Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/259

258 Chautauqua has grown to be the largest Chautauqua west of the Rocky Mountains. Many enthusiastic towns have taken up the Chautauqua movement, and others will follow, until all Oregon can listen to die greatest speakers and the sweetest Singers.

Reading Clubs in Oregon. Their Importance. Perhaps no movement inspired the club work in Oregon more effectually than did the Chautauqua Reading Circle, originated by Bishop John H. Vincent, who, having been denied the benefit of a college course, made it his life-work to place collegiate privileges in the curriculum of common, daily life. Bishop Vincent contended that school life does not end with youth, but continues as long as life lasts. The Chautauqua Reading Circle modeled somewhat after the ancient academy of Greece, opened to the masses all the doors of art; literature, science and general information.

Their Growth. Out of Chautauqua Reading Circles in Oregon grew wider circles. Women, thirsting for knowledge, read and discussed Ruskin. Tennyson, Shakespeare; and out of this practice grew the Woman's Club of today with its thousands of members. At first the Woman's club began purely as a study club, but out of the transient glimpses of masters of literature grew the idea of civic organization, until the original woman's club developed into a civic club devoted to local improvement, and later with its resultant benefits creating a world of uplifting influences to state and national betterment. Then followed the franchise not yet in its zenith. Not the least result of the old-time reading club is the so-called feminist movement which was inspired by the desire to know, to be, and to do.

The Oregon Mazamas. One of the most popular and, indeed, one of the most useful organizations in Oregon is that known as "The Mazamas." As its name indicates, its purpose is to foster the love of mountain climbing and,

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