUTLAND, VT., has entered upon its fourth year

full of zeal and enthusiasm. They commenced the year’s reading promptly

on the first of October. In her report, the secretary gives an account

of their special features. “We all craved additional information about

the great men in Roman history, so at our last meeting we had five-minute

sketches of Julius Cæsar, Scipio Africanus, Cicero, Camillus, and Pompey,

and at our next meeting are to have as many more. We are also to have an

essay on Roman women. A new feature with us is the question-box. Each

member is requested to hand in one question upon some given subject,

these are distributed and answered at the next succeeding meeting. We

observed Bryant’s Memorial and passed a delightful evening.”

The vigorous circle which sprang into existence at the beginning of the

year of ’83-’84 at EAST WEYMOUTH, MASS., has had this year a very marked

increase in its members. A public meeting was called early in October and

its effects were soon evident in the dozen new names which were added to

their roll. Much of the energy with which the circle has been enabled to

begin its work is attributed to the inspiration which the members who

visited the Framingham Assembly gathered from its inspiring meetings.

This spirit seems to have spread through all New England. The circles

are teeming with new ideas and swelling with numbers. At GLOUCESTER,

MASS., where the “Prospect” C. L. S. C. was organized in 1883, they have

a membership of nineteen, and have begun the year expecting large things

in the future. At READING, MASS., a “Triangle” of young ladies is meeting

fortnightly to compare notes and talk over the readings. They find the

course valuable, and send us the encouraging word that soon they hope to

unite the several readers in the town into a circle. And the “Hurlbut”

circle of EAST BOSTON are writing a book—“A Cyclopædia of Animal Life.”

Each member in turn prepares his or her paper with a good deal of care,

obtaining information from standard works of reference. The writer must

confine himself to four pages—letter paper size—and as he is expected to

describe two representatives of the animal kingdom within this compass,

he must select the most important and interesting characteristics, and

condense his statements. The Cyclopædia is necessarily limited—but ten

representatives of each letter of the alphabet. The members of the

“Hurlbut” circle are learning strange and beautiful things concerning

animal life.

Some of the “old circles” are new to us. Such is the one at NEW CANAAN,

CONN., whence a friend writes: “You ought to have been informed last

year of the existence of a flourishing C. L. S. C. in this place. We

have twenty members, with the promise of others. Our meetings are both

pleasant and profitable, each member faithfully doing his part. During

the past year we had some very interesting programs. Our members are

enjoying the work. We are greatly pleased with THE CHAUTAUQUAN.” The

growth and energy started during the summer is not confined to New

England, either. There is a word from LONG ISLAND, which is as ringing

as any Framingham report. It comes from EAST NORWICH, where the circle

was reorganized this year with a regular membership of eighteen. Their

meetings are held in a very pleasant school house, and are rapidly

increasing in interest. They take great pride in the circle, which they

rightly consider one of the best in the land.

At CALEDONIA, N. Y., the year-old circle has returned to work. Nearly

all the old members are back, and several new ones have joined, swelling

the membership to twenty-seven. They must thoroughly enjoy the course,

for they do all the work. The secretary informs us that the “Temperance

Teachings of Science” have evoked quite a lively and interesting

discussion which was entered into by nearly all present. They expect that

some time during the winter they will be favored with some interesting

chemical experiments, performed by a prominent chemist of Rochester.

The local circle at HARRISBURG, PA., was reorganized on September 30th,

with an increased membership, the total number now being fifty, of which

thirty-one are new members. Although the meetings of last year were very

interesting and profitable, those of this year bid fair to surpass them

in every way. The members appear to have decided to do thorough work and

already its effect can be seen upon the meetings. The programs are varied

and take in as much of the month’s readings as it is possible to crowd in

and yet do justice to all.

Eleven large circles are registered in WASHINGTON, D. C. Each month we

hear some good thing from them. An item from the Washington _Evening

Star_ says of the “Union” circle: “With the approach of the winter season

the literary and social clubs of the city begin to attract attention,

and none have begun the season’s work with more vim than the Chautauqua

Literary and Scientific Circles, of which there are now several in

the city, all owing allegiance to the central organization, whose

headquarters are at Plainfield, New Jersey. One of the oldest of these

Chautauqua organizations in the city is ‘Union’ circle, which meets every

Thursday evening at the residence of the president. It has a total of

nearly thirty members, all of whom are enthusiastic in the work, and each

meeting’s exercises are of an interesting character. Some of the members

of ‘Union’ circle will graduate in the four years’ course of reading next

year.” And the secretary of “Foundry” circle writes: “‘Foundry’ local

circle, of this city, enters upon the third year of its existence with

thirty-five enthusiastic members. Our meetings are held weekly in the

parlor of Foundry M. E. Church. We have followed some of the programs for

weekly meetings in THE CHAUTAUQUAN, and have had interesting meetings.

The evening of October 27th was given up to chemistry, Prof. Israel, of

the Washington High School, delivering an interesting lecture on the

subject, and performing the experiments explained in THE CHAUTAUQUAN for

October, and some others not mentioned there.”

A new circle at KALAMAZOO, MICH., has led the former organization to

adopt the title of “Alpha” circle. This latter is a very lively body, we

judge from their report. Their reorganization was a time for a general

meeting, to which invitations were issued. So well has the year started

off that the secretary writes: “Our past four meetings have been so

very enjoyable that the closing hour—ten o’clock—comes only too soon.

One feature of the evenings which has caused us the greatest sport has

been the ‘pronouncing’ match (also ‘questions and answers’ match), which

was carried on as a spelling match, choosing sides, etc.; the one who

first takes his seat through failure must favor the society with a song,

suggested by the fortunate one. The roll-call responded to by quotations,

as suggested in THE CHAUTAUQUAN, monthly report, essays and impromptu

speeches form pleasing variety. A speech on a given subject is required

as penalty for former absence. Then, too, the music! How we enjoy that

part of the program! As our musical committee varies each Monday evening,

singing or playing often falls to the lot of non-musicians, who amuse us

by compliance; on one occasion an organ grinder’s instrument was secured

for the evening’s entertainment.”

An Egyptian campaign in the interests of the C. L. S. C. is being

organized at METROPOLIS, in ILLINOIS. Have they a Chinese Gordon, we

wonder, to conduct their forces? They must have a leader as efficient,

surely, for they write that their circle, strengthened by a goodly

increase, organized promptly at the beginning of the year, that their

former members belonging to the class of ’86 are becoming more in

earnest as the year advances, and that they are planning to go down into

Egypt, an expedition which has the heartiest good wishes of us all.——At

AURORA, ILL., too, a campaign was planned for the fall, which proved

most successful. The secretary of the “First” circle of that city, while

at Chautauqua, planned a Round-Table, at which the three circles should

unite in celebrating “Opening Day.” A very entertaining program was

prepared, and Chancellor Vincent kindly wrote them a letter of greeting;

the hope that the circle had had of increasing their membership by this

union meeting was not disappointed. Aurora now boasts _five_ circles,

each numbering from eighteen to twenty members.

