It is impossible for those who have low, mean, and groveling ideas,
and who have spent their lives in mercenary employments, to produce
anything worthy of admiration, or to be a possession for all times.
Grand and dignified expressions must be looked for from those whose
thoughts are ever employed on glorious and noble objects.—_Longinus._
* * * * *
_New England._—I am astonished at the wonderful system and workings of
the C. L. S. C. It seems to me that this must be one of the most active
agents for good extant, and its origination ought surely to be counted
among the most progressive educational forces of the day. It was with
some doubts and considerable apathy that I sent my name for enrollment
among the students of the Circle, but I am now an enthusiast.
* * * * *
_Massachusetts (Williamstown)._—One year ago I began the Chautauqua
course in connection with my regular college duties. While for me, a
great part of the work was a review, I found that it served to clinch
and make fast my previous knowledge of the subjects taken up, and also
gave me much information that was new and not to be obtained in my
college course. I have just entered on my senior year, and although I
am very busy, I shall keep up my C. L. S. C. work, believing that any
time I can take to devote to that, will be spent to the best possible
advantage. To one who has the advantages of a college education the
C. L. S. C. course furnishes a valuable auxiliary and material aid,
while to those denied this advantage, it furnishes a means of education
surely second to none, save perhaps the few best colleges. My purpose
is to graduate and then to pursue some of the extra courses as I have
time. With best wishes for the success of the “People’s College,” and
of every true Chautauquan, I am yours, respectfully, etc.
* * * * *
_Massachusetts._—I have nearly all of last year’s books to read up, but
I am not one bit discouraged. I am behind from various causes; with a
large family and many cares, and a great deal of church and temperance
work, and foreign mission work to do, and a house full of company
all last year, it kept me behind. But this year I shall make up and
graduate in ’84, all in good time.
* * * * *
_Maine._—I am a poor farmer’s daughter, and motherless. I have wished
very much to go to some good school and graduate, but I am an only
daughter and therefore must be my father’s housekeeper, and you cannot
tell how glad I was to learn of the C. L. S. C. I shall try to complete
the reading and study for this year if possible.
* * * * *
_Vermont._—We are two years behind the class of ’83, but hope to be
able to catch up and finish with that class. We are not discouraged,
though laboring under difficulties. I shall never cease to be grateful
for the C. L. S. C., which is giving pleasure and profit to so many
thousands.
* * * * *
_New York._—I have been for years a confirmed invalid, never leaving
my room unless carried out, and unable to sit even in a reclining
chair, but a short time. During these long, weary years, reading, and
listening to reading, has been the one great pleasure left me. Having
my attention directed, a few months since, to the list of required
readings for the C. L. S. C., the thought presented itself to me that,
in place of desultory reading, I might substitute a regular course, as
I think there are but few days pass when I do not read at least forty
minutes, still I dare not pledge myself to even that length of time
regularly, and can only promise to do the best I can.
* * * * *
_Illinois._—For six weeks I have been very sick. Through it all I have
continued my reading. Of how much value the past year’s reading has
been to me it would be impossible to tell. But there are books in the
library that have never been opened by me before, thinking they were
too deep or dry until the beautiful “Mosaics,” printed in that valuable
paper, “THE CHAUTAUQUAN,” touched the spring of curiosity and sent me
searching through them from lid to lid.
* * * * *
A member writes: Five years ago I walked into an unguarded opening
in the sidewalk and fell ten or twelve feet, causing spinal trouble,
since which time I have not been able to ride or walk, until within the
past year. I walk around my room some, and hope to entirely recover. I
suppose I simply should have said, “I am an invalid,” but I don’t like
the word, for I do try to make myself useful. I have a little private
C. L. S. C. school in my room mornings, and find plenty to occupy my
time.
* * * * *
_New York._—A mother, whose daughter (also a member of the class of
’82) died last year, writes: “The diploma is a gem, weighted with
meaning in the illustrations; and now I only regret that I was not more
interested in the diploma, and had it on regular parchment. My husband
was pleased with it, and wished me to have it framed and hung beside
my son’s and daughter’s—the one from Harvard, the other from Fort
Edward Institute. My son, who is an enthusiastic educator, sent his
congratulations, saying: ‘Not many have received a diploma after being
fifty-five years of age.’ But what afforded us all increased pleasure
was the mistake of one of the initials, my own name being C. W. C.,
and my daughter’s being C. M. C. The name in the diploma is Mrs. C. M.
