The privilege of joining the new C. L. S. C. class just forming will be
granted till the first day of January, 1884. This class will graduate
in 1887. It begins work with genuine Chautauqua enthusiasm. Send
applications for membership to Dr. J. H. Vincent, Plainfield, N. J.
* * * * *
The Protestant Episcopalians held their General Convention in
Philadelphia in October, and during this month they consecrated an
assistant Bishop for New York City, and another for the city of
Baltimore. The Methodist Episcopal Church will hold their General
Conference in the same city in May, 1884.
* * * * *
General Sherman says that he regards the Indian question as substantially
eliminated from the problem of the army. The completion of the
trans-continental lines of railway, and the extensive emigration into
the territories have made large contributions to the settlement of the
question. But for all that, we shall find many demands made upon us by
the Indians in the future. Fair treatment of them will go far toward
preventing trouble.
* * * * *
Governor Murray, of Utah, reports to the Secretary of the Interior that a
secret organization among the Mormons, which has been in existence for
a number of years, nullifies the laws of the United States and prevents
the execution of the decrees of the Supreme Court. The Governor proposes
to repeal the act giving a legislature to the territory, and to rule
the people directly by the United States Government. That is a good
suggestion, but why does not Governor Murray do something to prevent
Mormon missionaries importing men, and especially women, from European
countries to keep their ranks full? We send missionaries to foreign lands
to preach the gospel, and permit the Mormons to bring agents of evil over
here by the hundreds and thousands.
* * * * *
The lively canvass for the election of Mayor of Brooklyn, N. Y., has
brought to light the fact that the cost of the Brooklyn bridge was
$21,000,000.
* * * * *
That fine military organization known as the Cleveland Greys has decided
to purchase ten acres of land on the shores of Chautauqua Lake for a
summer camping ground.
* * * * *
General Sheridan is now commander of the armies of the United States.
His abilities as a fighter, which made his splendid reputation in the
Shenandoah Valley and on other fields of battle, are not needed now, but
rather the qualities which made him an excellent quartermaster as a staff
officer. The nation is to be congratulated that while the great generals
of the war, Grant and Sherman, are retiring, so capable and worthy an
officer as Sheridan, who won a world-wide fame by his skill and heroism
in battle, is promoted to this important command.
* * * * *
It is estimated that the German-American element in this country can not
fall short of nine millions. This embraces all that were born in the
Fatherland, and all that were born of German parents in this country, and
that speak the German language.
* * * * *
Three hundred thousand voters in Ohio declared themselves in favor of
constitutional prohibition at the election in October. The moral force
of that vote is tremendous. Never before did the Prohibitionists, who
believe in carrying their cause into politics, act more wisely than
when they compelled an old and powerful political organization to take
up their cause and plead for its success—“wisdom is justified of her
children.” If they did fail the effort was a great success, as is every
action for a good cause. When the dominant political party shall adopt
prohibition as one of the chief planks in its platform it will hold
the Christian and temperance voters in its ranks, but when it throws
this cause overboard these people will think seriously of turning their
political machinery upside down.
* * * * *
Mr. V. C. Dibble expresses these sensible views on a live question in a
recent number of the _Journal of Education_: “The objection to classical
culture rests upon the assumption that it is not practical; an assumption
which, although not uncommon, is nevertheless incorrect. There is no
issue between classical education and that which is practical. The only
education worthy of any serious advocacy is the practical—that which is
adapted to the condition of its subjects, and which will prepare them for
the real work which life will demand of them. Education is in fact life
begun.”
* * * * *
The paper on which the United States currency is printed is manufactured
at Dalton, Mass., and the Boston _Herald_, in a recent issue, gives
the following particulars: Eighteen or twenty Treasury girls, who earn
$3 a day, count the sheets, examining each one closely, and rejecting
all imperfect ones. An automatic register at the end of the machine
registers every sheet as it is cut off and laid down. The register man
takes them away in even hundreds, and they are immediately counted in
the drying room. In all the various processes of finishing every sheet
is counted, and they are again counted on their receipt at the Treasury
Department in Washington. The great protection of the government against
counterfeiting lies in the paper here made. The distinctive feature is
the introduction of colored silk threads into the body of the paper while
it is in the process of manufacture. They are introduced while the paper
is in the pulp, and are carried along with it to the end of the machine,
where it is delivered as actual paper. This has been more fatal than
anything else to the professional counterfeiters.
* * * * *
The political work during the past month has been a contest in several
states for state officers. Massachusetts has attracted the attention of
politicians everywhere, because General Butler was the most conspicuous
figure in the campaign. He was a musical candidate. Editors of political
papers never failed to criticise him and to praise him. He mixed up with
schools, charitable institutions, moral reforms, and the industries of
the state. He has been defeated by a heavy majority, and Mr. Robinson,
the Republican candidate, elected over him. It is now predicted by the
wise ones that this will close General Butler’s race for the presidency,
but this may prove to be false, because all ordinary rules fail when
applied to an abnormal character like General Butler. He rides the
stormiest sea of any man in American politics.