ILLINOIS also sends us a chapter of history this month which is very good

reading. It is from the WINCHESTER circle: “Our circle has just entered

its fourth year’s work, with nine members. Having consisted mainly, in

previous years, of teachers, our number has been fluctuating. Since

October, 1880, we have enrolled eighteen names, nearly all of whom proved

zealous workers. At present we have only two of the original number, who

are called the ‘Veterans.’ During the summer of 1881 two of our members

went on to attend the convention; that of 1882 was spent by three of

them on ‘A Tour Around the World,’ in THE CHAUTAUQUAN; and the recent

vacation, that of 1883, was devoted to the ‘Art Papers’ of last year;

by the way, when those appeared in the journal, they seemed so fully to

meet the wants of some of the members that an ‘Art Branch’ was promptly

organized and a thorough study of the subject commenced. As we took up

each artist separately, and only held our branch meetings every two

weeks, we did not finish with the year’s work, nor are we through yet,

having gotten as far as Rubens in the May number of 1884. We feel repaid

a thousand times for doing the extra work. Last year Prof. J. M. Crow,

of Grinnell, Iowa, a student of Leipsic University, and a gentleman who

has made several trips to Europe, lectured for us on ‘Greece and the

Parthenon.’ This year we propose to hold an extra meeting each month,

invite our friends in, and thus strive to convince them that the C. L.

S. C. work is _not superficial_ (as some have the impression). We defend

our _Alma Mater_ from the attacks of the skeptical, with almost as

much energy as ‘Horatius held the bridge,’ and trust we are laying the

foundation for a circle that will flourish in the future. Our president

and others of the class hope to represent us at Chautauqua next summer.

Miss M. Huston, our former enthusiastic president, is now a teacher in

California, whither she has doubtless carried the C. L. S. C. spirit.

Since taking up the course, the hitherto dismal days of fall have become

golden ones, and life has grown sweeter, brighter and better.”

A local circle was organized in the little village of BLUE EARTH CITY,

MINN., several months since, with about ten members, now increased to

thirteen. They meet every Tuesday evening at the house of some member.

Their reading is confined to the magazine principally; each gives some

item of news at the opening of the meeting, then questions are asked on

the preceding lesson, and persons are appointed to look up and report

at the next meeting any subject which may arise in connection with the

lesson. They are all greatly interested and feel that the meetings are

a benefit, as well as a help in cultivating among the members a better

acquaintance and more friendly relations.

From FAIRFIELD, IOWA, a friend writes: “We would like to report ourselves

as living and active in our work. This new year has opened auspiciously.

Our circle numbers twenty-five are not found outside the C. L. S. C.

We are known as the ‘Hawkeye Arc,’ have our meetings weekly and hope to

greatly profit by the studies of the year. We have met a serious loss in

the death of our president, Mrs. T. D. Ewing, the wife of the president

of Parson’s College, of this place. She was a lady of culture and liberal

education, and gave her best efforts to the advancement of the C. L. S.

C. in this, her adopted home. But we are glad that while many of our

associates are called to ‘come up higher,’ the work does not languish

and is still exerting the beneficent influence of this wonderful band of

reading ones.”

NORFOLK, NEBRASKA, is as far as we can go west this month. A live,

enterprising circle at that point is working with a western vim. They

seem to take a rather unusual pride in being “like everybody else,”

but when we remember the points of resemblance, it is not surprising

that they should be proud. They send word: “All bear stories open with

‘once upon a time,’ so all reports of C. L. S. C.s read, ‘Our circle was

organized on such an evening, and consists of lawyers, doctors, bankers,

ministers, merchants, and their wives and daughters; all intelligent,

enthusiastic workers,’ etc. Ours is no exception to this rule. We have

twenty-five members with three officers, president, vice, and secretary.

As variety hath charms, our president is authorized to appoint a new

leader for each evening, and as no two men or women of different

professions have minds made after the same mould, we succeed in the

_variety_. Especially do we succeed in this particular, when we undertake

to pronounce the Greek words found in the readings.”

THE C. L. S. C. CLASSES.

CLASS OF 1885.

“_Press on, reaching after those things which are before._”

OFFICERS.

_President_—J. B. Underwood, Meriden, Conn.

_Vice President_—C. M. Nichols, Springfield, Ohio.

_Treasurer_—Miss Carrie Hart, Aurora, Ind.

_Secretary_—Miss M. M. Canfield, Washington, D. C.

_Executive Committee_—Officers of the class.

Class badges may be procured of either President or Treasurer.

* * * * *

Letters are coming to the secretary from members in all parts of the

United States—Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota

and Iowa being represented, and the indications are, the “Invincibles”

will not be “lost in the woods” in August ’85. Those who attended the

camp-fire last season at Chautauqua will appreciate the foregoing phrase.

* * * * *

One enthusiastic young lady writes: “I have read the course alone, could

not form here even a ‘straight line’ or a ‘triangle;’” another, “I am

alone in my studies, but hope to meet and greet my fellow-laborers ‘under

the arches.’” Such courage is truly “Invincible” and should be rewarded

by an extra seal.

* * * * *

Letters ending “Your Chautauqua friend,” “hoping to clasp hands with

you at Chautauqua in August ’85,” etc., make one feel “Chautauqua” is

the magic word that draws us together as links in the great C. L. S. C.

chain, and that friendships formed through its medium may continue even

after we have “finished our course.” “For so the whole round earth is

every way bound by gold chains about the feet of God.”

CLASS OF ’86.

“_We study for light, to bless with light._”

CLASS ORGANIZATION.

_President_—The Rev. B. P. Snow, Biddeford, Maine.

_Vice Presidents_—The Rev. J. C. Whitley, Salisbury, Maryland; Mr. L. F.

Houghton, Peoria, Illinois; Mr. Walter Y. Morgan, Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs.

Delia Browne, Louisville, Kentucky; Miss Florence Finch, Palestine, Texas.

_Secretary_—The Rev. W. L. Austin, Dunkirk, New York.

NEW ENGLAND ORGANIZATION.

Class Headquarters was a new and most pleasant feature at Framingham

last summer, and one which the limited hall accommodations rendered a

necessity. The class tent was tastefully decorated, and over the entrance

was displayed the device of the class—a hand passing a lighted torch

to another hand—with the class motto, “We study for light to bless

with light.” The committee having the matter in charge hope to provide

suitable accommodations for the class at the Assembly next season.

* * * * *

A very pleasant reunion was held in Normal Hall, Thursday, July 24, at 10

a. m. The exercises consisted of an address by the president, the Rev.

B. P. Snow, of Biddeford, Me., and stirring speeches by representatives

from several states, with reading of original and selected articles. A

most interesting item on the program was the reading of the well known

poem, “No sect in Heaven,” by Mr. C. Cleveland, of Hartford, Conn.,

son of the authoress, who is also a member of the class. Miss Gelia H.

Tewkesbury (Helen Hawthorne) was unanimously elected class poetess. Hon.

Wm. Claflin, ex-Governor of Massachusetts, was made an honorary member of

the class.

* * * * *

Six hundred and forty-eight names from one hundred and seventy-three

towns are now enrolled, only a fraction of the whole number. Will all

members of Class ’86 in New England, who have not yet registered, please

send their names and address, stating whether they are studying alone or

in a circle, and the name of the circle, to the New England Secretary at

their earliest convenience?

* * * * *

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

President, the Rev. B. P. Snow, Biddeford, Me.; Vice Presidents, Miss

Emily Jordan, Alfred, Me., Edwin F. Reeves, Laconia, N. H., the Rev. J.

H. Babbitt, Swanton, Vt., Chas. Wainwright, Lawrence, Mass., H. Howard

Pepper, Providence, R. I., the Rev. A. Gardner, Buckingham, Conn.;

Secretary and Treasurer, Mary R. Hinckley, New Bedford, Mass.

