From an able speech by Prof. H. A. Strong, before the local circle of
Erie, Pa., we clip the following: “Says one of the workers and leaders
around the C. L. S. C. camp-fire at Chautauqua: ‘I was in Missouri, March
last, and was compelled to take a freight train to make connection. As
I entered the caboose I noticed a little candle on a cracker-box on the
side of the car. There was a door on hinges made out of bits of leather,
and a rough button held in its place by a screw, closed the door. After
the train started, the conductor came in, and, after attending to his
duties, stepped to the box, turned the button, opened the door, and
took out a package of C. L. S. C. books, recognizable as such anywhere,
sat down on a bench and began working with one of the Chautauqua
text-books. Of course it was an absolute necessity that I should make his
acquaintance. I approached him and asked him what he was doing. He said:
“A friend of mine in St. Louis called my attention to this Chautauqua
course of reading. I did not know what it meant, but I knew I ought to
read. So, finally, I joined the circle, bought the books, and put them in
this box. My brakemen read with me. One of us keeps watch and the others
read. Sometimes we are switched off on a side-track, and then we make
good progress. Sometimes it is pretty hard work when we have an unusually
long run and much freight; but for the sake of the help it is, I am going
to hold on to it.” I felt like giving the fellow a round of applause, all
alone as I was in the car.’ Such an experience of the C. L. S. C. can
be duplicated over and over again in the history of any class, and the
simple truth is the realization of the vision.”