Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-10

olOOu- uodT, Hedri -Dus AOA "oJooeJS
present advisers seem to be determined so
far as he could judge, that that anxious
desire should be frustrated. Loud cries
of "No, no" and "Hear, hear" There
is n kind of people that can do more mis-
chief in an hour than others can repair in
months-Tironical cheers from the Minis
terial sidel-and the Government appear
to me to be such persons. [Cheers.1
LETTER FROM OBERLIN.
Anniversary Exercises of the Ladies'
Literary Society.
Especial Correspondence of the Cleveland LEADER.
OBERLIN, August s, 1866.
The exhibitions of the societies of the
Ladies' Department are always fraught
with great interest to the observer.
The thirty-frst anniversary of the La
dies Literary Society was celebrated to-
day, and received with universal interest.
The exercises of the day were remarka-
bly, good. When we hear of a ladies' lit
erary exhibition we are frequently led to
imagine something either disagreeably
masculine, or effeminately silly. In a
word, it has got to be the opinion that
ladies cannot generally find that mean be-
tween strong-mindedness and the opposite
fault which ought to exist. That such an
opinion was erroneous, we claim to show
by the character ofthe exercises presented
to-day, in none of which either fault was
vitality apparent, and in this case what
ever of such a kind did appear was so
toned down and relieved by the arrange
ment of the exercises as to lose all I'M
pleasant effect.
The appearance of the church was high
ly creditahle to the taste of the young la
dies, and also the gentleman who assisted
in the decoration. The raised dais in the
centre of the building made it much
easier for the ladies to be heard, and the
arlful and novel arrangement of the
evergreens and flowers entirely removed
any ungainly appearance which might
have otherwise been seen.
The following was the order of exer-
cises
Music. Prayer. Music.
Good Sense, Mary Morgan, Fox Lake, Wis.
Doors, Lucy G. Kinney, Oberlin.
The New Eegime-Poen, S. leila Reid, Salem, Ind,
Music.
TROUBLE On the Sea, Clara A. Dewey Aurora.
GeOdes, Hattie \. Lewis, Tallmsdse.
Fourth Of July Celebrations ,byMrs. jenkins Smith,
Sarah Z Felton,, Franklin, VT.
Music.
The Chip Basket.
Music.
~ShOt-POem, Bessie B. Brewster, Chagrin Falls.
Heroism, Adelia NJ. Stnrtevant, Cleveland.
Music.
Benediction.
Miss Morgan's essay on Good Sense en-
bodied good thought and was well pre-
scented. The peculiarities and peccadilloes
of certain kinds of men was sketched with
q keen and accurate hand. Miss Kinney's
essay on Doors was a well written appli-
cation of the thoughts and illustrations
which the subject presented and allowed.
1t was an exercise valuable not so Ruch
on account of the attention which it at
tra0ted to itself, as it was for the thoughts
and feelings which it could not fail to sug-
gests to the mind of the hearer.
The poem by Miss Reid was a decided
success. It's sparkling thought, combined
with the decided expression of opinion and
original style which pervaded the exer-
else, produced such an effect that the
trifing inaccuracies of metre which are
always found in such an exercise were
entirely hidden from view. Miss Ried is
not an advocate or woman's-rights, but
that does not prevent forcible and we'll
expressed thought on her part.
Mrs. Dewey's essay presented a new
phase of and old but not figure.
BY an artful combination of certain al
ready expressed ideas with other original
and lofty thoughts, the production is
raised to the position of ono of the most
interesting and instructive of those pre-
ssnted.
The illustration of human developer
ment by that of a geode, which Miss Lewis
presented, was most interesting. The
subject was handled thoroughly without
being exhausted, and the impression pro-
duced was that consequent upon the open
ing of new and pleasant vein of thought.
Miss Felton's arguments in favor of
Fourth of July celebrations were presented
in q manner which attracted the atten-
ton of the audience. Miss Feltons STYLE
somewhat resembles Gail Hamilton, and
her thoughts were good.
The Chip Basket, a collection of short
poems, literary bon nlots, etc, was pre-
sented by Miss Alice Norton. The char
acter of the exercise was most interesting,
exciting most hearty applause. The La
dies were placed in a rather new light,
however, byOne "chip" which Miss Nor
tons fair hand Incidentally hurled at an
offending college society. For thereby
they were represented as objects of char
ity, a position totally incompatible with
the royal style in which they heretofore
have received the homage and fealty of
all true hearts.
It is to be regretted that owing to
slight noises throughout some parts OF the
audience, Miss Brewster's poem could not
be distinctly heard in all parts of the
house. 1t was an effort of the highest or
der, and received additional praise by a
graceful and appropriate delivery.
Miss Steurtevants essay on Heroism
was one of the nos pleasing exercises Of
its kind; the portrayal of the various
causes and classes of heroism, the heroism
of small as well as great matters, Was given
in a spirited manner, and its effect could
not have been bettered.
The exercises were presided over with
grace and dignity by Miss Tibbetts, the
President of the Society. The music con-
sisted of a chorus of male voices, a tenor
solo, and an instrumental Duet was furn-
ished under the direction of Prof. G. w.
Steele and was of the high order which
the mention of Prof. Steele's name guar
antees.
The two college societies havedetermin-
ed to give up their lecture this Commence
ment to the Ladie Societies Library As
ISOLATION. The lecture on Monday even
ing of Commencement week, therefore,
will be conducted under the auspices of
that association. The friends of the la
dies-and their name is Legion-will re-
jOice to hear of this very substantial aid
to their enterprise. GERI.
GROCERIES,, &C.