* * * * *

A new badge bearing the emblem of the class is proposed. If it is adopted

further particulars will be given hereafter.

* * * * *

Ida M. Grisell, of the class of ’86, died at her home in Upper Sandusky,

Ohio, June 30, 1884. She was an enthusiastic Chautauquan, having remarked

shortly before her death that life seemed so much more worth living since

she had taken the course.

CLASS OF ’87—“THE PANSIES.”

From De Soto, Mo., comes news of most vigorous work in the C. L. S. C., a

large circle of enterprising members and a program for the observance of

the Bryant Day, that tells of a meeting of rare interest.

* * * * *

The Rev. N. B. Fisk, of Woburn, Mass., class of ’87, is the secretary and

treasurer of the Board of Trustees who have in hand the erection of the

“Hall on the Hill” for New England’s accommodation at Framingham.

* * * * *

In the November number of THE CHAUTAUQUAN the New England branch of the

Class of ’87 was given three presidents. The Rev. F. M. Gardner, of

Lawrence, Mass., is the president; the other two names should have been

grouped with the vice presidents.

* * * * *

Newspaper notices of C. L. S. C. work sometimes do more than we expect.

Circles in the country and smaller towns read programs of meetings and

other Chautauqua items with a good deal of interest, and often get

encouragement from seeing what others are doing. The papers are glad to

get the notices. We advise circles to use them freely, and to publish

in their local papers notices of the memorial days, with a list of the

reading for those days. Try it.

* * * * *

The “Pansy” bed at Chautauqua, projected as a testimonial improvement by

the class of ’87, is in the hands of a committee who are to secure a good

location and carry the matter to completion. It will be placed near the

Amphitheater, a little toward Mrs. Alden’s cottage. Already a number of

most exquisite designs have been furnished by widely separated members of

the class. When agreed upon the description will be given in our column.

* * * * *

One New England minister, who is a member of ’87, writes: “I consider

this Chautauqua business a part of my pastoral duties; it is so saturated

with the spirit of Jesus, emanating from such a consecrated man as Dr.

Vincent, and comprehending so much of the devotional, aggressive, and

persuasive in religion. I have a Congregational church in a hotbed of

infidelity and heresy, and can see very plainly that such books as

‘Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation’ and ‘Evidences,’ together with

the devout spirit of the whole plan, are making an impression among the

skeptical and shaking them somewhat in their infidel intrenchments.”

* * * * *

A Michigan mother nearly sixty years old writes a letter, touchingly

grateful that the C. L. S. C. was ever organized. She has two sons who

are members with her of the class of ’87, and who are herders of cattle

in New Mexico. She says no one can appreciate her joy at the assurance

that they are held by their reading to the improvement of their time, and

thus escape the evils that work the ruin of many boys away from home. She

with them forms a circle. Their meetings are only through correspondence.

Neither has ever seen Chautauqua, or any other summer Assembly, but they

bless the plan of improvement whose privileges they share.

* * * * *

Among pleasant C. L. S. C. experiences which are found among the members

of ’87, as among those of the other classes, is the case of an engineer

on the railway west from Chicago. The last argument he made to his wife

why he could not join the class and do the reading was that he would

unavoidably so soil his books that she could not tolerate them in their

cosy cottage home. She said, “Try it, and I will clean every soiled

page the year through and have them tastily on our little shelves.” He

agreed to undertake it. She found no small task upon her hands, but she

did it by pinching her allowance to the purchase of a duplicate for each

successive book, to which joyous accomplishment on her part her husband

points with pride in his growing library.

* * * * *

Quite a large proportion of the class are going on with the reading this

second year. But the number can be increased by a little personal effort

on the part of those who have the C. L. S. C. enthusiasm. See that your

book stores keep the books ready for sale. See that each member has one

of the C. L. S. C. circulars for 1884-5, so that they may not be in

any doubt about what the reading for each month is. Help them about

sending for THE CHAUTAUQUAN by forming a club and sending together,

thus saving expense. Some fail to send in their annual fees, but go on

with the reading. Secretaries of circles should collect the annual fees

of 50 cents, and send on by check or postoffice order to Plainfield.

By attending to these matters some will be kept in the ranks who would

otherwise fall behind. If any one can not do the prescribed reading just

as directed in THE CHAUTAUQUAN, week by week or day by day, let such try

to keep a little in advance, rather than behind. The officers of circles

ought to keep in advance especially, so as to be ready to arrange some

parts of the program for the future meetings of their circles.

* * * * *

The most of the more than two hundred ’87s whose names were registered

at Chautauqua, this year, promised to write Mrs. Alden, Carbondale,

Pa.—“Pansy”—a letter of incident in the work, she most kindly indicating

her willingness to write a book, dedicated to the class. It’s one

thing to promise, another to perform, and while we could not think of

a Chautauquan who would not do as they agree, the secretaries of ’87,

with the president, are very anxious to know if Mrs. Alden has received

nearly two hundred letters. Early in the new year the class officials

will write to Carbondale to know if all the promises have been made good.

Mrs. Alden’s book will be grand, every one of her more than fifty books

are excellent. Let every one of us who promised do gladly all that we

promised and more.

* * * * *

The ’87 badges were noticeably fine at Chautauqua last year, and every

reader in that great class should have this badge. They should be worn

uniformly at the circles and on all memorial days. Class love (call it

pride if you will) is important indeed; it can scarcely be overestimated.

You are and can be in but one class, and that is the class to you, and

will be all through life. ’87 “Pansy” class is yours, and you love your

classmates, and you are deeply interested in every one of them, and will

be all along down through life. It is true that the first great class

(in numbers at least) is ’87, and while we hope ’88 and ’89 and ’90 will

every way excel it, it still remains for us of ’87 to make the most of

every hour.

* * * * *

Miss Ellen A. Shaw, of Keeseville, N. Y., a member of the C. L. S. C., of

the class of ’87, entered “that school where she no longer needs our poor

protection, but Christ himself doth rule,” on September 30, 1884, aged

nineteen years. They had been “nineteen beautiful years,” exceptionally

happy to herself, and the source of great pleasure to all her friends.

Graduating from the High School in Keeseville in June, 1884, she

immediately took up the Chautauqua Idea, and began the prescribed course

in October following. She enjoyed it exceedingly, interested others in

it, read carefully, and made her memoranda and reports faithfully until

her strength failed, and she laid down her hopes of earthly improvement,

with brighter ones of the country where our mental powers know no fatigue

or decay.

* * * * *

At a meeting of the “Bryant” circle of Worcester, Mass., C. L. S. C.,

October 7th, 1884, the following memorial was adopted: “_Whereas_, It has

pleased our Heavenly Father to remove from our circle one of our beloved

members, Miss Effie C. Warner, of the class of ’87, we desire to express

our appreciation of her character and her worth as a member of our

circle. Her presence was always welcomed with pleasure, and our meetings

were made interesting by her fine musical attainments, which she was

ever ready to devote to the cause she loved. While we mourn her loss, we

bow in submission to the will of him who ‘doeth all things well.’ We are

thankful for her pure, gentle life, and feel sure that its influence will

long be felt in our circle.”

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

ONE HUNDRED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON “COLLEGE GREEK COURSE IN ENGLISH,”

AND “THE CHARACTER OF JESUS.”

