C. L. S. C. Work 228 Outline of C. L. S. C. Readings 228 Sunbeams from the Circle 229 Local Circles 230 C. L. S. C. Round-Table 233 Questions and Answers 234 Chautauqua Normal Class 236 Editor’s Outlook The Headquarters of the C. L. S. C. 238 Evangelists 239 The New Time Standards 240 Père Hyacinthe 241 Editor’s Note-Book 241 C. L. S. C. Notes on Required Readings for January 243 Notes on Required Readings in “The Chatauquan” 245 Talk About Books 248 REQUIRED READING FOR THE _Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle for 1883-4_. JANUARY. GERMAN HISTORY. By REV. W. G. WILLIAMS, A.M. IV. The C. L. S. C. student is already aware that it is not pretended here to write the history of Germany, but properly these are entitled “Readings in German History.” To write with any degree of fulness or detail the history of a people which has played so large and important a part in the modern world, would require more volumes than are the pages allotted to us. It has been, and still remains the design to select those events and characters of greatest interest, and which have had the largest influence upon the current of subsequent history. The purpose, also constantly in view, has been to stimulate the reader to further study of the subject, by perusal of the best works accessible to the reader of English. In this number no choice is left us but to pass, with only a glance or two, over the long period from the death of Charlemagne to that day-dawn of modern history, the Reformation. It is the period in which the historian traces, successively the beginning, vicissitudes, decay and extinction of the Carlovingian, Saxon, Franconian and Hohenstauffen houses. Following these is the great interregnum which precedes the Reformation. Included in this long stretch of time are what is known as the “dark ages.” Yet in Germany it was not all darkness, for now and then a ray of light was visible, prophetic of the rising sun, which heralded by Huss, appeared in the person and achievements of Martin Luther. It is about the work and character of the latter personage that we purpose to make the chief part of this chapter. Especially are we disposed so to do, now that protestant christendom is celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of the birth of the great reformer, and all civilized mankind has its attention called to his bold doctrines and brave career.