ILLINOIS also sends us a chapter of history this month which is very good reading. It is from the WINCHESTER circle: “Our circle has just entered its fourth year’s work, with nine members. Having consisted mainly, in previous years, of teachers, our number has been fluctuating. Since October, 1880, we have enrolled eighteen names, nearly all of whom proved zealous workers. At present we have only two of the original number, who are called the ‘Veterans.’ During the summer of 1881 two of our members went on to attend the convention; that of 1882 was spent by three of them on ‘A Tour Around the World,’ in THE CHAUTAUQUAN; and the recent vacation, that of 1883, was devoted to the ‘Art Papers’ of last year; by the way, when those appeared in the journal, they seemed so fully to meet the wants of some of the members that an ‘Art Branch’ was promptly organized and a thorough study of the subject commenced. As we took up each artist separately, and only held our branch meetings every two weeks, we did not finish with the year’s work, nor are we through yet, having gotten as far as Rubens in the May number of 1884. We feel repaid a thousand times for doing the extra work. Last year Prof. J. M. Crow, of Grinnell, Iowa, a student of Leipsic University, and a gentleman who has made several trips to Europe, lectured for us on ‘Greece and the Parthenon.’ This year we propose to hold an extra meeting each month, invite our friends in, and thus strive to convince them that the C. L. S. C. work is _not superficial_ (as some have the impression). We defend our _Alma Mater_ from the attacks of the skeptical, with almost as much energy as ‘Horatius held the bridge,’ and trust we are laying the foundation for a circle that will flourish in the future. Our president and others of the class hope to represent us at Chautauqua next summer. Miss M. Huston, our former enthusiastic president, is now a teacher in California, whither she has doubtless carried the C. L. S. C. spirit. Since taking up the course, the hitherto dismal days of fall have become golden ones, and life has grown sweeter, brighter and better.” A local circle was organized in the little village of BLUE EARTH CITY, MINN., several months since, with about ten members, now increased to thirteen. They meet every Tuesday evening at the house of some member. Their reading is confined to the magazine principally; each gives some item of news at the opening of the meeting, then questions are asked on the preceding lesson, and persons are appointed to look up and report at the next meeting any subject which may arise in connection with the lesson. They are all greatly interested and feel that the meetings are a benefit, as well as a help in cultivating among the members a better acquaintance and more friendly relations.