The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-06-14
The Chautauqua Constituency.

TO TIE EDITOR or TIE JuUKNAL: 1t is
not easy. often ii is not possible, to put into
figures the measure Of popular movement.
Its constituency can not always be counted,
and its best results clu(ie the statistician's pen
Yet there are certain tests which may be ap-
piled to ascertain the extent to which ''the
Chautauqua idea has affected the world For
instance, more than 40. 900 sets of the books in
the reading course Of the c. J.. $. c. We're sold
last year by the publishers, who are known as
the Chautuaqua Press. The course comprised
eight books. 50 that The aggregate of copies
was }20,0O0. Added to these GO, 900, the crcu-
lati0n OF The Chautauquan, Il magazine which
is the organ of the circle, and the total of its
literature from October, 'S6, to July 'S7, is but
little short of 100000 volumes.
Now, these are not works of what Is gener-
ally considered ''popular' literature. There
are no stories or works of fiction in either the
books or the magazine. A few standard novels
like king>leys Hypdti0 and lIalc's In His
Name were formerly included in the Chautau-
qua course of reading, but they have been
omitted for some years past. The books are in
history, science, literature, art. practical af
fairs, and religion, embodying in a general way
the outline of The college course of study.
Nor are these books purchased for place
upon the mahogany shelves and behind glass
doors in the library. They are bought to be
read and studied. Wherever one meets these
books and the oran"e-covered Chautauq uan,
whether on the table, or the bookshelf, or in
the hands of people on railroad trains, they in
variaby bear the signs of use. One gentle
man who attends many Chautauqua meetings,
both local circles in various places and the
| round table in the assemblies, has taken the
trouble to inquire how many people, on the
average, read each set of books. lie gives as
his conclusion that every Chautauqua book rep
| resents generally about four readers. This
would indicate that about 10000 people are
following the course with greater or less fidei-
ty.
Another sounding line has been dropped into
| the &. l.. $. {. Office in Plainiied, n. j where
the record of members is kept. The books
| show that there are about $4,000 people who
pay their membership fee of 80 cents per year.
| But it is well known that there are twice as
many more who read but do not register as
| members, and consequently are not known at
the office. They lose something of the esprit
dn coyps, and are less loyal in their attachment
| to the cause, but mutitudes of them are read
ing the books with varying fidelity. 1t is safe
to say that the Chautauqua club in the United
States and the rest of creation does not fall far
below 2OO,OO people.
! These people are reading good books, and
just to this degree, worthless books are dis
| placed. lady said that her daughter had de-
clared that they had no time to read the Chau-
tauqua books, for they could scarcely keep up
| with the issues of the Seaside Library: but
their mother purchased set, and enrolled as a
reader, and very soon the Seasides were left
| uncut and the Chautauq,Ian was read by every
body in the house. Old people find that the C.
j.. :. &. gives them occupation and purpose
husbands and wives testify that it lifts them
above the monotony OF daily cares, and yOun.
people are glad to receive its guidance in their
reading. So the good work goes on and circles
are multiplying with each year. j. l.. II.