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1. Roll-call: Answer to snap question, Who are the 1. Roll-call: Answered by opinions regarding the propresent members of the President's cabinet?

visions of the will of Cecil Rhodes for Edu

cation.

2. Papers: (a) What the Civil Service Commission has done for Good Government. (b) The Pen- 2. Papers: (a) Digest of the New Chinese Exclusion sion Roll in Principle and Administration. (c) Our Indian Schools. (d) Character Sketches

of Francis W. Parker, Frank R. Stockton, and
T. DeWitt Talmage.

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Law. (b) The Movement for Universal Suffrage in Belgium and Sweden. (c) Significance of Russian Disturbances. (d) International Aspects of the Morgan Shipping Trust. (e) Two Coronations: Spanish and British.

3. Readings: (a) From Foreign Relations of our Colonial Possessions." (THE CHAUTAUQUAN for 3. Readings: (a) From "Motives to Imperial Federa

June.) (b) From "The Opportunities of the

United States," by Andrew Carnegie. (The
North American Review for June.) (c) From
"For Civic Improvement," by Sylvester Baxter.
(The Century for May.) (d) From "The Con-
sular Service of the United States." (THE
CHAUTAUQUAN for June.)

4. Debate: Resolved, That the Effect of War upon
Moral Standards Renders it Unjustifiable.

tion." (The International Monthly for May.) (b) From "A Trip Down the Rhine." (THE CHAUTAUQUAN for June.) (c) From "The Polish Problem in Russia." (The Forum for May.) (d) From Character Sketches of Cecil Rhodes. (Review of Reviews for May.)

4. Test-Problem: Award prize to person submitting the Best Draft of Terms of Peace in South Africa.

NEWS FROM THE CIRCLES.

The impossibility of publishing reports from the C. L. S. C." Besides the under

graduate circles there is a Society of the Hall in the Grove which admits new graduates each year, and all these organizations are combined in the Trojan Chautauqua Union, which includes every Chautauquan in town. The Secretary writes of the recent annual meeting: "It passed off gloriously. We had a full house, every one enthusiastic, and representatives of almost every class

from all the circles is frequently an embarrassment to the editor who is anxious to have each circle feel assured of a place at the Round Table. Therefore it will be a favor if, when a circle feels that it may have been inadvertently excluded from notice, it will call special attention to the omission and send particulars of its work. Necessarily among so many circles many of the reports must be of a somewhat similar character. from the beginning of Chautauqua work."

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doing its work in a unique way. Aside from the regular course which is being pursued by a large number of people, the circle has held a series of public talks on "Our City Government." These talks have aroused great interest and quickened the educational life of the community in many directions. Among the subjects discussed have been "The Powers and Duties of the Mayor" and "The Educational Interests of Gloversville." Interspersed with these practical discussions have been lectures on subjects relating to the C. L. S. C. course. A lecture upon Florence and Dante, illustrated with many fine views, was very cordially received, and the leader of the circle, Mr. W. C. Kitchin, writes: "This first year will make a second and subsequent years of still more prosperous character easily possible." We remember the great interest in Chautauqua which Mr. Kitchin awakened in Burlington, Vermont, and in his new home he is again using his talents for organization in behalf of the education of the people.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA.

We should be glad of more contributions from "this side of the Rockies," especially if they show such a state of cheerful activity as the following report from the Columbia

Circle indicates:

We, this side of the Rockies, think that a word from Columbia Circle of Santa Clara, California, will not come amiss. Our enrolled members number twentyfive, with an average attendance of seventeen. Many of our members live out of town, and during the inclement weather it is hard for them to attend regularly. We are enthusiastic Chautauquans, deeply interested in the work. We assign a committee for programs each month, and follow the outlined work as laid out for us in THE CHAUTAUQUAN. On the last Thursday of each month we have a "review" day. Each member

is given a slip on which is written the chapter or section of the chapter assigned to her for the review, also a quiz on the magazine articles. Answers may be given verbally or in writing, papers and character sketches in any form that will keep our minds in touch with the lessons for the month. Our members usually vie with one another also in serving delicious refreshments on our review days. Our last review which was held at the home of a graduate of the Class of 1894, took the form of a talk on Germany by Professor T. B. Sawyer of the "University of the Pacific," situated

a mile and a half from Santa Clara. His talk was

principally upon German characteristics in politics, their style of living, and some incidents that occurred during his stay- a most interesting and profitable talk. But the fun of the afternoon was in solving the

riddle of "The Historical Man." We hope the Canandaigua Circle will publish the answers, and we shall watch eagerly for "The Historical Woman."

