Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-02-15
From the Annapolis Gazette.
"SOUTH RIVER CLUB"

From the Annapolis Gazette.
"SOUTH RIVER CLUB"
sThe oldes. Social Club in the United
States is the "Sou,h River Club" in this
county. The record Of its proceedings
goes back TO the year 174l. Blu. there 10
no doubt that the Club was in existence
long before ,ha. time because in the Begin
ming Of the record there is an entry TO The
ef1ec, tha. the old Cnb house and records
were destroyed by fire in l740.
So far as we cen learn them, the only OBJ
jec.s of,he Club seem 10 be the promotion
Of social feelings, the interchange Of ffiend-
ly sentiments. and the destruction of The
"good things" Of life. On the firs. Thurs
day of each month the Club meets. Each
shes dinner and 'fxins" Of tho best the
season will afford. On these festive occa-
sions there are no restrictions upon mem
bers or guests, save that they shall wholly
abstain from conversation on religious OF
political subjects, and from oil species Of
gambling. The participants in the feas, eat.
drink, and get merry but excess in either
is rarely known. Occasionally ".he oys-
tefs" get the better of some one who forgets
his "gusge;" but such events are no. coun.
,enanced by the Club. The creates, good
feeling and affection exis. among the mem
bers, and assistance and good council are
freely in.erchanged when necessary. The
Club House is a venerable building situated
on high bill, commanding on extensive
view Of land and water, and placed, like
rude antique gem, in setting Of ancient for
est trees, of birth coeval with its own. A
record of invited guests is kept, and upon it
may be found the names Of many dis,in-
guished men.
The Club was at one time kept in exis-
'ence by single member. He was Presi-
dent, Scribe, Club, and Steward. Rigidly
did he adhere to the rules, and most relig-
ously did he carry ou. the objects Of the in
stitulion. He must have had some strange
ly jolly times al bis monthly dinners. SOL
i'ary and alone he presided over the feast;
in sad dignity he pledged in bumbper Of
good O.srd his departed brelhern /; snd, per.
haps, after few glasses, he easily imagined
tina. their spirits occupied the won,ed seats
of their flesh at the table, and that he was
holding with them ''mcs. ghos.ly wasssit"
A. presen. The following gentlemen COM
George Stewart, Col. George r1ugnes;~
D.s. Thomas Mercer and William N. Pin
dell; Mesers. David NJ. Brogden, Thomas
Welch, Nicholas H. Shipley,C. G. Stewart,
Richard S. Mercer, George D. Clayton, Au-
guslus H. Hall, Francis Deal, John Rogers,
Charles Contee and H. Latrobe all Of them
Planters and Farmers with one exception
Three Of The members having died during
The pas, year, Joseph N. S.ockeu Esq, Cot.
Alfred SelIman, and James Kent, Esq, the
former Of whom was President Of Club st
the time Of his death. We DO no, know
who now fills his place.
II is somewha, singular that an Associa-
ton Of This nature should have been kep,s-
live during so many years. In these degen-
crate days of 'progress" the good customs
Of our forela,hers sre generally held in con-
tempt. They are not ''fas." enough for our
eo-ahead notions. Young America smiles
con,emp,uously when old Foggy eus'oms
are cried as being worthy Of im,s.ion.-
But here we have an institution, perhaps
an hundred and City years old, preserving
in,ac. The customs prevailing at :he time OF
its foundation, and no member desiring 10
change with the times in hope to increase
The pleasures Of their meetings. For 'his
feature, If for 10 other, the Club is worthy
Of note. So long as it thus stands, a reiic
Of good old by-gone times, q connecting
link between the presen. and the past, SO
long may i. live, and bring genuine pIess-
ure to those who possess the coveted honor
of membership. And q, each union may
''good digestion wait on appetite"
TRUTH IN CONFERENCE.-The love OF
truth is the s,imulous 10 ell noble CONVEX
ss,ion. This is the roo. Of all the charities.
| The tree which springs from it may have
thousand branches, bu, they will oil bear
golden and generous frui,age. II is the loi-
Ties. impulse to 'uquire-wiling 10 COM
munica,e and more willing to reccive-con-
temp,uous of pretty curiosity, but passion
ale for glorious knowledge. Speech with
ou, i, is bu, a babble. Rhetoric is more
Noisy bu, less useful than the ,inman's
trade. When the love of truth 6res up the
passions, puts it's lightning in the brain,
then men may know that prophet IS among
them. This is the spring of all hefoism,
clothes The martyr with flame that out.
shines the fame that kill him. Compared
with this, the emulsions Of srgument-,he
pungencies Of ssrcasm-the pride Of logic
the pomp Of declsma.,on-sre a. the
sounds Of an au,Omaton 10 The voice Of man.
Dewey.
A CHAPTER OF PRoNuNcIArIoN.-Se
bas,opol is pronounced as if written Seuas.
.opol, with the accent on next 10 the last
...M.hl. Na..a LIZ M.... c.ua..;a