I very much hoped that Dr. Vincent could manage to come here. Many people have asked, the first thing, if Dr. Vincent is to be here. Every state should have a Chautauqua headquarters—this alcove will get them all ready for it. _Monday morning._—Damp, muddy, discouraging to many people. The car drivers have struck and the hour’s ride, long and tiresome at best, is now cut off. Hundreds of teachers who have been pouring into New Orleans these last days of their holiday, are prevented from seeing and learning by this four or five miles of mud before they reach the Exposition. There have been great hindrances all along to the completion of the Exposition, and many grumblers. But I have never been discouraged! Everything from the first start has been delightful. When the roof leaked, I moved some things away, told the roofer, and it was at once mended. When it came on a hard storm night before last, I laid down on the floor, rolled in my Kansas blanket, and liked it so well that I shall camp out here in the Chautauqua precincts; at any rate, till there is some comfortable conveyance away. More anon. Ever yours faithfully, EDWARD A. SPRING. WINTER SPORTS IN CANADA. Winter undoubtedly has its hygienic value; and a part of this value we get without effort. It is not only a comfort to be freed from the annoyances of insect life, but it is also a gain for health that many of the atmospheric impurities are removed by frost. But to get the largest value from winter as a frost cure, we need to avail ourselves of the system of healthful and invigorating amusements which prevail in Canada, and have made that country famous. That portion of our population which is employed out-doors in winter is, _pro tanto_, undoubtedly the most healthy. For the rest of us the only possible equivalent is winter sports. It is unfortunately true that the variable character of our weather precludes us from exact imitation; but our inventive genius ought to be equal to the task of bridging over the soft places in our winters. In Canada, the long and comparatively equable winter makes it a simple thing to provide healthy and innocent amusements which may be enjoyed as regularly as any business is carried on. It is not to be forgotten, however, that the Canadians are the only people in the world who know how to keep warm out-doors as well as in-doors. They have learned to perfection this art, for lack of which our out-door employments are more or less dangerous. Our laborer does not keep warm in winter, and his “colds” become consumption. In Canada, young girls accomplish in this respect what stout men fail to do among us; they keep warm whether they are flying in sleighs or on toboggans. These forms of enjoyment are well organized; there are toboggan clubs, and “society” means some form of winter sport.