BY A. M. MARTIN,

General Secretary C. L. S. C.

I.—FIFTY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON “COLLEGE GREEK COURSE IN ENGLISH,” FROM

COMMENCEMENT OF BOOK TO PAGE 82, INCLUSIVE.

1. Q. What is the object of the volume, “College Greek in English?” A. To

furnish readers not versed in any tongue but the English, with the means

of obtaining, at their leisure, and without change of residence on their

part, approximately the same knowledge of Greek letters as is imparted to

students during a four years’ stay in the average American college.

2. Q. What is said of the courses of Greek reading in colleges? A.

Various colleges have various courses of Greek reading prescribed for

their students, and some colleges from time to time vary their courses.

3. Q. What is the Greek course considered in the present volume? A. A

kind of eclectic and average Greek course.

4. Q. In Europe how does the university student accomplish his prescribed

course of study? A. In any way he may choose to adopt, aiming simply at

being able to pass the tests of examination that await him only at long

intervals of his progress.

5. Q. How are the examinations of college students conducted in this

country? A. The student is examined, not only at certain widely separated

stations in his course, but every day.

6. Q. What is said of the standard of performance in recitation? A.

It varies greatly under different teachers, at different colleges, in

different classes. It is never anywhere too high.

7. Q. What is the average maximum accomplished in colleges in any one

Greek author? A. About one hundred pages of text.

8. Q. What is probably a fair estimate for the average number of terms in

which Greek is studied by the Greek student? A. Five or six terms, and it

is rarely the case that to any one Greek author more than a single term

is devoted.

9. Q. On an average how many Greek authors are introduced into a college

Greek course? A. Six are as many as are perhaps introduced on an average.

10. Q. What is the plan in the present book? A. To give the readers a

taste of some ten or twelve Greek authors, representing four departments

of Greek literature.

11. Q. What are the four departments of Greek literature represented? A.

History, philosophy, poetry, and eloquence.

12. Q. Who are the historians represented? A. Herodotus and Thucydides.

13. Q. What title has been bestowed upon Herodotus? A. The father of

history.

14. Q. How many years may have elapsed after Homer wrote the world’s

first great epic, before Herodotus wrote the world’s first great history?

A. Five hundred years.

15. Q. When did Thucydides write his historical masterpiece? A. Promptly

after Herodotus—perhaps while Herodotus was still among the living.

16. Q. What makes Herodotus differ so much in seeming antiquity from his

younger contemporary, Thucydides? A. It is largely the striking contrast

in tone and manner between the two historians.

17. Q. What has gained for Herodotus a traditional and popular repute

of untrustworthiness, that he is far from deserving? A. His credulity,

together with his plan of reporting reports, to a great extent

irrespective of their probable truth.

18. Q. What is said of Herodotus’s efforts to gain information? A. He

was very painstaking in his efforts to gain information, and traveled

extensively.

19. Q. What does the word history in its present universal usage mean? A.

A supposedly trustworthy account, written with a degree of philosophical

insight into cause and effect, of transactions rising to a certain height

of importance and dignity.

20. Q. In the use of Herodotus what did the word history mean? A. Merely

a report of investigations, researches, inquiries undertaken by the

author.

21. Q. What is there to the conception of Herodotus’s work? A. A kind of

epic majesty and sweep.

22. Q. Where and when was Herodotus born? A. In Halicarnassus, a Dorian

Greek colony on the coast of Asia Minor, about 484 B. C.

23. Q. When and where did Herodotus die? A. When and where he died is not

certainly known.

24. Q. What made up to Herodotus the whole world of mankind? A. The

Greeks and the Barbarians.

25. Q. What are the ultimate objective points at which he aims? A. First,

Marathon, and then Thermopylæ and Salamis, with Platæa and Mycale.

26. Q. To reach these points what start does the history take? A. From

the origin of those empires older than the Persian, which in due time the

Persian received and swallowed up.

27. Q. Of what countries does it fall within the comprehensive design of

the history to treat? A. Of Lydia, Egypt, Babylon, Scythia, Libya, as

well as of Persia and Greece.

28. Q. From what fact does the book on Egypt have a peculiar interest?

A. From the fact of its being the only literature to furnish information

concerning that country parallel with the information contained in the

Bible.

29. Q. To what parts of the history does the present author chiefly limit

himself? A. To the story of Crœsus and the invasion of Xerxes.

30. Q. What do these two parts together best illustrate? A. The peculiar

theory of human life upon which Herodotus conceived and composed his

history.

31. Q. How does Crœsus come in our historian’s way? A. As having,

according to Herodotus, been the first Asiatic to commence hostilities

against the Greeks.

32. Q. What Greek colonies did Crœsus bring under his dominion? A. The

Greek colonies in Asia Minor.

33. Q. Of what empire was Crœsus the ruler? A. The Lydian empire.

34. Q. For whom did Sardis, the capital of the Lydian empire, become the

resort? A. For the sages of Greece.

35. Q. Whom among the Greek celebrities to visit him did Crœsus make his

own guest, and lodge him in his palace? A. Solon.

36. Q. With what is the first considerable extract from Herodotus made by

our author occupied? A. With an account of a conversation between Solon

and Crœsus.

37. Q. Against whom did Crœsus make war? A. Cyrus, king of Persia.

38. Q. What was the result of the war in which Crœsus engaged with Cyrus?

A. Sardis was taken by Cyrus and Crœsus made a captive.

39. Q. How was Crœsus treated by Cyrus after he became his prisoner? A.

He was made his companion and counselor.

40. Q. An account of the capture of what city by Cyrus is given in the

extracts from Herodotus? A. The capture of Babylon.

41. Q. To what is nearly the entire second book of Herodotus’s history

devoted? A. To an account of Egypt, the land and the people.

42. Q. What plan has our author followed in making extracts from

Herodotus’s history of the invasion of Greece by Xerxes? A. A few salient

anecdotes are selected from the full store supplied by Herodotus.

43. Q. What aim are the selections made to serve? A. Not only to show the

matter and method of Herodotus, but to illustrate the characters of two

men in particular, brought into the strong light of mutual contrast by

the struggle—Xerxes and Themistocles.

44. Q. To what is the fact due that Thucydides is not so entertaining

a historian as Herodotus? A. Partly to the nature of his subject; but

partly to the nature of the man.

45. Q. What does Thucydides describe in his history? A. The so-called

Peloponnesian war.

46. Q. To what conflict is this name given? A. To a conflict, continued

with little interruption during twenty-seven years, between Sparta, with

her allies, on the one side, and Athens, with her allies, on the other.

47. Q. What was the prize contended for in this war? A. The leadership in

Hellenic affairs.

48. Q. How did Thucydides regard the Peloponnesian war? A. He thought

that never in the world had there been a war so great as promised in its

imminency to be the Peloponnesian war.

49. Q. In what particulars is the history of Thucydides important? A.

Not as history, but, first, as literature, and secondly, as fund of

illustration for the Greek national genius, it is of the very highest

importance.

50. Q. In what form is it composed? A. In the form of annals, that is,

the events and incidents are related chronologically by years.

II.—FIFTY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON “THE CHARACTER OF JESUS.”

51. Q. What is the design of the author in the argument of the book under

consideration? A. To show the self-evidencing, superhuman character of

Christ, forbidding his possible classification with men.

52. Q. What is the grand peculiarity of the sacred writings? A. That they

deal in supernatural events and transactions, and show the fact of a

celestial institution finally erected on earth.

