Part 1 — PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL CIRCLE WORK.
Reading edition
FIRST WEEK IN APRIL.
1. Essay—Easter.
2. Selection—“All Fool’s Day.” By Addison.
3. A Paper on the Life of Martin Luther.
Music.
4. Fifteen Minutes’ Talk on the Cause of the Present Troubles in the Soudan.
5. Character Sketch—General Gordon.
6. Debate—Resolved, that dynamite is more productive of evil than good.
SECOND WEEK IN APRIL.
1. Selection—“Martin Luther.” From Robertson’s “History of Charles V.” Found also in Chambers’s “Cyclopedia of English Literature.”
2. A Paper on the Inquisition.
3. Recitation—“The Prisoner of Chillon.”—By Byron.
4. Character Sketch—John Knox.
Music.
5. Essay—The Vegetation of the Carboniferous Period.
6. A General Talk on Socialism.
7. Critic’s Report.
THIRD WEEK IN APRIL.
1. Essay—The Massacre of St. Bartholomew.
2. Recitation—“Robinson of Leydon.”—By O. W. Holmes.
3. Character Sketch.—William of Orange.
Music.
4. A Paper on Mount Cenis.
5. Selection—“The Chambered Nautilus.” By O. W. Holmes.
6. Conversation on New Books.
7. Questions and Answers for the month in The Chautauquan.
SHAKSPERE DAY.
Music.
1. Roll call—Quotations from Shakspere.
2. A Paper on the Life and Times of Shakspere.
Music.
3. The Story of “The Tempest.”
4. Recitation—“Perseverance.” Selected from “Troilus and Cressida,” Act III., scene 3; beginning, “Time hath, my lord, a wallet,” etc.; ending, “One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin.”
5. Essay—Characteristics of Shakspere’s Women.
Music.
6. Analysis of “Winter’s Tale.”
7. Court scene in “Merchant of Venice,” Act IV., scene 1; beginning, “Is your name Shylock?” ending with the exit of Shylock.
The plan followed by many Shakspere clubs would afford a fine entertainment. They assign the characters in any one of the plays (that of “Julius Cæsar” being exceptionally fitting for an evening of this kind) to the different members of the circle, who read the parts assigned.
To hold a Shakspere carnival would be a very interesting way in which to commemorate the day. Let each one come dressed in costume to represent any one of Shakspere’s characters and personate that character throughout the evening.