Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-29
Contest Performance OF the Literary
Societies OF Indiana Asbury Uni
versffV.
G.EExcAsrLE, Feb. %, 1860.

GnEKScAsTLE, Feb. %, 1860.
EDrroR ExrREss The contest perform
ance to test the literary talent and ability
of the Platonean and Pathological Societies
of this institution came off last evening"
The spacious College chapel vas filled
with large and appreciative audience,
though the roads in this neighberhood Of
Greencastle were very bad, aud the wealth
er exceedingly stormy aud clustering
(Some people, in order, suppose, to get
off very funny joke, call this place city,
but the land it is on is little like a men,
/ Der of Congress on the street, rather rolling,
aud the town itself. like members voting,
| is somewhat seatferins.)
The performance was opened by select
grafton by j. II. Ruddell, Allisonville,
subiect-Darkness. 1t was dark sombre
piece and spoken with effect
One Of the most beautiful productions oil
the evening was an essay by j. r. s. Cox.
Pawpaw, subiect-Dreams and Realities
The author seemed TO throw all the poetic
fancy Of a beautiful Imagination into thu
subject. He brought up the beautiful
dreamlike memories of the almost forgot.
ten past the once glorious aud triumphan
= realities Of chiyalric heroes, of mighty com
bats and the still more glorious dreams o
the poets Of other ages who sang and wrot
5 centuries upon centuries ago. And theI
7 the realities OF the intellectual and scien
e tific advancement and the dreams. not s
poetic and imaginative as those Of othe
: ages, but still beautiful, OF this our az
It were depicted in glowing language.
II But the best efforts of the evening wei
l. upon the first discussion, question:,
the Tendencies Of the Age to an Advanc,
e ment in Literaturef J. w. Heath Of L:
N fayette on the affirmative made an able an
logical dissertation, showing that the irr
sistible, commanding spirit of the age
Progress; and that while science aud Il
arts are going on. if they have not alread
K. reached to that period when the chaos
matter and immensely shall become pc
ID feet consistency of elements before the q
e. most divine attributes Of the Mind-th
ID while such is the case literature must al
tend to advance.
a. He was followed by j. d. Chenoweth
IN Kentucky in one Of the most beautiful al
forcible efforts it has ever been my go'
fortune TO hear from public rostrum.
was the masterpiece of the evening.
es times il abounded in the most eloquent al
no beautiful sentences showing the superiO
ty ofthe writing Of those men Of the old
time whose beauties will be waited to 4
ages to come like the fragrance of troI
c. cal grove and again, indulging iu q
n. most whitening sarcasm-and in enc j
d. stance in particular. in replying to poi
of his opponents that literature is belt
paid than heretofore, his sarcasm knew
C. bounds. at was not SO he said, "wi
!. the authors Of other ages they wrote
he Immortality. and posterity will pay 4
debt" Kentucky sesds noble aud gift,
" representative to old Asbury in Jim Che
- oweth.
The original oratiOns by Holloway of
ed dian Hill, and Ritter Of Plainfeld, We
- very good. The second discussion
Brant of Bowling Green aud Clark of E
de inburg was also good, but not SO spirit
Us as the other.
= Under the care Of DR.. Bowman, one
he the best of administrative officers and
men. old Asbury is attaiIing a name Al
character never known since the days
10 Simpson. May she keep her worthy Pr
ay ident long and her good name. longeri
We o. J. S.