53. Q. Who is the central figure of Christianity? A. Jesus Christ, and

with him the entire fabric either stands or falls.

54. Q. In the argument, what is, and what is not assumed, in regard to

the narrative by which the manner and facts of the life of Jesus are

reported to us? A. The truth of the narrative is not assumed, but only

the representations themselves as being just what they are.

55. Q. On what is it proposed to rest a principal argument for

Christianity as a supernatural institution? A. On the single question of

the more than human character of Jesus.

56. Q. What is the first peculiarity at the root of his character? A.

That he begins life with a perfect youth.

57. Q. What is the early character of Jesus in this respect? A. It is a

picture that stands by itself.

58. Q. What element in the character of Jesus in his maturity do we

discover at once which distinguishes it from all human characters? A. His

innocence.

59. Q. How does human piety begin? A. With repentance.

60. Q. What does Christ, in the character given him, acknowledge as to

sin? A. He never acknowledges sin.

61. Q. What elements of character was Christ able perfectly to unite?

A. Elements of character that others find the greatest difficulty in

uniting, however unevenly and partially.

62. Q. What attitude of Jesus is distinct from any that was ever taken

by a sane man, and is yet triumphantly sustained? A. The attitude of

supremacy toward the race, and inherent affinity or oneness with God.

63. Q. What is there peculiar in the passive side of the character of

Jesus? A. In opposition to the impression of the world generally, Christ

connects the non-resisting and gentle passivities with a character of the

severest grandeur and majesty.

64. Q. What is it easy to distinguish in what is called preëminently the

passion of Christ? A. A character which separates it from all mere human

martyrdoms.

65. Q. In what way does Christ show himself to be a superhuman character

even more sublimely than in the personal traits exhibited in his life?

A. In the undertakings, works, and teachings, by which he proved his

Messiahship.

66. Q. What was the grand idea in the mission of Christ? A. To new-create

the human race and restore it to God, in the unity of a spiritual kingdom.

67. Q. How is the plan of Christ related to time? A. It is a plan as

universal in time as it is in the scope of its objects.

68. Q. With whom does Christ take rank? A. He takes rank with the poor,

and grounds all the immense expectations of his cause on a beginning made

with the lowly and dejected classes of the world.

69. Q. Hitherto what opinion had prevailed among all the great statesmen

and philosophers of the world, in regard to a great change or reform in

society beginning with the poor? A. No philosopher who had conceived

the notion of building up an ideal state or republic ever thought of

beginning with the poor.

70. Q. Where was any hope of reaching the world by any scheme of social

regeneration to begin? A. With the higher classes, and through them

operate its results.

71. Q. How is the more than human character of Jesus further displayed in

his thus identifying himself with the poor? A. In the fact that he was

yet able to do it without eliciting any feeling of partisanship in them.

72. Q. What is noticed first of all in the teaching of Christ? A. The

perfect originality and independence of his teaching.

73. Q. What is not to be detected by any sign in his teaching? A. That

the human sphere in which he moved imparted anything to him.

74. Q. By what methods does he not teach? A. He does not teach by the

human methods.

75. Q. In what particular does he never reveal the infirmity so commonly

shown by human teachers? A. He never veers a little from the point, or

turns his doctrine off by shades of variation to catch the assent of

multitudes.

76. Q. What is one remarkable fact that distinguishes Christ from any

other known teacher of the world? A. Words could never turn him to a

one-sided view of anything.

77. Q. What was the relation of Christ to the superstitions of his times?

A. He was perfectly clear of all the current superstitions.

78. Q. Of what did Christ never take the ground or boast the distinction?

A. Of a liberal among his countrymen.

79. Q. What is a remarkable and even superhuman distinction of Jesus

in regard to the simplicity of his teachings? A. While he is advancing

doctrines so far transcending all deductions of philosophy, and opening

mysteries that defy all human powers of explication, he is yet able to

set his teachings in a form of simplicity that accommodates all classes

of minds.

80. Q. What form for truth was Jesus first able to find? A. A form for

truth adequate to all the world’s uses.

81. Q. What is the character of the God that Christ revealed? A. God

whom the humblest artisan can teach, and all mankind embrace with a faith

that unifies them all.

82. Q. In what has the morality of Jesus a potential superiority to that

of all human teachers? A. In the fact that it is not an artistic or

theoretically elaborated scheme, but one that is propounded in precepts

that carry their own evidence.

83. Q. What is a high distinction of Christ’s character as seen in his

teachings? A. That he is never anxious for the success of his doctrines.

84. Q. In what was the character of Jesus different from that of all the

mere men of the race as shown by familiarity? A. Instead of being reduced

in eminence, as human characters are, it was raised and made sacred by

familiarity.

85. Q. What two questions now remain which the argument of the author

requires to be answered? A. Did any such being as Jesus actually exist?

and, if so, was he a sinless character?

86. Q. What can we believe more easily than that Christ was a man, and

yet a perfect character, such as here given? A. We can believe any

miracle more easily.

87. Q. If Jesus was a sinner, of what was he conscious? A. He was

conscious of sin, as all sinners are, and, therefore, was a hypocrite in

the whole fabric of his character.

88. Q. What would such an example of successful hypocrisy be of itself?

A. The greatest miracle ever heard of in the world.

89. Q. What is Mr. Parker’s estimate of the doctrine of Christ? A. “He

pours out a doctrine beautiful as the light, sublime as heaven, and true

as God.”

90. Q. What is the first conclusion reached by our author in his

argument? A. That Christ actually lived and bore the real character

ascribed to him in history.

91. Q. What is the second conclusion? A. That he was a sinless character.

92. Q. What is it incredible and contrary to reason to suppose of a being

out of humanity? A. That he will be shut up within all the limitations of

humanity.

93. Q. Jesus being a miracle himself, if he did not work miracles what

would it be? A. It would be the greatest of all miracles.

94. Q. What is said of the mythical hypothesis to account for the

Christian miracles advanced by the critics who deny them? A. It is itself

impossible.

95. Q. What have the evangelists been able to give us concerning Christ?

A. A doctrine upon which the world has never advanced, and a character so

deep that the richest hearts have felt nothing deeper, and added nothing

to the sentiment of it.

96. Q. Of what are these mighty works of Jesus, which have been done and

duly certified, a fit expression to us? A. Of the fact that he can do for

us all that we want.

97. Q. What does our author call the spirit of Jesus unabridged? A. The

great miracle of Christianity.

98. Q. What only can draw the soul to faith, and open it to the power of

a supernatural and new-creative mercy? A. Nothing but to say, “Jesus of

Nazareth, a man approved of God by miracles and signs which God did by

him.”

99. Q. In what way are all the conditions of life raised by the advent of

Jesus? A. By the meaning he has shown to be in them, and the grace he has

put upon them.

100. Q. What does our author say it would be easier to do than to get the

character of Jesus out of the world? A. It were easier to untwist all the

beams of light in the sky, separating and expunging one of the colors.

THE CHAUTAUQUA UNIVERSITY.

THE CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS.

BY PROF. R. S. HOLMES, A.M.

“What is the relation of the Correspondence Schools to the University?”

“I am a member of the Correspondence Class in German; am I also a member

of the University?”

Correspondents have recently asked these questions. They are important

enough to receive public answer, since they represent many of the same

import. They exhibit an uncertainty concerning the relation of the

University to other Chautauqua institutions, which should be removed. To

accomplish it is our present purpose.

