Delta chief., 1884-11-26
The Chautauqua Literary and scienti.
fc Circle.

~ tuc Eultoi VI lhh Shibr.
AS read in the DELTA CHIEF a few weeks
since of the organization of a c. l.. s. c. in
this place, my mind wandered back in fancy,
to the time when / first heard this grand
scheme laid before the people, by the lips of
its founder, DR.. Vincent, of Chautauqua
fame, Mt this most delightful resort, in the
year 1873. At that time and place, nearly
one thousand people joined the circle, among
them the writer of this article, and having
completed three years of the course can
truly testify of the great benefit derived from
following out II marked plan of study like
this. The greatest good resulting in the
power of concentrated thought, which leads
one to weigh carefully what they read-for
whatever we read to strengthen the God-given
faculties of the mind is that which we read
to retain. There is much that we read that
we do not care to retain; have desire to
CLEAN the news of the day as it is presented
before us in the myriad journyls which are
sown broadcast over the country. But if
these are to be our sole educators, wherewithal
shall we get our solid meat. We skim over
eight or ten colums, perhaps, while we are
waiting for something else. This is well
enough but it begets careless habit of
thought. Mrs. Browning says, "the ne Plus
ultra of intellectual Incidence is the reading
of books it comes next to what Americans
call whittling." Goete said, Il have been
fifty years learning how to read, and have
not learned YETI 1t is nearly an axiom that
people will not be better than the books they
read! Another great benefit in joining a
circle is that we learn to discuss with Others
what we read and that not only helps us to
remember, but we can spend many profitable
hours in talking ON themes which we would
hardly think of discussing were not our at
tention called to it in this way. Then if we
have something better to talk about we will
not be gossipiny about our neighbors. What
is the cure for gossip? Simply culture; there
is great deal of gossip that has no maglinlty
in it good people talk abont tfeir neighbors
because they have nothing else to talk about.
The Chautauqua Circle gives the students
outlook. The mind must be drilled to a GER
tain extent before we can in any sense be
called educated. We see men every day
taking lower rank in life, because their
early education has been neglected, and
later in life they wake up to the lamented
fact when they others stepping into
places they might have occupied had they
improved their early opportunities. But
"better late than never" Young man;
young woman don't think to lay down your
studies because YOU are not under a tutor.
School is merely place where we begin to
learn to study. Throw away your trashy
novels, and learn something of the glorious
deeds of our countrymen, of the magnitude
of the starry heavens above you, of the ad-
vance of science, art, and literature. What
more pleasant sight than to see whole
family, father, mother and children engaged
in the same study.
What special benefit has this course brought
to you? hear some say, and why have
you not completed it? The inspiration
gained from study brought to my mind
higher ideal of life, with aspirations for
broader field and higher POSITIONS of useful
ness. The place gained, the literary work
of the position engrossed my time and at
tention that my studies in the G. J.. and s. c.
course were necessarily suspended for the
time, to be renewed in the near future, and
my advice to old and young is to join the
circle even though you may not be able to
attend the one formed in Delta. Thousands
are purchasing the course all over the coun-
try alone and unquestioned. Send for the
books, and the Chautauquan and if you want
more information apply to the Secretary,
Miss Kate Kimball, or DR.. ii. Vincent, OF
Planfield, New Jersey. EIBBA.
-