Readers of The Chautauquan, particularly if they do not expect to visit Chautauqua this summer, will find a very useful and interesting paper in the Assembly Daily Herald. The Herald is the daily chronicler of the proceedings at Chautauqua during the session of the Assembly. Its most important work is to furnish to its readers stenographic reports of all the leading lectures delivered on the platform. More than seventy lectures appear in its columns during the nineteen daily issues of the Herald. Among the lectures of the present season are to be several on Italy. The Tourists Ideal Foreign Tour will be mainly located in Italy. Now, for those who expect to read the C. L. S. C. course of 1885-86 this will be particularly interesting and profitable, as a portion of the course is to be on Italy and its life. A feature to which we would particularly call the attention of readers of the C. L. S. C. is the reports of special meetings and special classes, together with the daily reports of C. L. S. C. news. Much of the best of the C. L. S. C. work and planning is done at the Assembly, so that no one thoroughly interested in the C. L. S. C. can keep abreast of the news of this institution without the Herald. The first issue of Volume X. of the Assembly Herald will be on August 1st, and it will appear daily, Sundays excepted, in nineteen numbers. Its price is $1.00 for the season, or in clubs of five or more, 90 cents. Subscribers to The Chautauquan will find it to their advantage to accept our combination offer until August 1st of The Chautauquan and Assembly Daily Herald for $2.25.

Through the help of the C. L. S. C. Loan Library, a number of students who would otherwise have been obliged to give up their C. L. S. C. studies entirely, have been enabled to continue the course during the past year. These books (about half a dozen sets) will be for sale at reduced rates, at the Plainfield office after July 1st.

Another Chautauqua Idea of great practical importance is out. It has been devised to meet the demand for competent training in phonography. Within the last ten years shorthand writers of ability have become necessary to business offices, courts and editorial rooms. For those young men and women who would fit themselves for the numerous positions open to expert phonographers, the “Chautauqua University” has opened a “College of Phonography.” It is under the direction of W. D. Bridge, A.M., a reporter of nearly thirty years’ experience, who has associated with him F. G. Morris, A.M., one of the most successful and accomplished phonographic teachers in the country. For circulars of the College of Phonography, address the registrar, R. S. Holmes, A.M., Plainfield, New Jersey.

We are in receipt of the finely illustrated catalogues of the church furnishers, Messrs. J. & R. Lamb, of New York City. The designs which they are offering in Metal Work, Stained Glass, Church Upholstery and Church Embroideries are all of them beautiful, many of them unique and original. Churches that are contemplating refurnishing, or are building, can not do better than to send for the Messrs. Lamb’s catalogue. They will get good ideas, if nothing else.

The Chautauquans of Minnesota and the Northwest propose to hold this summer a Chautauqua Assembly of the Northwest. The first step in furtherance of this plan has been taken by the circles of St. Paul and Minneapolis, best situated as they are for united action, and strong in the presence of sixteen circles. On the 15th day of May, an association was formed by representatives from ten of the sixteen circles, to be known as the Central Chautauqua Committee.

The first Assembly will be held at the “Enchanted Island,” a beautiful place in Lake Minnetonka, Hennepin County, Minn., on June 26th. Reduced rates have been obtained on all railroads leading into Minneapolis and St. Paul. Circulars containing programs and full particulars will be sent to all applicants. Let all Chautauquans of the Northwest be present at the “Enchanted Island.” Address E. T. Brandeburg, Secretary, Room 14, Webb Block, Minneapolis, Minn.

Reports from the following local circles have been received at this office too late for the July issue of The Chautauquan: Osceola, Iowa; “Thornapple,” Vermontville, Michigan; “Beta,” Milwaukee, Wis.; “Aryan,” Hope Valley, R. I.; “Vincent,” Needham, Mass.; Jewett City, Conn.; “Springhill,” Morris Cross Roads, Pa.; “King Philip,” Medfield, Mass.; West Winsted, Conn.; Prattsburgh, N. Y.; “The Athenian,” Lanark, Ill.; “Longfellow,” Cambridge, Mass.; “Pansy Quartette,” Oshtemo, Mich.; Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Reports from local circles in the following towns have been forwarded to The Chautauquan from Plainfield, but too late for the July issue: Hope, R. I.; Luverne, Minn.; Rushville, Ill.; Wellington, South Africa; Monroe, Iowa; Jonesville, Mich.; Jacksonville, Ill.; Billerica, Mass.; Charlestown, Mass.; Wabash, Ind.; Amherst, N. H.; Brookville, Ind.; Madison, Conn.; Minneapolis, Minn., from “Highland Park,” “Alden” and “Vincent” circles.