Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/502

 JOHN H. VINCENT 479 to be a city of more than 500 cottages, a larg^ hotel, twenty- five public buildings, lecture halls, recitation rooms, a museum, gymnasium, etc. Chautauqua has a complete sewerage sys- tem, a fire department, and other municipal features. The summer population is about ten thousand, and its activities are witnessed annually by fifty thousand people. The plan of applying scientific principles to Bible study and Sunday school teaching, soon expanded to include classes in literature, language, science, art, etc. The combined agen- cies now known as the Chautauqua System of Education in- clude two general divisions; namely. Summer Work, and Home Beading and Study. The first division is conducted at Chautauqua, and may be designated as The College. It offers courses in college stud- ies, with instructors from various leading institutions. The school in Sacred Literature and the Sunday School Normal Department give biblical instruction and pedagogical training. The Teachers ' Betreat deals with psychology, pedagogics, and practical methods for secular teachers. The schools of music and physical training offer exceptional opportunities for those who desire instruction in those departments. There are classes also in art, oratory, manual training, etc. In fact, for variety of studies comprehended and opportun- ities afforded by this summer school, it more nearly resembles a university than an ordinary college; while the attractive- ness of the method of imparting instruction surpasses that of either. The number of those who avail themselves of these schools in summer, being enrolled in the regular classes and pursuing one or more of the courses of study, varies from one to two thousand. The second division consists of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientfiic Beading Circles, by which definite courses of reading are arranged for individuals in the home, or for clubs or circles formed in communities and villages throughout the country. This plan was inaugurated in 1878, and within a few years more than 100,000 readers were enrolled. For the ben- efit of these readers a literature has been created, unique in form and comprehensive in its selection of subjects, including