The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-15
FARMERS, READING CIRCLES.

In almost every town n village In
Indiana literary societies. classes for
study OF reading clubs for one purpose
or another are in existence. In the larger
places they are so numerous and V
such a variety of interests as to afford
opportunity for intellectual profit and
pastime to every man or woman inter-
ested in keeping pace with the thought
Of the time. The club Is. indeed, such a
distinguishing feature of modern intel
lectual life as to excite amused comment
in certain quarters, but 1t is, neverthe-
less, a part Of the educational move
ment Of the age deserving encourage-
ment and consideration Although the
highest scholarship canno be gained in
"C~hautauqua Circles" nj their like,
these same circles have opened the world
of good literature to a large class of
people to whom 1t would otherwise nave
remained closed. The taste for reading
a. better class Of books than Is usually
attainable in village libraries has been
formed and the books placed within the
reach of all who want them. The stimu-
lus of contact with other minds and the
benefit Of discussion of the books read
have resulted from the formation of
classes and clubs, and have shown the
advantage of organization over isolated
Individual effort. The student who
spends his life among his books and
knows no greater pleasure han losing
himself in the pages may smile at the
f~ragmentary knowledge gained by the
means mentioned, but it is only the few
in his busy work-a-day world who can
have more than a partial acquaintance
with the masterpieces of literature. and
even scholars will hardly deny that a
superficial acquaintance Is better than
none. The formation of correct taste
and the knowledge of how 1t may be
gratifed are the chief elements in an
education, and these the clubs end cir
cles establish. Chautauqua circles have
ramifed into teachers reading circles"
young peoples reading circles" wom-
ems clubs of every sort, university ex-
tension lectures, etc., until the organiza-
tons for mutual mental improvement
and enjoyment include nearly everybody
but the farmers. This lack has been
remedied by the establishing, by a num-
Der Of prominent men and women Of
the State, Of the Farmers Reading Cir
Gle Of Indiana" The chief purpose is to
create and foster q taste for agricultural
reading and to- promote agricultural
thought, though the way is open for in
vestigation in other directions. Scie nee
is doing a great deal for agriculture now
as for other industries. and the farmer
who does not keep himself posted on
the latest theories and discoveries soon
finds himself at q disadvantage. Neither
theory nor practical experience alone
will bring the most satisfactory results.
The man who unites both Is the che
who wins. The farmer can as little at
ford to fall behind the times as the
manufacturer or merchant, and to keep
up he must read. The books chosen for
the opening of the course-one Of them
being about plants and the science of
plants7are likely to excite interest and
discussion. 1t is hoped to establish a
branch organization in every school Cts
trict, and correspondence with the Sec
rotary, H. r. McMahan, of Fairfield,
Ind, is solicited by the founders Of the
original circle. 1t IS n Commendab,e
| scheme, and will. undoubtedly, be pro-
| ductive of good.