* * * * *
Concerning candidates for the Presidency, all aspirants seem to be using
a kind of tactics that will keep their names out of sight, while they
gather all the strength possible for the coming struggle. In late years
a number of eminent men have run well in the newspapers and in political
street talk, but when the votes were counted in the National Convention
they failed. Senator Don Cameron is in Europe, and rumor says he will
remain there till late in the summer of 1884. Ex-Senator Conkling has
lost his political influence, and Senator Logan is obliged to share
the political fortunes of his party in Illinois with Secretary Robert
Lincoln. This trio, Cameron, Conkling and Logan, who were mighty forces
in the last National Republican Convention, will not be able to dominate
the action of their states in the next campaign for the Presidency.
Perhaps, as one result, the voice of the people will be more potential,
and, in such a case, correct ideas of government will triumph.
* * * * *
Ready made houses is an important branch of manufacturing in some parts
of the country. “A correspondent of the _Old Colony Memorial_ paid a
visit not long ago to Fairfield, Maine, where a large establishment
is located for the production of these knock down houses, and he says
that few have any idea to what extent this business has been carried
in Waterville and its neighborhood, or to what perfection it has been
brought. In the establishment to which we refer dwelling houses are made,
like boots and shoes, in any quantity, and of any size or style, and
for any market in the wide world. Not long since this concern received
a single order for fifty houses for Cape May, to be delivered speedily
and in complete finish. These houses were to be, not sheds nor shanties,
but regularly ordered dwellings; and they were made accordingly and
so delivered, and contain hundreds of occupants at this moment. An
order will be received for a $50,000 hotel, or an ornate, French-roof,
cottage for a fine country estate, and these as easily and expeditiously
furnished as an ordinary boarding house for a country village, or a barn
for a ranch in Kansas or Colorado.” This would be a good plan for persons
to adopt who contemplate building cottages at Chautauqua. Try it.
* * * * *
“The first railroad in Palestine is being laid out, and the preliminary
survey has been completed as far as the Jordan. It is to run between
Acre and Damascus, and is called the Hamidié line, because it is named
after his present Majesty, the Sultan Abdul Hamid. Probably one reason
why the firman has been granted so easily lies in the fact that it passes
through a great extent of property which he has recently acquired, to
the east of the plain of Esdraelon. The concession is held by ten or
twelve gentlemen, some of whom are Moslems and some Christians, but all
are Ottoman subjects resident in Syria. Among the most influential are
the Messrs. Sursock, bankers, who own the greater part of the plain of
Esdraelon, and who have, therefore, a large interest in the success of
the line.”
* * * * *
Several eminent Englishmen have visited this country during the past
month. Lord Coleridge, representing the law, Henry Irving the stage,
Matthew Arnold, literature, and Père Hyacinthe, theology. The reception
of these gentlemen in our eastern cities indicates that the world has a
peculiar fondness for its own. Henry Irving was received by more people,
entertained more elegantly, and eulogized with more applause, than any
one in the list. Yet he has not done a tithe as much for the elevation
of his fellow men across the waters as any one of the others. Is it not
still true, “The children of this world are wiser in their generation
than the children of light?”
* * * * *
A Hindoo prophet, Babu Protap Chunder Mozoomdar, has come to this country
from the Orient. He was educated in the religion of Brahminism. Some
years ago he renounced idolatry, and in company with his cousin, Keshub
Chunder Sen, joined the Brahmo Somaj, a theistic movement started in 1830
by Ram Mohun Roy. Mr. Sen and Mr. Mozoomdar have since become prominent
leaders in this religious and social movement. Mr. Mozoomdar left India
last spring for a tour around the world. He is about forty-two years of
age, is above the average height, is of dark complexion and finely-cut
features. He is the author of two books; one on “The Faith and Progress
of the Bramo Somaj,” and one just published entitled “The Oriental
Christ,” which is a devout and poetic conception of Christ as seen by an
Oriental mind.
* * * * *
The term “dude” is a very convenient nickname for the over-nice or
simpering individuals who are found in considerable numbers on every
line of the world’s work. There is the fashionable dude, scholarly dude,
literary dude, artistic dude, etc. They are a useless class of persons,
unless they serve as scare-crows to frighten other people from the line
of life on which they move. Perhaps this is as good service as can be
claimed at the hands of such a set of weaklings.
