Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-05-27


The, boys generally received my sallies with
uproarious mirth, pleased with any apol-
ogy to escape the restraints of dignity too
rigidly enforced. As the fun was good
humorcd and spicy, L soon had imitators
who could not distinguish between wit and
buffoonery, nor fairly draw the line between
liberty and license.
Zone stormy night, Immediately after
our Adjournment, l visited my overcoat
pocket and exllibiteda a bottle of whisky,
with a package of sugar and lemons
Their appearance was hailed with applause.
1t was capital idea. Water was heated
in the tin bucket, and we brewed punch
enough to make us all socially boozy.-
AT the close of the next meeting the punch
was repeated; and at length, it came to be
considered one of tho regular exercises 9TH
CT business was hurried over that we might
gctlat it; and Our proceedings gradually de-
generated into broad farce. Committees
were appointed to heat the water and
squeeze the lemons while the essays were
read; another committee brewed the drink
while. the debate was going on. In the
midst of discussion waggish lad would
present adippcrful his exccllency the
president, asking his opinion Of its flavor;
another would insist that it was unconsti-
tutional for the presiding officer TO take a
drink during the time Of mccting-an so
we went on from bad to wore.
cat our meeting during Christmas week,
Black Bob brought in a roasted turkey and
abucket of egg pogg, prepared at my in
stance His entrance was greeted with tu-
muituous applause, the thanks of the soci-
ETY. were formally rendered on the spot
Business was suspended until egg nog
was served around. When resumed | read
a funny essay. The boys laughed. More
nog was handed round. Some of the ncm-
bcrs began to exhibit signs of obfuscation.
The name of Black Bob was proposed for
membership, to be appointed standing
committee on egS -nog. f5 fagsssE
More nog.
"During the. debate one asked leave to
lean against the wall while he spoke. An
other with owlish gravity asked permission
to go out and puke. In short it was evil
dent from that night that the morale of our
ooCtcty was uciuicl. ItS lcpulaliou Sooi
followed. People insinuated that there
was something more than speechifying car
licd on at the Academy OF Saturday
nights; and although our proceedings were
kept strictly secret, parents began to feel
suspicious. and some went 50 far as to pro-
hibit their boys from attending our meet
ings. t .lssl efr aasisiaa.F
"But things hal not reached this point
without rcmonstrance and resistance. n
strong party had earnestly cndcavored to
stem the current. Frequent efforts were
made to prohibit the introduction Of re-
freshments altogether, AMI by wordy ap-
peals to our honor and public spirit, to
lead us back to that pride of dccorum and
Difference for law which had formerly char
What chance have virtue and dullness in a
contest with fun aud frolic? How can a
society or q nation ever recover the self
respect once lost?"
Gay, ay, groaned the Squire. 'Facilis
descensas Arerni. sed recocdre gradan,-
You understand, Sir Go ON; go on
"Some of our steadicSt and brightest
members had left in disgust; Others form
ed OF more stubborn stuff, resolved to sec
it out, and continued to meet, zealously
performing their exercises, and sturdily re-
fusing TO take any part in our disreputablc
proceedings. Hitherto / had taken pains
to appear more as aneasy follower than an
instigator in this downward progress. /
had even pretended to lament it, and some
times rebuked tlIc most forward; but now,
aware Of the bad rcpute Of our society cx-
ternally, and the fceblcncss of the dccency
party within, determined TO strike de-
cisivc blow Afoi a'~i He -at
'sThe town, like most others, was infest-
ell by gang of idle. lawless boys, notori-
ous for row,lyislr and .rascality.. OF this
troop | had foriiierly- been the ACKNOWLEDGED
and admired Chief. since the llise of tile
Debating Society my myrmdons, head
less and spritless, had disbanded. and were
forgotten. One Saturday afternoon CALI
ed upon my old Lieutenant; whom / found
up a narrow alley saving boards, -.
Tad, said I, what are the boys about
now?' dr. -sf
".Cap'en. replied Tad. chem. feIIers Of.
ten talks bout you but they thinks you 'veI
deserted 'em, sandstliey don't like it,
"a. "tCouhn't yo,i parable tiiem for Inc TO-
night. Lieutenant?', = l,sd~9 = s.>-
'.Tcd's face Frightened. sW hat fur,
Cap'en?' =" - ss ~ "a
.esesNever mind that, cid friend But
coulin' youihuster fheni ont behind the
stone wall near the Academye'd sssana.
-. :. Bust up,tbat, ,dnrne,l Batting Siesy?'
the Lieutenant, with prophetic
sTheln fellers is III for that job,
certain fsissleg - Sassog1si sss RosF :.
.s;4ssssP srllaps.there viii be some fun. said
!, with a knowing wink. tsWhen 4 meet
you there I'll tell you more about it.,
"Tcd winked in retnrn. fright, Caps
'en-honor brightp & ''ss ~
81" Aud my old uniform audsword?e
ow"'Up infhe shop-lofs Cap 'ens1p They II /
be on hand noaa s-sz sas 10 sssa sai
"All lIight-all right ala r.s II
MY friend aud myself then hooked lit
tie fingers, ana after half dozen lnystcri-
ousswags, wesparted aii q saggcSs salss'
"ln arranging my plans fwished to avoid I
a resort to extromitics. if possible. i ex-
pceted TO have a majority Of my friends in
lhc meeting to dissolyesth society by a