=Washington, D. C.=, gives us three breezy reports this month. A member from the “Foundry M. E. Church Circle,” organized in 1882, writes: “The four Chautauqua circles of this city have been doing excellent work, and their prospect for the future grows brighter and brighter as the Chautauqua Idea of self education becomes better known to the people. During the existence of our societies Dr. J. H. Vincent has paid us a number of visits, each time preaching and lecturing to large congregations in Foundry Church. His lectures and sermons never fail to exert a good influence, for it is a noticeable fact that each time we are honored with his presence our circles have the greatest increase in membership. We trust he can find it convenient to be with us more frequently in the future. The ‘Foundry’ C. L. S. C. is the largest in the city. The officers of the circle constitute a board of instructors; at the meetings each instructor takes charge of but one topic. If there remain other subjects of discussion they are distributed among individual members so that our lessons are always very satisfactorily discussed. After the recitations we have a literary exercise, consisting of readings, essays, recitations, debates, etc. We always take pleasure in observing each memorial day with an appropriate program. The C. L. S. C. of this city is yet only in its infancy, but as its members and friends become more enthusiastic for its success we hope to accomplish much for it in the near future.” The second comes from the “Pansy Circle,” of whom we have never before had the pleasure of hearing, and opens with an excellent plan: “In addition to our weekly meetings, where we discuss the subjects for the week’s reading, we have a monthly gathering. We began work late in the year, so that we have had but three such. At the first, Professor O. T. Mason, of Columbia University, gave us a lecture-talk on Vegetable Biology, which was delightful to all. The second entertainment was a lecture by Professor Cleveland Abbe, the scientist of the Signal Bureau, and he selected the topic ‘Thunder Storms, and the few things we know about them.’ He concluded an hour’s talk with a suggestion, which he said we should hear more of later. It was to this effect: The Signal Office needed many observers—those who were able to understand and appreciate this work—and they had proposed to have one or more in every county in the States. He had thought it a good idea for the Chautauquans to be invited to do such work in connection with their studies. The purpose expressed gave our little ‘Pansy Circle,’ although composed of ladies, considerable pleasure, and you may hear more of this, if we do. We spent our last monthly meeting celebrating Shakspere’s day, members of the circle reading selections from the ‘Merchant of Venice,’ and giving us all great enjoyment. Closed the evening with general conversation about the great dramatist.”