C., so like the blending of our tastes and life pursuits. My son says:
‘The error of initials has increased the value of the diploma;’ and all
of us so consider it. Well, she had commenced on the fourth year, and
with quivering lip expressed a hope that she should live to finish the
course. To her belongs the merit of inspiring her mother and others in
this place, and her influence will continue. How appropriate that she
shares in the diploma that I doubly value for her sake!”
* * * * *
Miss Norton, secretary of the Pacific Coast Branch of the C. L. S. C.,
writes: “The outlook for the coming year seems very hopeful thus far,
in our office work, especially in the letters from the outlying States
and Territories. The seed sown last year seems to be bearing good
fruit.”
* * * * *
_New Mexico._—From Las Vegas, New Mexico, there comes this message: I
am a member of the C. L. S. C.; marched with the circle at Rome City
last summer; was at the banquet and camp-fire, and heard Dr. Vincent
lecture before the circle. I would like to organize a circle in New
Mexico; send me papers and all the help you can for the work.
* * * * *
_Indian Territory._—From the Wa-la-ka Creek nation, Indian Territory, a
writer says: “We have a family of one hundred and twenty Indian youth
and teachers. Can we become members of the C. L. S. C.?” The answer is,
Yes. Thus the work is spreading into every State and Territory, and
into many foreign nations.
* * * * *
_California._—With my three little children and quite an extensive
poultry business to look after, I have very few idle moments. Hence
my failure to keep up with my class was unavoidable. I have enjoyed
the course of reading more than I can express, though I am not at all
satisfied with my year’s work. It troubles me sometimes to remember
what I have read. I am very anxious to take up the Greek course. I have
been trying to get some of my neighbors interested in the C. L. S. C.,
but do not succeed, so I am plodding on alone. I think you are doing
a noble work, and the end is not yet. I will close in the language of
Tiny Tim, “God bless us every one.”
* * * * *
_West Virginia._—How much we have enjoyed the course of reading! We
really did not study: had time only to go over once. One would read
aloud, while the other sewed; and we would not take anything for what
we learned. Mother would often ask, “Well, how much do you remember
of all you read?” I often thought it was like the Centennial—we were
there a week. Of course we can’t remember half we saw, and yet we have
a pretty good idea of what was there, and what we saw; enough to make
it a pleasure and a profit to think of. And so about the books we
read. Perhaps we couldn’t answer one question in ten you’d ask us in
Roman history, and yet we have a distinct idea of the way the people
lived, of the characters of Julius Cæsar, Sulla, Nero, etc. We have a
beautiful cat named Pericles, who was a kitten when we were reading
history of Greece; and we had one named Antonius when reading Roman
history, but he wasn’t nice, and we gave him away.
* * * * *
_Illinois._—An Illinois miss writes: I am running all to music, and
found some time ago that my thoughts were altogether too narrow for
the music, and if I can branch out more, get new thoughts, and strange
ones, I can stand up straighter in other ways. This is a great, strong,
rough world, and it takes a strong heart and lots of courage. I am only
a girl.
* * * * *
_Maryland._—One of the most charming domestic scenes is reported to us
from the “Bird’s Nest,” in Maryland, where there are several members
of the Circle. A good woman, who is the light of the house, writes:
There have been days when I could not study at all, but the shells
that I was able to gather as I stood on the shore, helped me to listen
to the waves as they came in from the other side of the great sea of
knowledge, from away back before the coming of Christ. And I have
learned that there is no god like our God, for he knoweth that we
have need of this mind-furnishing. I feel sure that the C. L. S. C.
has come to be one of the corner-stones in our home. Jesus Christ, I
hope, is the chief corner-stone. Does not our Bible tell us that “every
wise woman buildeth her house?” Does she wish to know how? “Through
wisdom is a house builded, and by understanding is it established,
and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and
pleasant riches.” I pray God that every mother may belong to the C. L.
S. C. When I began my studies in October last, I soon felt I wanted
my husband to study with me. Thus far in our married life we had
always gone hand in hand together. I felt almost as if we were being
separated. I did not urge the matter, because I saw that he felt that
for me it would be impracticable. The more I studied, the more I felt
it was right for me to keep on; that I could help them all in the home
better by so doing. Last evening, after reading the CHAUTAUQUA HERALD
(we have taken it all through the course this summer), my husband laid
down the paper and said: “My dear, I am going to join this Circle;
and Nellie (turning to our daughter), you must join it, too, and we
will all help each other in the home.” All my heart went out to God in
thankfulness. * * * Last Sabbath was my birthday, and my two nieces
and daughter told me on Saturday evening that I must not go into
the dining-room Sabbath morning until the bell rang for breakfast.
