The morning call., 1890-11-03
CHAUTAUQUA.
Free Public Lecture in the First
Congregational Church.
Or. Hirst to Speak on Couture and Char
acter IA Hint to Philanthropis;s.
Locking Forward

Next Friday evening the series Of free
public lectures under Chautauqua auspices
will be inaugurated at the First Congrega-
tional Church. corner Post and Mason
streets, when Rev. DR.. HirSt of College
Park. President of the Pacific Coast branch
of the C.. l.. S. c., will deliver an address on
Couture and Character" The gentleman has
established SO high reputation as an able
and entertaining speaker that it is probable
large audience VIII greet him. An invita-
ton is extended TO the public generally to
attend, while it is especially hoped every
Chautauquan in San Francisco, members Of
circles and individual readers will he present
Rev. Thomas FilbeD, who is arranging the
details for future lectures, expects to be able
on the occasion 10 announce dates and
speakers for future events. An endeavor is
being made to secure lecturers who treat
their subjects in manner calculated to be
popular with the people.
Much enthusiasm is reported among the
circles recently reorganized in this city.
That which meets Tuesday evenings in
BuSh-street NJ. E. Church, between Scott
and Devisadero, now numbers f0rty-five
persons. At the last meeting fifty were
present. number being strangers, the latter
always being welcome.
lUe dppulUttu ny llle moIl-
terey, Long Beach and Tahoe assemblies
will meet at an early day at San Jose to
make joint arrangements TO secure talent
for the assemblies to be held next year. 1t
is the intention to bring several gentlemen
of national reputation from their Eastern
homes for the purpose.
At the great assembly at Chautauqua.
n. Y, next year, one OF the leading features
will be a series of stereopticon lectures on
American Scenery" One of these will be
a 80 IT,. WI
of other features diStinctively American will
be introduced.
The prisoners in the pententiary at Lin
coin, Nebr., who have become readers of
the CbautauQua ccurSe,are reported to have
resumed their work with undated zeal. 1t
is believed that much good will
result to convicts who pursue the read
ings, iDaSmuch as every thing contained
ia the publications recommended by the
faculty is OF an elevating nature. 1t Is
probable that we're 1t within the power of
those in California's penal institutions to
take up the readings, many would gladly
improvethe opportunity. and the suggestion
is made that philanthropistS desiring 10 as
SiSt this unfortunate criminal class give
the matter some consideration. Preaching
the Gospel of Christ in the prisons
is undoubtedly productive of much good, but
would not greater benefit result If it was
accompanied by something tending to pro-
duce results which would be of practical adj
vantage TO the prisoner when his sentence
was completed? A prison official recently
remarked to the writer that anything out OF
the ordinary would elicit the attention of
prisoner, anything for a change, and this
constant desire for a diversion was what
took many of the hardest criminals to divine
services. The course Of Chautauqua read
ing is constant change, and the experiment
is worth trying Anything to reduce the
percentage of iliteracyl The w. G. T. IT,,
which sends missionary preacher to the
prison at San Quentin several times month,
might do well to act on the above sugges-
ton.
In South Africa, where there are several
circles, one set of hooks answers the pur-
pose Of all the members of a circle. Where
people thirst for knowledge they generally
find way TO acquire it-even if the road is
a trifie difficult TO travel. A young lady
writing from Basutoland gives the names of
three of the readers of the circle there.
They are Akin Sello, Filemore Posa and
Edward Mutsamai, all decidedly practical
young men who have no love for fiction, but
persistently seek after truths. They are on
the right road; there is nothing fictitious
about Chautauqua.
Among the interesting articles in the
Chau;auquan for November is one by Ed
ward Freeman, the historian, on the "Intel-
lectual Development of the English" another
is contributed by DIR. Woodrow Wilson of
Wesleyan University on THE English Con-
stitution," while DR.. George p. Fisher of
Yale devotes himself to chapter on ''The
Religious History of England" AS the
studies In the course are largely devoted to
lated to be an aid to the textbooks, from
the pens of educators of ability connected
with well-known institutions of learning,
will be a prominent feature of the magazine