The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-12
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

ouzsrIoNThe most lively interest has been excited In
this community by the discussion In private circles OF
this interesting question: and the people are fully aroused
to the Importance Of the issue and the necessity OF re-
FORM The excitement eliminated last night In grand
mass meeting which convened at the City Hall Tho
Chair occupied by unanimous vote Of the meeting,
by Colonel Wilkes, and Mr. Jenkins Of Roanoke Square,
acted us Secretary.
In taking his the President briefly stated that the
object Of the meeting form association to DO
called the .AntiKne- Eaters rwhose platform would
be the total abolition Of the asomnabe and heathensh
practice Of eating with the knean instrument made
only for purposes Of cutnginstead Of the fork. He
favored this great REFORM and considered the movement
one Of the most opportune and important that had been
set On foot during the present century He hoped the
subject would be agtated throughout the countrythat
the press and pulpit those powerful engines Of agitation
would take up the question: and continue to agtats 1t
while there was an audasious knifeeater in the land
(Applause) 1t Of more Importance than the ques
ton Of negro suffrage the reconstruction Of the rebel
States furnishing clothing the naked eannibals Of
the Southern Islands lie trusted this movement would
be taken up in other sections Of the country and that
they would to agtate until the great objects
Of the reform fully accomplished. Tremendous
applause) He would now introduce Mr.. John Snyder to
the meeting gentleman eminently qualified to address
them on this subject
Mr. Snyder took the stand amid the deaening paudia
of the audience lie remarked alphabetically, that he
was otaecustomed topublc speaking bat In such use
the stones themselves would rise up and cry Out ~ men
were silent The folly aud madness oil the word WIS
never more clearly exemped than in the facts every
day presented to US Of and going about tho
world preaching reform where no reform Is heeoeu lhey
ask for temperance REFORM for reform In the luxulo
mode OF living adopted by of our people, reform
In dress reform in the rights OF women reform III inc
sanitary condition Of cities aud an ameoration Of
the condition OF the poor They also make COLLECTIONS Of
large sums of money to educate cothe and feed the can
nbas who dwell in desoate and uninhabited islands, and
inveigh against tho babarism of the Turks and the
| heahenishness of the Hndoos. They think that
vice in large cities should be inquired into, and
the causes of its rapid increase ascertaned and some
adopted to those causes All these reforms
find their ready advocates-and there some, even,
who intend to give the poor African vote instead OF
piece of breadbelievng that voice is more necessary
than somach but would you believe it, feowcitizens,
not one Of these reformer male or female, has had the
courage to attack that most garng and terrible OF all
| vices, that practice, more barbarous and heather
| ish than Mormonism Hndooism, or cannlbalism,
and which has caused misery than all the evils
and vices of the world combined, mean the awful and
fast increasing practiee-which is spreading rapidly
throughout the world and alicts the nations as pes
lence-the practice of eating with the knife instead Of
the fork Great sensaton) Yes, gentlemen, we find
these reornes too tmid to strike at the root OF the
evil they fear to shock the sensbties OF society," or
rather they fear to loose the patronage of society," by
pointing out to society its real vices and immoraes and
content themselves with merely Topping of few branch
es Applause-Thats sob Fellow-eitizens to tell
the extent to which this vile practice carried and the
rapdity with which it is increasing am you would
not credit the statement 1t is passing all belief and If we
would not go back fifteen thousand years. and relapse into
the heahensm and barbary Of fathers we must use
all our energies to carry forward this great reform to
successful issue. ("We Wilt" "we wil") It's scarce
y credable but nevertheless true that not only in the
howell but in the palace does this evil prevail
Not only does the hardfsted aborer defy the laws o
propety and the rules Of good breeding but the dainty
ngeredlady ROBBED in purple and finest linen may be seen
three times day, eating her food with knife Horrible
Yes, gentlemen, you may well say horrible. My boot
runs cold, and my hair stands upon end aud my hear
turns liquid whenI think of such moral depravty in
christian land land of sabbath-schoos female semina
ries and great reforms. Whose here 80 base that h
