The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-08-11
A cHAUTAUQUAN PICNIC.

Occasionally the members of Seaside
e. L. S. Circle plan for a social meeting
after the study and work of the wear
have been completed. Wednesday after
noon, July 9th, was decided as the date.
and arrangements were made for picnic
with two members of the early Chautau-
guam days, Mrs. A. L. McKeen and Miss
Flora Burgess. who are spending the
summer at their coy cottage, "Flo-
waneh, on the shore at East Belfast.
These ladies. with Mrs. Helen A. Carter
were the first c. L. s. C. readers of Bel
fast, and June, 1885, they, with few
other ladies, organized Seaside Chautau-
qua Circle, which at that time was the
hrst to be formed in our county. Twenty
five years seem long period of time in
the history of any literary society, espe-
clally one devoted to such course of
hard study as C. L. S. C.. feel obliged
to maintain. During this quarter of
century many new members have been
added and a large number have COM
pleted the four years course of study
and are enrolled as C. L. S. C. graduates.
Wednesday was an ideal day for this
meeting and when we arrived at our des-
tination we received most cordial greet
ing and kind welcome from our hostesses.
All were soon enjoying the cool breeze
and delightful view from the broad porch
that extends on two sides of this pleasant
cottage. Some time was spent in CONVEX
satlon, for we can only meet these distant
friends when they spend the summer va
cation at the old home. Later the C. L. S.
Z. song books were passed around and the
company joined in singing Chautauqua
songs, which bring to mind so many like
meetings Of former C. L. S. C. days.
Letters from absent members, who
would gladly have been present on this
festive occasion. were read. A paper
prepared by our President Mrs. Mary E.
; Robertson, who could not be present at
this meeting, was read by Mrs. M. N.
Rhoades. Mrs. J. M. McKeen, past
president of Seaside C. L. S. C. Alumni,
related some incidents of our early his
tory and the progress for a quarter
century. She spoke of the carts and
Crafts" movement and exhibited as one
of the results of that department of C.
L. S. C. work, friendship quilt made
from the squares contributed by each
member of Seaside Circle. The name of
each with the c. L. S. C. class year was
written on the center square, and on
several Of the squares the class flower
was artistically painted. This quilt, in
behalf of the members of the Circle, she
presented to our friends Mrs. McKeen
and Miss Burgess. The response was an
expression OF pleasure and appreciation
for this token of remembrance from Sea-
side C. L. S. C.'s
Soon after 5 o'clock the bounteous pic
mic feast was arranged upon the long
table set out on the porch and twenty
two Chautauquans, with the three chill
dren who were enjoying this their first
picnic gathered around the table. This,
like all former c. L. S. c. feasts, can
notsbe described, but must be partaken
of to give any idea of the delicious
dainties. We ate not only to satisfy our
own keen appetites, but for our absent
friends who were with US in the true
Chautauquan spirit, if not in person.
After supper the company gathered on
| and about the large boulder under the
oak trees near the cottage and were
photographed. Having recorded our
names upon the pages of the "Flowaneh
J Cottage" register, the clock reminded US