* * * * *
The Arctic relief expedition has proven to be a great failure. No relief
for the Greeley party was provided by the expedition, and yet it has
returned home. The verdict which public opinion seems to render is, that
the “Arctic Relief Expedition” was _badly managed_ from first to last.
* * * * *
It is said that one result of President Arthur’s visit to the Northwest
is a determination to appoint only residents of territories to the
important territorial offices. This is a concession to the people of the
territories who are dissatisfied with appointments from without.
* * * * *
The decision of the Supreme Court on the Civil Rights bill turns the
whole question over to the government of the states in which the colored
people live. If they do not secure justice there, they have another high
privilege in reserve, namely, the right of appeal to a higher court.
* * * * *
The dynamite explosions in October, on the underground railroad in
London, were ineffectual attempts as movements either against the city or
general government. Some Irish leaders claim that the Irish did not do
the mischief, but that designing Englishmen who mean to keep up perpetual
war between Ireland and England, were the guilty parties. The ways of
this conflict are as dark as the railroad tunnel under London.
* * * * *
The Chautauqua Board of Trustees will hold their annual meeting at the
Sherman House, in Jamestown, N. Y., on Wednesday and Thursday, the 9th
and 10th of January, 1884.
* * * * *
The _Deaf-Mute Advance_ comes to our table once every week, from
Jacksonville, Ill. As the name indicates, it is published in the interest
of deaf-mutes, and is doing much to inspire with a desire for education
the class of people to whom it ministers. In a late number the editor
says: “A young lady from the country came to Danville some days ago,
driven by a green boy, who had his first view of town life. She had
occasion to go to the Deaf and Dumb Institute, and the boy, when he
went home, said he saw the people there ‘winking at each other on their
fingers.’”
* * * * *
Mr. Moody successfully opened his great mission in England on Nov. 4.
Four meetings were held, each of which was attended by from 4,000 to
6,000 persons. The iron hall built for the occasion proved to be complete
in all its arrangements, affording seating room for 5,800 persons. All
around on the sides of the hall appropriate texts were displayed, such as
“God is Love,” and over the platform, “We pray you in Christ’s stead be
ye reconciled to God.” Mr. Sankey sang with customary effect. Mr. Moody’s
powerful addresses showed that he had not lost his hold on the people. At
the close of the evening meeting a man in the hall shouted out that Mr.
Moody’s last mission in London had been a failure. Mr. Moody answered by
calling for volunteers to come out boldly on the Lord’s side, whereupon
about three thousand men arose _en masse_. The incident caused much
excitement.
* * * * *
The first number of _The Outlook_, the paper published in the interest
of the class of ’84, is out. It is a stirring little sheet, brimming
over with class news, class gossip and class enthusiasm. The ’84s are
especially fortunate in having such an editor as Mr. Bridge to lead them.
This little quarterly will undoubtedly do much toward awakening the class
and making their closing year even more brilliant than their beginning.
Let every member subscribe.
* * * * *
A novel and entertaining exhibit was held in Paris in October. It was
called “The Exposition of the Incoherent Arts,” and was arranged by
and contributed to by young artists. Such a collection of absurdities
is rarely seen, this one being on a much larger scale than those in
previous years, and those who attend go to laugh. It is necessary to be a
Frenchman and a Parisian to thoroughly appreciate all the happy hits and
plays upon words, but even a foreigner can find food enough for laughter.
The proceeds of the exhibition are for the poor of Paris, and it is
expected that it will net quite a good sum. The exhibition abounds in
pictures of the realistic school. For instance, where there is a figure
wearing a shoe it will very likely be a genuine shoe attached; or hair
will be stuck on instead of painted, suns and moons be represented by
gold and silver paper pasted on, and one painting gives a ship sailing
along accompanied by fishes, the fishes being two or three regular dried
herrings glued to the canvas. One of the most prominent pictures is a
portrait of the lecturer and critic, M. Henri de Lapommeraye. The hair
and mustache, the eyeglass, the book just laid down, the letter he is
reading, and the glass of sugar and water at hand, are all real objects
attached to the picture, and of course, stand out most “naturally” from
the canvas. No. 85 is entitled, “Poem of a Pig.” It is a very striking
geometrical fantasy, the five different handlings of plain geometrical
figures giving a pig drama in five acts. First act, pig strolling along
seeking whom he may devour; second act, a sudden noise startles him, he
scents the wind; third act, feeling he is pursued, he turns his head;
fourth act, a knife shines in the air, he guesses, he flees; fifth act,
fate is fate, and the beast sees heaven. No. 167 is “A Wild Pansy” (study
of flowers). One forgets that “_une pensée sauvage_” can also mean a
savage thought, and the surprise comes in to find the flowers of the
picture are a fierce young boy and a scared-looking cat, and the boy is
murdering the cat by running a spear through its neck. These are but
samples of the whimsicalities.