The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-02
Lhersry and Musical Entertainment by the
Irving Literary Club of Pass ChrIsti~n
College.
Pass CnnsrIAN, Mss, jolly %, ls6s

PASS CHRISTIAN, MISS, July 70, 1906,
Editor Of the Crescent;
We the pleasure, last Friday night, of listen
ing to & most pleasing entertainment. Urged by
friend to be present at the examinations of Pass
Christian College, we were well repaid for doing
so. Not accustomed 10 dishiDg up nows for the
public, we will not undertake report of the ex-
sminatiors, but the debate and club exercises
d ade such an impression on us that we could not
refrain from giving you few items concerning It.
The feature of the evening exercises was the de-
bate on the following subject: " Which has done
more for ciCdizGtiOn, England or France ~
The exercises before the debate and those after
il were very interesting. The essays and OratiOns
did great credit to the abilities of the young
gentlemen. Masters Hasam and Seguin, the two
essay lists, had fine subjects and treated them in
very able manner. OF the three oratIons, that of
Master 0Rorke pleased us most-the others were
also very good.
But 10 come to the chief point of interest, the
debate. Mr.. J. C. Virden stated the question
He defined civilization as consisting in the I'M
proveBent of the social, moral and intellectual
man. He then proceeded to speak OF the super
iority Of Englsnd's language aud literature; he
asserted that the result Of French literature was
Atheism; that il unsettled every principle OF
ethics and religion; that the literature Of England
never had any bad result. The young gentleman
had some very strong arguments. He asserted
too much however; he seemed to forget that the
writings Of Bossuet Fenelon, Bourdaloue, Massilon,
De Maistre and host of others lead to the display
of the highest virtue. The manner Of Mr.. Yirden
appearance and address, and when years ripen
his judgment he will make an elegant orator.
Mr.. Richard opened on tie side of the affirna-
tive. he began in conciliatory manner, grant
ing all that could be granted to his opponent.
yet firmly maintaining his side of the question. He
grounded his principal arguments on the social
and moral condition of the people. He proved
from statistics taken from English reports and
English authority that the social and moral condi
ton OF the people of France far in advance of
that of the people of England. he said that every
political economist holds that it is far better that
fifty fathers of family have $50 year than that
| one aristocrst hsve 100000 year. He made
| many fine points aud showed great research In
| many of his arguments he was wanting in force
| he did not word them with sufficient emphasis.
! His manner was calm and dgnifed. his action
graceful and his voice clear and distinct. His
| speech made quite an impression.
| Mr. W. Brashear was the next speaker. He
founded the principal part of his arguments on the
| great power Of England aud her wise policy. He
also mentioned the discoveries of Davy- the cir.
| culstion of the blood; and the discovery of vac
| cination by DR.. Jenner He condemned the pol.
| lev Of France, saying that she exceeded Mexico
| in the number of her revolutions. Mr.. Brashear
is a very good speaker; his voice Is good; his ar
| guments were in the main good, and his matter
| excellent. We have, however, t0take exceptions
| to some mistakes which he fell into during the
| course of his arguments; they were DO doubt
caused by the hurry Of the moment. Mr.. Brasheer
was greeted with much applause when be sat
| down.
Mr. F. Perilloux was next on the stand. He
maintained the superiority of France in pulpit
| oratory. He gave clear and eloquent epltome
| of the noble efforts made by the French mission.
| aries to advance the interests OF civilization and
| Christianity; their remarkable success among the
| Indians of America, and also among the inhabi.
| tants of China Japan and Australia. he argued
that England had utterly failed in propsgating the
principles Of Christianity, the elixir of civlza'
| lion MIR. PerillOux made deep impression both
| by his manner and matter, yet he Old not put
home many of bis strongest points; the way in
| which he worded them occasionally detracting
| from the real value Of his arguments.
Much interest was now depicted on the coun-
! tenances Of all as the last speaker on the afirma-
tive side stepped forward-Mr. Walter Flower.
| This gentleman opened Ia very fine manner
took as the principal points of argument com
| merce, manufacture and medicine, contending
| that the commerce and manufacture OF Englsnd
| are the most extended; that to medicine she has
given most valuable additions; that she gave TO
| the miner the safety lamp; TO navigation the
| steam engine :: that her colonization scheme was
the best. He then took review OF some OF the
| agumen's Of bis opponents. he failed, however
| TO notice many things which he might have men
| toned with effect: the discoveries OF tarsday,
| DR.. Halby and others; also the many additions 70
science by Msclsurn and others. As lar as II
went Mr.. Flowers effort was logical his remarks
| were several times greeted with applause. His
manner was very fine, and altogether ne was one
of the very best debaters of the evening.
Master Flower was loudly applsuded when he
sat down. Mr.. James B. Stubs, the closing
speaker, now came forward, and delivered q
mastery speech in defense Of the civilization OF
| France. The vast amount of matter, the welghty
arguments and the eloquent manner IN which they
were put would have done credit to long prac-
uced debater. He was frequently interrupted Dy
the applause of the audience. He argued about
as follows: That to France was due the founda'