By J. H. VINCENT, D. D., SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION, C. L. S. C.
The studies for March are Recreations in Astronomy, Readings in
Astronomy, Chautauqua Text-Book on English History, readings in
English, Russian, Scandinavian, and Religious History and Literature.
Also selections from English Literature.
* * * * *
No “Memorial Day” for March; but February 27 is the “Longfellow Day.”
The March number of THE CHAUTAUQUAN may reach our members in time to
remind them of this fact.
* * * * *
For the varying opinions concerning the existence of man on the earth
see the October (’82) CHAUTAUQUAN. The date in our English Bible, “4004
B. C.,” is not an inspired date. The claims of Prof. Packard in his
little volume on geology, as to the long existence of man on the globe,
is doubted by many men of science.
* * * * *
Prof. Timayenis says that the author of the Chautauqua Text-book on
Greek History, and the author of the Preparatory Greek Course in
English, are mistaken in attributing the remark, “Then we will fight
them in the shade,” to Leonidas. Prof. Timayenis says: “My authority is
Herodotus, who, first of all historians, relates the Persian wars, and
all subsequent historians have followed him. In Herodotus, Polymnia,
paragraph 226, you will find the remark attributed to Dienekes.”
* * * * *
What general commanded the Persian forces at the battle of Marathon?
Datis and Artaphernes, by order of King Darius. At what place was St.
John the Baptist imprisoned just before he was beheaded? Probably at
the Castle of Machœrus, east of the Dead Sea.
* * * * *
“What is the examination to which we are to submit?—C. L. S. C.,
’86.” The examination is scarcely thorough enough to be called an
“examination.” It is rather the filling out of certain “memoranda.” It
would be impossible for us to provide any fair test by which to judge
of the ability of our pupils. We therefore simply require them to fill
out certain memoranda, that we may be assured that they have read the
books.
* * * * *
Go to some member who despairs because she can not read a large amount
every day, and show her by actual reading how many minutes by the watch
it takes to read slowly one page. Then put a book mark five pages on
for one day, another day three pages, another six, then five. Run
through at that rate for twenty-five days, and show your friend how
far she would be at the end of a month by reading so much a day. A
practical illustration of that kind will show the power of littles,
prove to a demonstration the power of system, inspire your discouraged
friend with confidence and hope, and thus in a small way you will be a
teacher and a useful member of the C. L. S. C.
* * * * *
Hold “Round-Tables” with conversations at your circle meetings. Allow
no waste of words. Let the president hold everybody to the subject, and
see how many things can be said by the circle of five, ten, or fifteen
persons, on one subject.
* * * * *
“Duyckinck” is pronounced Di´kink.
* * * * *
Rev. A. B. Cristy, pastor of the Congregational church, Conway, Mass.,
has devised one or two very ingenious Chautauqua games, which I hope he
will see fit to publish.
* * * * *
Mr. Cristy has adopted a very ingenious plan for a local circle. He
says: “I have prepared a narrative with breaks to be filled in, in
order, by the answers to the one hundred questions in the October and
November CHAUTAUQUAN. One reads, and, as he comes to a break, suddenly
calls for some one to read the answer from THE CHAUTAUQUAN. If the
other does not find it, and begin before the reader counts ten as the
clock ticks, a forfeit is to be paid to the general fund, thus insuring
attention while the main points are reviewed during the game.” A very
bright way of spending a little time in a local circle.
* * * * *
A lady from Vermont writes: “Since I wrote last, my eldest brother,
Dr. ——, of ——, and my own sister, Mrs. ——, have both joined the C. L.
S. C. This makes four of father’s family who belong to the ‘people’s
college.’ With the exception of the doctor we were all in the old home
at Christmas, and as my cousins were there too, we planned to organize
very quietly. We seated ourselves on the stairs in the front hall,
and were proceeding to business, when the dear old mother announced
that there was ‘a college being organized in the house,’ so, of
course, every one had to come and look at us, and as each one said
something wittier than the last had said, we were soon in an uproar of
merriment—a very undignified college class. I think hereafter when they
read of the C. L. S. C., they will think of the company of people on
the stairs, and that is really what we are—going up one step at a time.