We answer the first easily. There is no relation between the University

and the Correspondence Schools; the latter have ceased to exist as

separate institutions. We answer the second easily, though this answer

may seem to contradict the former. A member of the Correspondence Class

in German is, and is not, a member of the University. Both answers are

true. The separate existence of the Correspondence School has ceased,

but its existence in the University as the College of Modern Languages

continues.

Again, although members of the Correspondence School are thus in the

University, they are not matriculated members, not having met the

matriculation requirement. The faculty is unchanged. Dr. Worman directs

the College of Modern Languages; Prof. Lalande the Department of French.

But the answers thus given do not meet the spirit of the questions. To

do this we must review the history which has resulted in the Chautauqua

University. The Chautauqua Summer School of Languages held its first

session in the summer of 1879. It made no claim to originality. It was

among the earlier of these popular schools, and has achieved an enviable

reputation. It ranged itself from the outset on the side of the so called

“new education.” It adopted the system of Pestalozzi, and announced to

the world the opening of a school for instruction in language by the

natural method. Six schools were organized with a brilliant corps of

teachers. After the lapse of six years, it is the candid judgment of

a careful observer, that better teaching has never been done on this

continent than was done in that first session of the Chautauqua Summer

School. The original heads of the French and German Schools still occupy

their positions with honor alike to themselves and to Chautauqua, while

the standard of excellence has never been higher than at the present hour.

The session of the Summer School lasted for six weeks. It early became

evident that these six weeks must in some way be supplemented if the

student was to make any lasting acquisition. To meet this necessity

members of the school were advised to continue their work at home, and

were assured that needed aid would be rendered by correspondence by their

department professors. The attempt was made. It failed. The causes were

numerous. There was the lack of the teacher’s presence, and of a bond of

union. Professional duties claimed the teacher’s time. Acquaintance had

been too brief to create even personal interest of teacher in pupil. The

student had no incentive to persistent effort, there was a lamentable

want of system, and the correspondence was irregular and unsatisfactory.

It failed; but failure is not the end of Chautauqua enterprises. Another

year witnessed another effort for an after-school course of study. One

person was selected to receive all inquiries from the students, to

forward them to the respective teachers, and to secure from the teachers

prompt attention. This attempt failed; but failure brought yet deeper

conviction that there were great possibilities in the after-school

idea, if only a true method of work could be found. There were a few

patient students who had persevered notwithstanding the difficulties.

Something must be provided for them. After much deliberation a plan for

Correspondence Schools was adopted. There was to be a regular course of

study, lasting from October to July. Ten dollars was to be the annual

tuition fee. Each professor was pledged to a definite amount of work, and

each school was to have the benefit of the Chautauqua name; but there was

no homogeneity. Each professor was independent of every other, giving

attention only to the details of his own particular school, and with no

interest save his own. The only benefit that could accrue to Chautauqua

was a possible increase in attendance upon the Summer School.

The plan succeeded. For three years teachers and students have worked

successfully. True, there have been disadvantages. French and German

are living languages. Pronunciation is difficult even to one trained in

language when aided by a present native teacher. Valuable as the lesson

paper may be in helping to a knowledge of principles and translation, it

can not speak, nor tell another how to speak. Yet it is plain that one

who is correctly trained in principles, and can with rapidity translate,

could easily master pronunciation when once in contact with the living

teacher.

But notwithstanding these difficulties the schools have been successful.

Good work has been done. The students have made notable progress; and

some able to attend the Summer School, have speedily added to their

foundation in principle the essentials of correct pronunciation. The

problem was solved; but with its solution came another important

question. Why may not all the subjects embraced in a college curriculum

be taught by correspondence? To this there can be but one answer: There

is no reason why any subject may not be so taught, except such as require

the use of instruments and the performance of experiments; and for these

good local instructors could be obtained. The next and logical step is

the incorporation and organization of the Chautauqua University.

We have now reached a point where a comprehensive answer can be made to

the questions which begin this paper. To organize the University, the

professors identified with the Correspondence Schools were retained,

while the schools themselves, which had achieved success by efforts of

Chautauqua officials, and through the prestige of the Chautauqua name,

were merged in Chautauqua’s crowning glory—the University.

Henceforth there are no separate and unrelated institutions, which

professors shall control and direct as circumstances allow; but

each is part of one grand institution, watched over and directed by

its Chancellor, and managed through its central office. All this is

effected without prejudice to any interest. The professor becomes

the representative of an institution which will hereafter be known

as the pioneer in the grandest educational movement of the century.

The student, from an isolated class, is brought into relation with

many other departments of study, with a curriculum which may end in a

diploma and degree. All this has been possible only through the work

which Chautauqua has accomplished. Not only has it been possible, but

possible at a merely nominal cost. The little tuition charged has gone

as an inadequate compensation to the faithful work of talented teachers.

Chautauqua has received from these sources no pecuniary benefit. Here

is a question for each student of the Correspondence Schools to ponder:

Do I not owe something to the University in return for the advantages I

have enjoyed, and to aid it in extending them to others? Here, too, is

an anomaly: A University planning the largest educational work, without

a dollar of endowment and with meager provision for necessary expenses.

In addition to the former tuition fee of ten dollars there is required

from all students, before entering, the payment of a matriculation fee

of five dollars. Only those who have paid this fee are enrolled upon

the University books. This explains the statement already made, that

members of the Correspondence classes were, and were not, members of

the University. There is no purpose to disturb the present status of

the schools of French, German and English. Those who entered them under

the previous arrangement are entitled to the benefits promised them.

Should any student in these schools feel disposed to aid the work by the

payment of the matriculation fee, proper acknowledgment will be made. It

will not for the present year be required; but with the expiration of

the year, when the obligation between student and teacher has been met,

the University will assert its right to demand full conformance to its

requirements by all who participate in its privileges. Professors will

no longer be burdened with business details. All fees will be sent to

the central office, and through it students will be introduced to their

professors, and the University will enter upon a future of usefulness

which no forecasting can express.

“INVINCIBLE”—CLASS OF ’85.

BY PHEBE A. HOLDER.

The age is trembling with the steps

Of an advancing God,

Our pulses feel the thrill and beat

With sympathetic chord.

The everlasting doors of Truth

Stand open to our sight,

Along the shining way she leads

We walk in purest light.

Her precious words inspire the soul,

Touch every hidden key,

Sweep every chord with subtle power,

And wondrous sympathy.

A large, rich soul can always give,

Scatter its wealth around,

And like the sun that lights the world,

No poorer shall be found.

To meet the morning we go forth

Leaving behind the night,

And face the full, clear blaze that glows

With pure electric light.

Press on while deeper meanings come

Into the wondrous years,

And brighter with God’s changeless love

Immortal life appears.

“Press on to reach the things before”

Our watchword still shall be,

Until is sown the golden crown

Of immortality.

EDITOR’S OUTLOOK.

PRACTICAL LOYALTY—C. L. S. C. BOOKS.

The C. L. S. C. text-books are adapted to the peculiar method of C. L.

S. C. work. They are the result of efforts to meet the wants of the

main body of our members, and there has been no hap-hazard in their

selection, but careful, patient and abundant thoughtfulness. Sometimes a

member desires to substitute some book not in the course for one of ours.