would eat with knfef If any speak, for him have Of
fendedi
Tice-"I don't anything tarnal bad in the prac
tice arter ALL allns-
| Cries-put him OUTPUT him out-he's barbaran-i
cannibal-a heathen-a knife-eater-hustle him-throv
him out of the windowkill hm-he's no right to live
There confused noise then muled cries. the rails
ing of window the sound of something dropping OH tn
outside-and all was over
Thespeaker continued: So wish all knifeeaters--alle en-
emes to our mighty REFORM Ifthere be any more In thi
asseabage who do not agree with my sentiments and tn
sentiments of the meeting they will please sneak out
quietly possible if they would avoid the fate Of the au
dacous villain who interrupted the proceedings by hi
| foul heresies. As was saying: Who's here 80 meal
he would not eat with fork If any, speak; for hin
have offended Who's here rude that he would in
terrupt the speaker if let him not speak, if he wou
| avoid an exit by the window No, my fellowcitizens
my voice is for reform We must return to the habits
our fathers Since we began to cat with the knife, vi
have grown to be drt-eaters Had we continued to ca
with the fork would have continued nation of fork
eaters Let agtate the REFORM and as is necessary
that all reforers should have an organ, it might b
well enough for us to revive the Courier paper which
might be made favorable to our cause, il well paid
would help to agtate the subject and keep it befor
the people, also suggest that committee be appoint
ed whose duty 1t shall be visit all the principal hotels
and boarding houses and private houses in this city
their usual meal hour, and which committee shall
make a full and detailed report of thu
number condition, BIRTH training, and personal appear
ance of every gentleman lady they find eating in
proper and according to rule, witha fork; ant
also of all men, women and children, who eat after
other fashion, After these statistics are gathered In or
der that may have data to base action upon
propose that send adeputation to Washington who's
duty 1t shall be to lay the matter before President John
son. and ask him to exempt from the amnesty proclama
ton and from pardon all who do not eat with the fork
In order to deray the expenses it will be necessary TO
the members Of the Society to fork over pretty freely
| propose that Mr. Gribble carry around the hat
The speaker loudly applauded when he retired
cries made for Col Duncan who not being present
Judge Feed made few remarks anmadverng in stronl
terms upon the heathenish practice now prevalent
calling for its immediate abolition He agreed with tn
first speaker in everything he had said but was favor
going still farther and prohibiting it by constitutions
amendment and If that would accomplish it, he wout
call upon the President to use the entire military and
val power of the nation Be the consequences what the
may it must be put down We can no longer tolerate tn
|
HI had seen It even at the table Of one our lead
ing local hotels; and he regretted to say that the land
lord did invoke the assistance of the Provost guard
What are coming to, when the sanctity of first
class hotels Is invaded by such vugarity and that too
| by Major-Generals Shame shameD Gentlemen, my
emotions great that cannot contnue-but befort
close allow to propose three cheers for the grea
founder of associaonthe greatest and best til,
| world ever produced--Rev John Tompkins Purely
The cheers were given with hearty will, and some
fellow proposed tiger, but it was voted vulgar.
On motion, committee appointed to draft con
stitution and bylaws and also series of resolutions or
publication in the Post 30
During the absence of the Committee, the Honorable
Mr. James T. Goodwin of Washington city, Judge Frank
lin Jameson of Richmond George Warrington Homestead
and Eli Crouch of Portsmouth, addressed the meeting in
words of burning eloquence.
Before the Committee on Resolutions returned re.
porter was compelled to retire. and consequently the
suit Of the committees deliberations not appear
day. -
1t was altogether very pleasant and enthusiastic
casion and npont ofnumbers the meeting the largest
ever convened in Norfolk.
Esta
SELECT CouNcIL--At meeting of this body, on the
9Th inst, the following Standing Committees ap
pointed by the President We publish them by request
for the benefit Of the members and of persons likely
to have business with that body.
" srANDIys ooxMIrrEEs-srLIcr COUNCIL
Enancs--Messrs. 4. P Tabb, G. L. Cole, G. A. Santos
Ordinances essrs A. L. Hill, @. W. Cowdsry, 2. p
Tabb. lev 4t ~ Hf-t A 5e
Streets and WaarWs--sIessrs R. Caps, O. G. Arm
stead, J. 7. Daniels. it'.t
Aims House Msssrs. @. ". Cowdery, R. cspps AL.