There are five in the circle, and we have arranged to meet once in two
weeks.” A good name, _the On-the-Stairs circle_. Our correspondent
in a later letter adds: “Did I tell you that we sat near the foot of
the stairs, as symbolical of the heights we hope to climb? and on the
lowest step was a little girl who had left the company to be near her
mother, and in her we saw a type of the coming generation, and the
promise of an ever-widening circle. Do urge it upon the mothers more
and more to talk over their studies with their little children. It not
only helps mothers, but it gives such zest to the studies of the little
ones, when they think that by-and-by they are going to study these
other wonderful things which now interest their parents. Only this
last week my little nine-year-old girl was having a hard time over her
geography lesson; out West seemed so far away, but when I mentioned to
her that Yellowstone Park was out there it was like another lesson, or
like another girl studying—an interested girl.”
* * * * *
A cultivated lady writes: “One of the most agreeable Methodist ladies
in the city of New York recently asked of me some information about
the Chautauqua course. She occupies a high social position in the
church, and is possessed of no little intelligence, but finds her
time absorbed in the cares of her domestic establishment. I gave her
such of the Chautauqua matter as I had at hand, and asked how her
interest in the course had been awaked. She replied that an amiable
young kinswoman, who is in the habit of visiting her yearly, endeared
herself to the household, during her last visit, by the development of
her intelligence, the animation of her conversation, and her greatly
improved intellectual character. ‘I found a Chautauqua text-book on her
dressing table,’ said my friend, ‘and guessing the secret of the marked
change in her, asked her whether she knew of the Chautauqua course?’
‘Yes, indeed!’ It had laid hold of her; she could not do without it;
such a blessing and benefit it had been to her, etc. Mrs. —, my friend,
thereupon came to the conclusion that she herself must have the course.
‘My reading is necessarily limited, but it need not be desultory,’ she
said; ‘I want what we all want—regulated reading.’ Accordingly she
has subscribed for THE CHAUTAUQUAN, and begun the course. As she has
two little girls, and a boy fourteen years old, the C. L. S. C. will
not impart its healthful influence and stimulus to her alone. I am
sure that it will prove a well-spring, refreshing and nourishing her
household.”
* * * * *
The item calling for missing numbers of THE ASSEMBLY HERALD
brought satisfactory answers; the first from Mrs. H. M. Graham, of
Garrettsville, Ohio, who sends the missing March and October numbers
for 1879; the May number, and also the October, which has been
returned, from Miss Jessie Brownell, of St. Louis, Mo. My cordial
thanks to these kind helpers.
* * * * *
A member writes: “I want to get a good astronomical almanac containing
map or chart of the movements of the planets for the current year.
Can you direct me where to find a good one, which is at the same time
reasonable in price?” After consulting two of the leading astronomers
in the country, I am compelled to say that such map or chart is not
to be easily procured. One professor recommends any nautical almanac,
in connection with any chart of the heavens; another recommends the
“Connecticut Almanac,” with such chart.
* * * * *
The hero—the reformer—your Brutus—your Howard—your republican, whom
civic storm—your genius, whom poetic storm impels; in short, every man
with a great purpose, or even with a continuous passion (were it but
that of writing the largest folios); all these men defend themselves
by their internal world against the frosts and heats of the external,
as the madman in a worse sense does; every fixed idea, such as rules
every genius and every enthusiast, at least periodically, separates
and raises a man above the bed and board of this earth—above its dog’s
grottoes, buckthorns, and devils’ walls; like the bird of paradise he
slumbers flying; and on his outspread pinions oversleeps unconsciously
the earthquakes and conflagrations of life in his long fair dream of
his ideal motherland.—_Jean Paul F. Richter._