Accordingly, when the bell sounded, my husband escorted me to the
dining-room. The table was beautiful with its linen, its basket of
pears, peaches, and grapes in the center, and the lovely saucer bouquet
at my plate. Just beside my chair was a flower stand that father had
made for me, and each shelf was laden with presents for me from the
dear ones, not excepting my honored, faithful, colored servant. In the
bay-window were the words, “Happy Birthday,” in phantom letters. When
we were seated at the table, my husband asked a blessing. Each of us
then recited a verse of Scripture, as is our usual custom. Just then my
father handed my husband a paper, which he opened and read. It was a
sweet little poem which he had written, closing with the words:
“In sooth no works of sophistry
Their homage will dispute;
We greet her now most cordially,
With the G. L. S. C. salute.”
I think I never had anything move me so. I just bowed any head and
thanked my Heavenly Father.
* * * * *
_Ohio._—Since I began to study in the C. L. S. C., I have spent
a summer in England and Scotland. Thanks to you and Green, I was
thoroughly steeped in English history and literature, which made every
place alive with interest. At Oxford did we not wander along the lovely
Isis where Addison loved to walk, to ponder, and study? and did we not
revel in a mild way under the solemn shade of the venerable trees,
and gaze with intense interest at the manuscripts and books of the
Bodleian Library? and did we not hear Gray’s Elegy in that very country
churchyard? Then, too, we made a pilgrimage to Canterbury,
“The holy blisful martir for to seeke.”
There were six of us, and we were all of one mind. We crossed the
border and made a short tour through Scotland, which included a visit
to unfrequented Ayr,
“Auld Ayr, whom ne’er a town surpasses
For honest men and bonnie lasses;”
and to Kirk Alloway, where poor Tam saw such a bewitching sight. The
last weeks of the summer were spent in the English lake district, and
long shall I remember the wonderful pictures seen from our windows
at Keswick: mountains blue and hazy, and again with wreaths of vapor
creeping up the sides and capping the summits, or perhaps clouds
hanging in pillowy masses over them; and there in the sunlight was
the Greta, rippling waves and leaping just as it enchanted Southey,
and if I had not known about him, it would have been nothing to me.
If there is a paradise upon earth, it must be at Grasmere and Rydyl,
sacred with the memory of Wordsworth. There is nothing to disturb the
serene, charming place. We sat by the clear, noisy Rothay, and wandered
through Grasmere churchyard, where Wordsworth is buried. Dorothy lies
beside him. The clergyman intoned the evening service in the church as
if it were a tedious affair, and we were glad to be through with it.
Maybe he did not think it worth while to be slow and solemn, as there
were only five worshippers. May it be your good fortune some day to
see the old creature known as guide to the principal fall of Rydyl.
As she painfully hobbled along on her cane, she grew quite garrulous
over her recollections of the past. H. asked her whether she ever
read his poems. “Seeing him and knowing him,” said she, “is a better
memory than reading his poetry.” To the C. L. S. C. is due much of the
pleasure of the summer. Through the C. L. S. C. I received the first
impulse to study systematically at home; and it is my desire to have
my gratitude take a substantial form. I remember the scholarships you
referred to that Commencement Day. Inclosed you will find ten dollars,
which is my contribution for such a scholarship. It is my way to make
acknowledgment of what the C. L. S. C has done for me.
* * * * *
_Ohio._—The Madison Chautauqua Circle lost a valued member, by the
death of Mary E. Galpin, on October 8, 1882. In the summer of 1878 she
visited Lake Chautauqua. Having intellectual tastes, she soon became
interested in the founding of the “People’s College.” On her return
home, in her quiet and unobtrusive way, she endeavored to enlarge the
Chautauqua Circle by awakening an interest among her young friends. In
the summer of 1880 she visited Chautauqua, and enjoyed the Round-Table
talks within the shade of the “Hall in the Grove,” and while watching
the first C. L. S. C. camp-fire, Mary’s zeal and enthusiasm seemed
to kindle anew. Those who have been closely associated with her know
of her unabated interest, and somewhat of the disappointment she
experienced in not being able to realize her long-cherished hope
of being at Chautauqua on that memorable Commencement Day. In the
providence of God she was prevented from passing under the triumphal
arches at Chautauqua, but she was greatly gratified when she received
her diploma, and expressed her determination to secure the white seal.
“But it is not for man to direct his steps.” A few weeks after, wearing
the white rose of a pure life unfolded by all-sufficient grace, and
upheld by filial devotion, without a murmur, with a smile on her face,
she passed through the golden gate into the heavenly city.