480 FAMOUS LIVINa AMEBIGANS English literature, History, Science, Greek and Latin Clasa- ic8 (in translation), and other subjects which, taken together, comprise a liberal course of reading. It has been prepared by competent scholars and authors for the use of the various classes in the reading circles — by means of which one can easily acquire an acquaintance with the best English litera- ture as well as with the Greek and Latin authors usually re- quired in college curriculums; so that, not seldom, when the young collegian comes home, he finds his mother or sisters as familiar with the ancient classics as he is himself. The lecture and entertainment feature, adopted in the be- ginning, may be classed as another department of the Chau- tauqua plan. It has proved to be one of the most attractive and profitable means of instruction employed. The popu- larity of the lecture courses has secured for them a support that has enabled the management to obtain the most eminent lecturers in the field, both in Europe and America. A distinguished lecturer, whose opportunity to test the mat- ter has been ample, says: The Chautauqua Platform af- fords the public man with a message, an opportunity, and a place to proclaim it more favorable than almost any other. The audience is a select one and always composed of the thoughtful element of the community, and, as they pay ad- mission, they stay to hear. I believe that a considerable part of the progress that is now being made along the line of moral and political reform is traceable to the influence of Chautau- qua.*' Another lecturer with similar experience says that the Chautauqua has been a powerful force in directing the politi- cal thought of the country, and that the Chautauqua lecturers with whom he has been associated constitute as fine a group of men and women as can be found among the splendid citi- zenship of America. That this means of public instruction is not waning is evi- dent from the fact that there are eight hundred more Chau- tauquas in the United States now than there were one year ago, making the present total 2,939. From the original Chau- tauqua, attended annually by about 50,000 people, the idea has spread to many important places where large permanent ^