Sometimes his request may be granted; often it may not be granted. In the

first place, it is desirable that there should be uniformity in the work

done, and this we secure, for the most part, by uniform text-books. In a

college, the uniformity is secured by the living teacher; we must secure

ours by the printed page. Our need of common text-books is therefore

peculiar and imperative. If we granted all the requests for substitutions

which might be made, we should end by frittering away our course of

study. We might seriously impair it by granting only those requests which

seem to those who make them to be entirely reasonable. There must be hard

and fast lines in any system of instruction; in our system the uniform

text-books make one of those lines. It is our means of keeping together,

of easily communicating with each other, of simplifying examinations

and assisting our members in overcoming difficulties. In a rare case, a

substitution may be allowed; but the substituted book must be equally

good and equally _fresh_. Very few old text-books are now good. The

subjects have undergone changes of importance either in the principles

or the modes of illustrating them. A good text-book must be a fresh

book. Furthermore, our books are specially adapted to private study; the

ordinary school-books are made to be interpreted by a living teacher. The

full meaning of this difference will not be grasped at once by those who

have not thought about it. We have had to think about it. Our success

depended upon our thinking about it to some purpose. The result of much

thinking and careful planning is the Chautauqua system of text-books. We

find it more and more important to adhere to our own books. _The books

are our teachers._

We hope, therefore, that those who have desired changes to meet their

special wants will remember the reason why their wishes can not be

consulted. There is a call for loyalty on their part to the system.

It depends on their loving it enough to forego some personal feelings

or interests. We are in special and numerous ways dependent upon the

affectionate respect of our members for the invisible authority of

this institution—just as colleges depend on a like feeling toward the

visible authority in their work. The colleges select their text-books;

we select ours. In each case, substitutions ought to be very rare. If

the disappointed applicant for a change of book has a loyal feeling

toward the C. L. S. C. he will cheerfully sacrifice his preferences or

his convenience to the welfare of the whole body. The whole body must

move on common lines to common ends; and the individual members keep

step, because a great army can not march in any other way—the individual

must coöperate in the movement according to a common plan. We therefore

appeal to the loyalty of our members to aid us in all reasonable ways

to maintain our system of uniform books. We see more clearly than

they possibly can that this uniformity is vital to the C. L. S. C.

organization.

THE DISHONESTY OF REPUDIATION.

In the _North American Review_ for December Mr. John F. Hume repeats his

appeal to the honest people of this country to vindicate the national

honor by paying the dishonored bonds of twelve states. Mr. Hume is

severe and almost bitter; but he tells us some truth which must needs

be unpleasant and should be seriously told. We are in an anomalous

position in the matter of these state debts; the states are by the

eleventh amendment secure from legal pursuit, and the Union secures them

from the forcible settlement which the law of nations authorizes. There

is no doubt that each of these states would have been seized for debt

by foreign powers, just as Mexico was seized a few years ago, if the

national government did not cover them with its protection. The evil is

precisely this, that the constitution cuts off creditors of states from

any remedy when the states do not pay their debts. This state of things

was brought about by the whole people when the eleventh amendment was

adopted. We are all therefore responsible for state roguery. We have,

though unintentionally, authorized the repudiation by opening the door

to it; and so long as we leave the door open we are responsible for the

rascally people who repudiate state bonds. We have tried hard to see some

escape from the logic of Mr. Hume; but we have found none. We are as a

nation responsible for the existence of these dishonored debts, which now

exceed three hundred millions of dollars. We are a dishonest nation; it

is a hard saying, but it is the exact truth of the case.

The logical remedy is the repeal of the eleventh amendment, but

unfortunately there is no hope of that. The defaulting states are too

numerous; and there is further some doubt whether the rest of us are

honest enough to approve such a reform. Representatives in legislatures

and in Congress are liable to be influenced by a set of considerations

which have no proper relation to the matter. It is affirmed that the

states were wronged by their officers in the issue of the bonds; that the

bonds are now held by men who bought them for a small part of their face

value; and that to pay them is to honor the rascalities which gave them

birth, and reward speculators in unreasonable measure. If the subject

is pressed upon our attention, we shall be told, and have no reason to

disbelieve it, that the speculators are spending money through a lobby,

and that the road to honor lies through more filth than is piled up

in the path of dishonor. The evil, we shall be told, is done, and is

irremediable. We can not reach the persons who were really wronged. They

have parted with their property at an almost total sacrifice; the present

holders have no _moral_ rights whatever. All this has been plentifully

said, and it has lulled many consciences to sleep. Another moral opiate

is the _fact_ that the creditors had due notice that the states could

not be sued at law, and therefore can not complain of this defect in

our constitution. But this is a two-edged argument and might well rouse

a sleepy conscience. These state debts are for this very reason debts

of honor, such as honest men pay before all other debts. And yet, it

is true, and pity ’tis ’tis true, no hope exists that the unfortunate

amendment can be repealed. It is perfectly just to say that it would

be proper to accompany the repeal with any legislation which might be

required to enable courts to take account of all the equities in each

case, even to require that original holders of bonds, or their heirs be

found, and that any reduction from par in the original sales be allowed

to the state. It would, in short, be possible to do justice as exactly as

men can do justice in transactions of this complicated character, and to

secure the tax-payers of the states in default against any oppression.

But the great public is not going to be convinced. It will be said that

the remedial measure is for the relief of idle rich men in Wall street,

and Congressmen and legislators will be warned not to sign their death

warrants. In the course of such a campaign so much immorality will be

taught, so many men now decent in life will be manufactured into rascals,

that it may be wiser not to attempt to repeal the eleventh amendment. It

is a disagreeable conclusion to reach, but we reach it frankly: We are a

dishonest nation. There is no reasonable hope, rather no shadow of hope,

that we can purge ourselves in the matter of dishonored state bonds.

There are not enough honest voters to redeem our reputation. We may

succeed in raising up an honest generation to follow us; for our part,

we of this generation must wear the stigma and groan under the burden of

our dishonor. We are not able to allow creditors of defaulting states

to present their cases to our own courts and have them passed upon as

all other debts are. The nation has a court to consider claims against

itself; but a state is free of even such supervision, and is authorized

to be guilty of any dishonesty. The other remedy which Mr. Hume proposes

is not practicable for the foregoing reasons. He proposes that the

nation shall assume all these debts. We could easily pay them; but for

that matter, it would be easier for the indebted states to pay them than

not to pay them. No one doubts that the state of Illinois did the best

thing financially when in 1845 it assumed and provided for the crushing

debt—for which, by the way, it had very little to show as value received.

Good men avoid dishonest communities, and such states are resorted to by

men of prey. Granted, however, that we might pass in Congress the proper

bills to pay the dishonored bonds of states, it would certainly be better

to pay thus than to bear our reproach. And yet this would only give us

a short rest. The next decade would find us plunged back into the gulf

of disgrace. So long as dishonest men can create debts, for which no

one is legally responsible, by using the names of states, the business

of making us all responsible for scoundrelism will go on. No, we will

modify that. The men who made the debts are not necessarily rascals. They

may mean that posterity shall pay the debts; but so long as a dishonest

legislature can with a stroke of the pen plunge us back into dishonor,

it is hardly worth while to pay the dishonored millions now staring our

consciences in the face and humiliating us to the dust. The bill for

paying off the debts should be contingent on the repeal of the eleventh

amendment. In short, this repeal is the only road to honor. When we shake

ourselves from our rogueries, we shall have to march to the eleventh

amendment and wash ourselves in a national act of repeal. We write most

sorrowfully our conviction that we shall not for some time rid ourselves

of this uncleanness.

