Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-01-14
For the Guardian .
OUR VILLAGE LYCEUM.


a little chatty talk with you about local
matter of some interest, viz: our Village
Lyceum. Let it not be distasteful that
| speak of matter in which yourself
and many others to whose judgment and
taste perhaps | ought to defer are moro
interested, and with which, il may be,
more conversant than myself. Sill, in
the spirit of old, being yourselves wise,
you will readily permit me.
Happening in last Monday evening at
the hall where the Lyceum meetings are
held, | found goodly number of both
sexes assembled to hear the "wordv
war;" and for other incidental motives,
perhaps, not here to be inquired into.
The resolution to be drawn out under
the trip-hammer of "chop-logic," was
-" That Saloons, or Places for the sale
of Ardent Spirits, contribute to the es-
sential prosperity of a town or village"
Preliminaries to an indefinite extent be.
ing settled, the subject was handed over
to the tender mercies of the disputants.
Do not take me in sarcasm, friend Guar
dian, | am only playful. The question,
though not treated in an exhaustive man
ner, by any means, was on some points
well handled. 1t is not my intention, nor
would it seem in place in an article like
this, to crilicise effort not in the least de-
gree pretcntious. Amateur oratorv,
where displayed, seemed in no way to be
aimed at, but a reaching of the solution
of the question by the homely, untutored
way of native common sense.
Let me not be thought captious, how
ever, in few observations that would
make, as they suggested themselves to
me at the time.
The first thing noticeable on entering
the room was close, uncomfortable and
facilitating atmosphere, produced by
total lack of ventilation in the room, and
stove heated as if the vigor and success
of the debate depended on the amount of
hot and noxious gases inhaled and ex-
hailed from a hundred lungs to be passed
through those of the speakers. The close
room and the heated air were bad enough
alone, but when further aided by breath
impregnated by tobacco fumes and SIS a-
loon" odors, they were nearly insupport-
able. A vigorous splitting, well sustain
ed, and cracking of peanut shells by
teeth and nails, came within the same
criticism. While the ladies were passing
from the hall, remarks even offensive to
modesty were INDUCED in by those who
would perhaps arrogate to themselves the
name of young gentlemen. l was sorry
to see and hear these things, friend
Guardian, for they ought not to be COM
mitted.
Let me further speak of another mat
ter. The ladies exhibited commenda-
BILE spirit of interest in being present in
goedly numbers to witness the intellec-
tual feats and oratorical titing of the
rougher humanity.
1t occurred to me that this interest
might be turned to profitable account to
them and the Association by allowing
them (not to participate in debate for |
am no woman's rights man" in the
popular sense) but to have department
Of their own; for instance, the conduct,
editing, and reading of manuscript
newspaper. For | am sure, friend Guard
ian, that among SO many pretty and in
tcllisent-looking young ladies, there
must be talent and capability enough for
such thing, and that they are only wait
ing TO be asked. And who cannot see
the utility of this, both in engaging the
viyacity and enthusiasm of the ladies
(no small matter) and in giving popular
ity and eclat to the meetings of the "
ceum ? AS il is, to the ladies the lyceum
must appear as the game of cricket does
to "Doesticks," very melancholy az
fair
Again, the office Of critic, it seems to
me, if properly managed, different in
disidual being appointed each meeting,
would add to its spirit and entertainment,
and would certainly check some of the
Incidental evils of behavior before men,
toned.
Finally, the Office Of President, as ad-
mlnistered at present, renders the afore-
said individual very unfortunate and
melancholy man. Not having q iudge)
the power of reviewing, weighing and
Judging the arguments, his Office is al
most sinecure, and his position that o f
the provcrbial man in the barrel"
La many respects | was pleased with
the conduct of the lyccum, several Of the
n