The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-07-13
merchants, physicians, accountants,

mercnantS, pnyslclans, accountants,
stenographers, an eX-colonel of the
U. S. army, a Bishop of the Church of
America, and in fact almost every
branch of professional life has, at
some period, been represented among
the members, and papers covering
every conceivable topic have been read
before this body. Many of them de-
serving to rank with the best thought
of modern times, have found an audi
ence through the columns of THE
MIRROR.
While the curriculum maintained
throughout the reading year has al
ways conformed in scope and finish
to the regular Chautauqua course,
many special features have, from time
to time, impaired to the work a well
come element of variety and fexibility.
Special papers, dealing with current
topics, have long been a feature of the
sessions and with the dawn of the
circle question box, under the con-
troll of reader designated by the
president, was incorporated into the
proceedings.
This feature was continued until the
Goth day of June, 1897, when it was
superseded by limited debate and,
in turn, this plan gave way, December
the 18th, $685. to House of Parliament
conducted under the dominion of a
in fN oI ho
strict observances of parliamentary pro-
cedure. Finally, on October the 9Th,
1901, after thorough canvass of the
matter, the circle decided that this
"mock" congress was all that its name
implied, especially since lobbyists and
boodlers were not in evidence-at least
not in their active vOcations.
The congress" was oUCor> >ernEIy
abolished, and there was substituted
the plan, in force at this time, allowing
ten minutes of general discussion in
connection with each subject reported
upon. Considered from the viewpoint
of utility the method embodies al
most unlimited possibilities but it can
not be termed success until the
members show greater inclination to
join in the discussions instead of being
good listeners at the expense of the
: more willing members.
: A decidedly pleasant feature of for
mer years has almost disappeared from
q our programs. l refer to the music.
lE nd fol
/ tions were volunteered from time to
/ time, music was not formally given a
I place on the program until early in
n 1894, when 1t speedily became feature
% of the sessions and gradually under
s went development until in 1900 the
3. organization embodied Pierian Glee
/ Club and a Pierian Quartette, in addi
e ton to vocal and instrumental solOists
l. About this time the musical feature'
y gained such prominence that tht
/ Pierian Circle threatened to lose it,
N indentity as literary society and per
as nit its sessions to assume the charac
y ter of musical entertainments pur'
o. and simple; misfortune that wa
ID averted only through the wisdom ant
OF frmness of Mr. F. R. Rose, who wa
III then the president of the Pierian Cir
II Gle, and undoubtedly the ablest of tn
ge many able executives that have di
rected the destinies of the organize
~ tion.
tn And thus, on general survey,
OF satisfactorily appears that while ther
ed has been no attempt to specialize
Ir. neither have there been any tender
he cies toward fossilization, and, as
ng whole, the work of the circle ha
nd abounded not so much in weight {
ed volume as in practical, everyday, us'
he full and helpful themes, as well as tol
he les in art, literature, economic
parliamentary law, current topics an
Oh philosophy and events. At one perio
the circle was dominated by
On "machine'' as absolute as any tn,
,al M ever existed, but happily its sway is
M thing of the past and today trr
s." spirit of utility permeates the boo
M and, for the most part, dictates
Dry policies.
ife In common with every slmil
the organization the Pierian Circle b
ep- ever had to sustain certain amour
on. of dead weight in the form of dilator
nb- non-enthusiastic members who choo
US, to ignore the fact that Chautauq,