Yours in C. L. S. C. work,

MRS. H. W. GEORGE, President.
JULIA C. LANCK, Secretary.

A CLOSE DEBATE.

The Robert Browning Circle of Warren, Ohio, recently debated the question, "Resolved, That the advantages of a paternal government are greater than its disadvantages." Two debaters presented the arguments for each side and so well did the contestants work up their subjects that the judges found seventy-five points for the affirmative and seventy-three for the negative. At a subsequent meeting the circle had a map drawing contest on Germany which is reported as both profitable and amusing.

CIRCLES IN THE COUNTRY.

Six members living in Bristol Springs, New York, call their circle "The Double Threes."

As the members are scattered over the coun

tryside they cannot meet regularly, but report increased enthusiasm every time they get together.

In a neighboring county not far from Lockport is the "Country School Circle," whose members are chiefly the wives and daughters of farmers living from one to three and four miles apart. They meet at different homes once in two weeks, "weather and roads permitting," and have papers, reviews, select readings, and debates. In spite of their isolation, these Chautauquans are thoroughly alive to their opportunities and were represented by their president, Rev. Mr. Helfenstein, at Chautauqua last summer.

TODEDO REUNION.

The Erie C. L. S. C., of Toledo, Ohio, is nearly twenty years old. Its “reunion banquet," held on the 27th of February, bore the dates 1883-1902, and as the motto of the Class of '87 graced the program, it is evident that the '87's were at the bottom

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of the affair. The program included the reading of the first class history and the first class prophecy which were listened to with peculiar zest, after the lapse of nineteen years. The toasts recalled illuminating experiences of bygone days, and the eighty guests, representing many C. L. S. C. classes, proved a most stimulating audience.

The form of the invitation was very appropriately à la Longfellow. May the good Chautauquans of Toledo live to celebrate many more such famous reunions.

HOLLEY, NEW YORK.

Another Longfellow's day celebration was that of the Holley Alumni Association, which held its seventh annual meeting on February

27th. These Alumni have a pleasant fashion

of inviting the undergraduates and thus impressing them with the social spirit of the true Chautauquan. The alumni were greatly honored by the presence of one of the oldest living members of the C. L. S. C., Mrs. Davenport of Lockport, ninety-one years old

and a member of the class of '95. The program was bright and varied, in keeping with Holley traditions. Mother Goose quotations were given at roll-call, and the guests had an opportunity to compare their early experiences in this literary field. Music, and an account of a trip to Shakespeare's home by Mrs. Westcott, were followed by a banquet with many bright speeches when the graduates and undergraduates compared notes as to their relative status in society. A few original games closed the evening and the Alumni and their guests dispersed, quite ready to try the experiment again another year.

A KOKOMO LEAGUE OF THE ROUND TABLE.

The Kokomo Chautauquans have such a large body of graduates that in order to encourage work for seals, and create a new bond among their numbers, they are organizing a League of the Round Table. This means that many a graduate who has only four seals perhaps, and who has lapsed in literary activity for a time, will begin to investigate some of the Chautauquan supplementary courses and will soon be in the working ranks once more.

"FAR OUT UPON THE PRAIRIE."

In La Belle, Missouri, where there is a new circle of eighteen members, one of their number lives nine miles distant in the country. The secretary says, "When the weather permits she meets with us and gives us much valuable information. She is a true Chautauquan. We especially enjoyed Italy. The study of the Italian artists has created an appreciation of the works of the great masters."

NOTES BY THE WAY.

Some of our circles have been too much

engrossed with other responsibilities to send full reports to the Round Table, but they

drop an occasional remark in the course of

business communications which show that all is well. From Coffeyville, Kansas, we have the message, "We are doing splendid work in our circle for this year." The Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, Chautauquans reported in the fall four new members "who mean business and hope to accomplish some good results, not only for themselves but for others." This circle have planned an occaguest afternoon" on which each member may bring a friend whom she wishes to interest.

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The Woman's Club of Bad Axe, Michigan, whose president has been a reader of THE CHAUTAUQUAN for many years, are using "Men and Cities of Italy" as a feature of their course for the coming year.

The Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, Circle of 1905 work under disadvantages, but the leader writes that they are keeping up their interest. "The members are scattered and we have found it practically impossible to hold more than one or two meetings. This is on account of unusually severe and stormy weather. Our best work will be done in the spring and summer months.”

CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK.

The circles at the "center" make a fine

showing for the current year. The "Society of the Hall in the Grove" numbers twentytwo members, meets once a month, and, in (Continued onpage 304.)

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the middle of the winter, began studying "Hamlet," a rather dark subject for that time of year, when "to be or not to be" is sometimes a mooted question; but a graduate circle is always supposed to possess an unusually philosophic mind, and it is a good thing for us all to realize that these Chautauquans are equal to all that is expected of them. The class has the good fortune to be led by Miss Anna Thomson, who studied under Professor Hudson, and at their closing meeting, held recently, papers on various aspects of the play were presented and discussed with enthusiasm.

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We have enjoyed the work this winter, and were so interested in our Italian studies that we found it difficult to transport ourselves at once to Germany. Having arrived there, we are doing good work, and want and perhaps through you our fellow Chautauquans - to enjoy with us our Wagner evening. First, a word as to our mode of conducting the circle. We divide the year into three periods, the circle into two divisions. We have a credit system, marking for present, punctual, roll-call, up-to-date in reading and program work. The division having the most credit for any one period is entertained by the less fortunate ones, and we decided to have our Wagner evening and entertainment the same evening. At the home of Mrs. Frances Hawley, our president, the following program was given:

Roll-call: Something about Wagner.

Sketch of Wagner

Story of Lohengrin,

Music: Reproof to Elsa,

Story of Tannhauser,

Mrs. Rice.

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Music: Duet - "To the Evening Star,"

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Miss Lucas. Miss Hawley.

After a social hour with light refreshments we were ready, with pencil and paper, to guess which of thirty quotations were from the Bible and which from Shakespeare. The wild confusion of ideas which prevailed among some of us is certainly a tribute to the lofty character of Shakespeare's genius.

MARY W. MARTIN, Secretary.

SHELBYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

Miss Hopkins, the leader of Chautauqua

work at the Lithia Springs Assembly, is also the leader of an enthusiastic circle and a member of the Class of 1902. We have not heard from the Shelbyville Chautauquans for a long time, and are glad to give the Round Table some account of their ways of working. Elsewhere reference has been made to the circle's plans for the future:

With more than forty readers in two circles, C. L. S. C. is an acknowledged factor in Shelbyville life this winter, and one hears C. L. S. C. subjects discussed on every side, even at dinners and receptions.

Our afternoon circle is limited, as last year, to twenty members, five of whom are new readers who took the places of five who were forced to discontinue the course two going east to college, and the others finding a press of new and arduous duties.

Although the personnel of the circle is somewhat

changed, the spirit, methods, and enthusiasm remain unaltered. We are essentially a study and not a

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paper" club, and so the greater part of our hour is devoted to a quiz and discussion of the assigned lesson. We always have several short talks or reviews on our program, but they are always on subjects relative to the week's work and not on the lesson proper.

If there is any distinguishing characteristic of our circle, I think it is the effort to develop the individual and to make each member feel that it is her circle, that its success depends on each one's doing well her part-in other words, we particularly avoid the monopoly of the program by a few.

We have no critic, but we discuss and question everything so freely that mistakes are always corrected. This year we appoint one person each week to keep a list of all unusual words found in the week's reading and to give us the derivation, meaning, etc. "word-study" has proven popular and beneficial.

This

Among our virtues there is another worth mentioning, I think. Our circle hours are from a quarter past two to four, and we not only begin promptly - as do all well-regulated societies - but we close just as promptly. Consequently our meetings never drag and we always leave with the feeling that we should enjoy staying longer.

GEORGIE F. HOPKINS.

BENTON HARBOR (MICHIGAN) CHAUTAUQUA

ALUMNI.

Thirty members constitute the body known as the Chautauqua Alumni of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan. Once a year these Chautauquans give themselves up to social gayeties and weave into their holiday program many good things from their year's experiences. The club carries on two lines of work. THE CHAUTAUQUAN MAGAZINE studies occupy the chief place and of these they write: "We consider the magazine

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