The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-04-11

tHNi iuiiOCtllCC tlltC CIiif taCoCIlLto itSiOu6l
be SO soon brushed off and destroyed.
we hail thee with mingled emotions
Since we last greeted thy coming anoth-
err cycle Of time has been completed
aud many changes have freighted the
Fastening months. Friendship s cemen
ted or shattered in rtins--hopes realiz-
ed and promises nnfulfilled, garlands
of gladness and s.bles of sorrow have
marked their rapid passage. Glad
eyes that frightened at thy last appear
an sc Hseet thee aot now, and over iolJ-
ed hands chat shall gather thee 40 more
forever Love places thee as a sacred
offering. The sweetest things are Oft
the saadest and oh! sadly sweet are
some OF the memories thou d0st aWak-
en -the emotions thou oost evoke.
AIingiing with tiny sweet bfeatiltngs
The scented breezes from eaifiaa,d5
shaaUWless dells float Ger rs once mo-
and the heart leaps again 10 the tfin=
iag joy-bells Of the Past. The t"Isger
Of birds Is borne ca the air as we pause
uRon Youths sunny slope stt ties fadi-
eHt stages marked with tlly beauty.
Thy life is a fitting type OF on. own.
After a few days OF oaaning brightness
thy beauty fadeth until Springtine re-
turning restores it again. SO We, too,
ia ga little While' shall pass away aud
having accomplished life's mission here
shall awaken in that sbeautiftl lando
where no whitening blight can iaII--ao
fading form is seen.
Oh, that we might more readily read
and understand the deep lessons tll4t
even thou, Natures sweet little iisper,
cans't teach unto us! Ia the fadsiess
garland of Thought we entwine thee,
and in Melnory's rich casSet we SET
thee With joy.
Last Friday evening was a memora-
BE one in our village annals. The
challenge to our argumentative tilt re-
Gently extended by Garden Debating
society," unto 'sGerardstoWn Lyceunn
having been accepted the two orgafi-
cations met at "Stone Wall Aeaaalnyo
upon that evening. At an early hour
the i4all was crowded to It's utmost ca
paeity by q refined and Intelligent au-
dience. the ladies constituting a fair
and large proportion thereof. The
question selected for discussion read !:
Resolved, that Education has more. to
clio in determining Character than Natn-
raj endowments." Gerardstown sup
ported the Affirmative, and Arden the
Negative side Of the proposition. At
ter arranging necessary preiiminaries
the wrestle of mind with mind began,
and until the "wee sma' hours ayont
the twal" the exciting contest contin-
ued The crimson wine intellect spar
Killed. in the glowing chalice of Eloquence
rich pearls of mental research and
brilliant scintilations of Genius, enrich
ed and embroidered the entertainment.
The Well-trained disputants joined eag-
erly in the Intellectual fray and seemed
to experience
THE stern joy which warriors feel
In foemen worthy of the STEEL"
No better evidence of the interesting
nature of the proceedings is required
than the fact that throughout the entire
contest of several hours duration, the
crowded audience manifested the most
earnest and unf1agging interest and at
tention. At the close Of the battle the
Judges, two of whom were chosen by
each society, declared in favor of the
Affirmative. So ended one of the most
pleasant, spicy and instructive intellee-
tnal entertainments OF the season.
In this connection / would say that
the representative of our Lyceum had
a polemlc engagement with the Darks-
Vile Debating CLUB, a few weeks since.
They were most curteously received and
treated throughout by that society and
returned much gratified with their Wis
it.
April 5th, 1867.
Gerardstown, w. Va.
"GoNE WHAR THE Coon NIGGERs
Go. "-.'Uncle Diclx,o an old darkey,
who had liyad in fsoIun,h,,c Ohio fDr