The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-11-28

marvellous power of organization and, best
of all, of hearty sympathy with the Ameri-
can people, people whom he understands,
perhaps, as well as any living man. Neither
Mr.. Miller nor Dr. Vincent, nor any of the
friends who worked with them, was salts
fed even with the large constituency which
meets once year at ChautauquS. They
saw that it was possible to use vssbe post
Office and the press, to carry to every home
no small part of the advantages which
young people receive who go from home to
college Out of this possibility have grown
the varied plans known as the Chautau-
quan plans.
OF course, when they began, the diff
Guilty of selecting books for such study at
home was very great. There is good
story told of the amazement felt by Harper
Brothers when they received from this
unknown "Circle" its order for five hun
dred copies of Green's History of Eng
land" Harpers and all other publishers
have found out long ago what purchase
for "Chautauqua" means. But Green's
History, admirable as it is, is not a good
textbook, or foundation history, for other
reading to start from; it presupposes great
deal. IF you will think of it, when a young
man comes to you for advice about his
reading you often puzzle him sadly. You
say, II should tell you to read KS book,
but that, on the whole, X was fool, and
half of what he says is untrue" This is
the sort of opinion, somewhat discouraging,
which trained scholar is apt to give. He
does not know, perhaps, how very discour
aging it is to the neophyte.
Chautauqua has had years upon years
in which to study the advice it shall give
hundred thousand of such students. 1t has
its own successes and its own mistakes to
profit by. In many instances the board
of management have found it necessary to
have their own books written. To name
only three or four, and this because I hap
pen to have read them, DIR. Wilkinson's
hand-books of ssLatin and Greek Litera-
ture," Dr. Steele's book of 'Political Econ
omy," and Mr. Appleton's Chemistry"
are admirably well written and fill the pur-
pose singularly well. We do not doubt
that, among so many readers, some find
them too full and some too scanty. But
readers or critics must remember that the
object is to provide stem-root, or if you
please foundation, for other more extensive
readings, and that suggestions or instruc-
tions for such extensive reading are given
carefully and steadily.
All readers are invited to address the
Central Staff when they have inquiries to
make or doubts to solve. For the answers
given to such requests, the monthly journal
called "The Chautauquan" is published.
So many of the readers use it, that its cir
culation in America alone is at this time
$4,000 copies, while there is considerable
circulation in all other parts of the world.
A department of this journal is devoted
distinctly to the needs of the "Circle."
Some of the required books, when written
expressly for it, have been first published
in the "Chautauquan;' end any reader who
writes for information to the G. l.. s. G,
Office at Plainfeld, N. j., receives his ans
wer here.
Thus much for the theroy of the Circle.
How does it work in practice?
The answer must be somewhat indefi-
mite, But it is clear that the plan is pop
ular The number of readers who reported
al headquarters for the class of 1881-1885
vas about 5000. The neSts7Jear $4,000
reported, the .iext gear $4,000, and last
year 10000 This year the number is
likely to rise co %, 900 All these people
register their names at Plainfeld, N. j.,
where is the central office OF course,
however, there are many readers who join
local circles and work with them, who do
not register at the centre. They do not
mean to keep on, or they do not care for
the diploma, or they are afraid to seem to
pledge themselves to anything.
OF those who do register at the begin
ming, about one-quarter part report, at the
end of four years, as having read the whole
course Very many of these read much
more than the required minimum. A for
NAL diploma is given to all who attain this
minimum and ask for it, and diplomas with
certain additional seals are given to those
who read more Fourteen hundred and
seventy diplomas were given in 1884 to
the class which had begun in 1880. If the
student wishes, this diploma is sent him by
mail. But custom has grown up of CIV
ing diplomas at the Assemblies held in
different states for summer study, of which
that at Chautauqua is the Oldest, the largest,
the longest in time, and the most fully or
ganized. There are fifteen, in all, of these
local summer assemblies, and it is the
effort of the management to be represented
by one or more officers at each of them.
Recognition Day" at such an assembly,
becomes sort of commencement for those
"Chautauquans" who meet there.
At Chautauqua, New York, on the 10Th
of August was present at the "Recogni-
ton Day and delivered an address to the
graduates, /" who had kindly called me an
honorary member. personally gave their
diplomas to hundred of the class, and, in
visit of four or FIVE days, think talked
with half of them. So / can say that
people read from one and another motive,
but almost always with the idea of reading
more, Old college graduates, professional
men, read. Teachers read Fathers and
mothers read, when they begin to see how
they may need what they read to help their
children. People read aloud in families,
occupying an hour or two every evening
with reading Take, in a word, two or
three dozen of the most intelligent people,
of all ages and occupations, whom you find
in any well-organized and well-educated
American town, and you will form good
idea of the average Chautauquan readers
as we see them on "Recognition Day"
OF course, on such day, you do not see
the three-quarters of the readers who be-
gin and never finish, or who finish this
course and do not care to ask for diploma.
What you find, almost universally, among
those who read four years, is disposition
to go farther. 1t is mostly to meet their
wishes that "Chautauqua' has set on foot
other plans, of which l shall write next
month. There are also adjunct schools or
classes, which l shall try to describe at the
same time. Thus 1 shall explain the plan of
The School of Theology,
The School of Liberal Arts,
The Town and Country Club,
The Society of Fine Arts,
The Assemblies.
And in general the Chautauqua Univer-
sity, which is the Incorporated body that
has the oversight of all these institutions.
Put T hove already nearly reached nv