Mr. Hume very properly calls attention to the solemn silence of our

American churches on this subject. We are glad that he has done so.

Our church organizations are verily guilty in the matter. They often

lift up their voices on subjects of far less obvious and direct moral

concernment. We are living in a state of the national law whose direct

effect is to make every citizen a thief, a partaker with thieves in their

violation of the eighth commandment. Decalogue religion is, we sometimes

fear, a little below par. Thousands of our citizens who are church

members fail miserably in keeping the Decalogue in their public conduct

as voters and members of political parties. And yet we believe that the

silence of our churches is due to the forgetfulness of the facts, or to

despair of any real and permanent cure. It is a hard case. More than one

newspaper has asked how many bonds Mr. Hume owns; and the ministers who

urge the duty of public honesty will in fact find themselves aiding and

abetting the schemes of Wall street speculators and lobbyists. The road

to righteousness is so foul and so infested with thieves that sublime

courage is necessary to him who attempts the journey. We have written

every sentence of this article with a consciousness that we are offending

men who see the uncleanness of the path to honor, and _do not_ see that

it is the righteous road in spite of the foul smells with which it reeks.

We recall such to the simple facts: First, by the eleventh amendment a

state can not be sued. It is the only debt-creating power in the Union

which is above any form of judicial inquiry or compulsion. Even the Union

has a court of claims whose decisions are respected by Congress. Second,

more than three hundred millions of money is apparently due by defaulting

states to their creditors. The nation stands between the creditors and

the states, and bars the way to the courts. It is our one colossal and

unpardonable crime against the eighth commandment.

THE FALL IN PRICES.

It is often disagreeable to admit a plain truth, and there are truths

which one may safely admit in private which have an almost incendiary

character when printed. To admit in private that the commercial outlook

is not good costs nothing; to print the fact and prove it is to run the

risk of aggravating the causes of the unpromising condition of affairs.

The public is like a patient whose chance of recovery depends upon his

not knowing his critical condition. If his nerves get to playing around

that danger, they may drag him into it. To state in printed words that

the times are bad and growing worse might be to tell a truth; but it

would tend to produce the worse times. This is the reason why editors

are either silent, or even lie a little, in seasons of financial

and commercial depression. But it is also true that in our present

circumstances there are unpleasant things which admit of mitigation, and

even of radical cure; and it is perhaps wiser to state what most of us

know and suggest the remedies for an evil case.

It is known that the wages of laboring men and clerks all over the

country are being cut down. It is probably within the mark to say that

seven millions of wage-earners (of all classes) will receive in 1885 an

average of ten per cent. less compensation for their services than they

received in 1884. Assuming a very low average for the old wages, $1.25

per day, the total reduction in wages for the year will amount to more

than $260,000,000. This amount will of course be taken from the net total

of trade. The workmen and clerks will buy two hundred and sixty million

dollars worth less of goods in 1885. The reduction will be dispersed over

a large area, but it will not spread into a thinness which will render it

impalpable. Nor does the reduction end with the workmen. All the persons

of whom workmen buy manufactured goods will buy less for their own

consumption—they also will have less to buy with. This class is a very

large one, and there are few of us who do not belong in it—are not in

some way dependent on workmen for patronage. To say that all these will

reduce their annual purchases two hundred and sixty millions, carrying

the reduction up to five hundred and twenty millions, is probably within

the mark. We may as well consider in this connection the reductions

in the price of farm products, another great drain on the volume of

trade. Agricultural products are worth at most ten per cent. less than

in 1883. The effect of the reduction in prices of farm products acts

more disastrously on trade, since farmers usually double their caution.

They will not merely buy ten per cent. less; they will buy as little

as possible. Old clothes, old wagons, old tools, will be kept in use,

and it may be within the mark to say that the loss of farmers’ trade of

all sorts will amount to as much as all the others—to five hundred and

twenty millions more. One thousand and forty millions taken off from the

_net_ total of sales of goods will necessarily be keenly missed. The

payment of all the national debt in a prosperous year would be easier

and more pleasant. If it had no compensations this reduction would

crush the life out of us. At least it is a burden to bear. Economies

upon customary spending in a single household matter but little, but

economies in millions of households—less buying of customary comforts—are

a large matter. They are not merely a consequence of hard times; they

make the times hard. And we are so bound together that the enforced

economies in the families of workmen act on the whole purchasing line

with mathematical certainty. It is a good thing, a beneficence of natural

order, that there are compensations. We see these natural offsets most

easily by looking back at the case of the farmer. He has to sell his food

in a cheaper market, and wants to buy also in a cheaper market. He has

made food cheaper for the workman, and he wants the goods made by the

workman at less cost. He wants the same amount of cloth, sugar, salt,

tools, etc., for the same number of bushels of wheat. It is the cloth,

tools, etc., that he wants as a farmer. As a debtor, indeed, he wants

the same number of dollars; and this is _his_ real pinch. He is in debt,

and has to pay in the fall of grain a twenty per cent. premium on what

he owes. As a producer, he would, however, suffer no harm if all other

prices fell as much as the price of grain. If, then, by the corresponding

and simultaneous reduction of the price of food and of wages, the ten

per cent. less money would buy the same things to eat and wear—if the

reduction were equalized all round—nobody would suffer. The farmer’s

grain would buy as much as before; the workman’s wages would buy as much.

Goods of all kinds would be so much cheaper in money terms, but just as

valuable in barter terms. The reduction would be only in the figures and

not in the facts of trade. The footings of the ledgers would be smaller,

but the ledgers of comfort would show an undiminished balance in favor of

happiness.

Will it work out in this way? Partly it will; partly it will not. Cheaper

food will partly balance the accounts of all parties, but some accounts

will not balance. Prices sink or rise unequally. And this is not half

our trouble. In these matters “thinking makes it so;” the belief that

we are losing ground causes the sliding back which we dread. There is

a reluctance to buy what we are accustomed to buy. The reduction in

wages makes men _feel_ poor; and to feel poor is to be a poor customer

of the seller. Suppose that a general fall in prices is going on—a

possibly complete explanation of our troubles—then we must remember

that all values are disturbed. We can not make a “horizontal reduction”

by a stroke of the pen. It must be effected slowly and painfully and

irregularly and in detail. The results are suffering and depression of

spirit. The strain is severe, but it has to be borne; and patience really

lightens all burdens. If we reflect that these stretches of bare ground

in trade are really safe roads—safer than the smoother paths along which

we have driven gaily and recklessly—we shall have confidence to keep

company with patience, and the two will make a rough road tolerable,

if not enjoyable. Honest and industrious souls thrive in such times.

Speculative rogues thrive in good times. The honest man’s chief trouble

is that he _will_ get into debt. His worst calamity is he is paying now

with eighty-cent wheat debts contracted in dollar-wheat prices. The poor

man can not be helped. May the Lord be good to him.

“But” one will say, “this is not our whole disease. We are really at

war. Workmen are falling under the wheels of a great machine called

progress; and the machine is driven by forces too powerful for any hope

of resistance. It is not a mere readjustment of prices; it is a life and

death struggle; and the god Competition must be dethroned, or the people

will perish.” We do not believe this wild-eyed reformer, but we do expect

a hard winter. Let us all remember the poor.