Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-04-03
Twrs1r SECOND OF FrBsuARy--R Ro.

ANoEE CoILEGE.-the ukusl interesting
character of the Contest exercies of tho
Two Literary Societies OF Roanoke Col
lese, .ays the Roanoke 1imes.csuses our
citizens to look forward with great de-
gree OF interest TO their occurrence. And
we'll they shouli. characterized, as they
always are. with the choicest production
Of Dung men enjoying superior educa-
tionsl advantages, they csnnoi ia,l 10 en-.
terrain those Of ripper age and msIurer
Judgment; and, marked by strict decorum.
the most issiidious have not found room
20 complain. The day. too. is sacred 10
the memory OF the lovers OF liberty.
When the vesliges OF the lair fabric which
Washington and his compeers reared a.
lone are left, il is meet that his country
men should pay The homsge which an
Observance Of this day renders possible.
Since The scep,er has departed from Vir.
ginis, and a Romsn power has swept a.
wsy all but glory, il is decidedly appro.
pria.e TO celebrate the dsy with The iro.
phles Of mental victory. The aim Of
Virginia should be 10 maintain her envia-
bic position among the si'lerhood OF
States and remain true To her illustrious
line OF descent. not by uncertain edors
for political or military power, but by 'ha.
infslIible course which lies through the
land OF science and letters.
For the nformstiou OF those Who had
mol the pleasure OF attending. we give the
follo~ins detail OF The evenings enter.
tainmeu,. We diselsim The leas. inIen.
iion 10
view with acriiic's eye"
for, we know that il is
"IIard TO say il greater want ofskil'
Appear To writing or in judging ILL.,"
OF The two. the former is more nesily
passsble, since The latter indicates pre-
Sumption OF superiority. II We shall sue
ceed in giving an idea o( the excellence Of
the dltferen, productions and Of the grace.
ful delivery, We shall DO ell we claim. and
"Foran haec olim memini.se jnvab,."
After prayer by Rev. V w. Dosh, Mr..
John II. Barb, oi Shenandoah, Of The De-
moslhenesn Society. was introduced and
read an Essay on The aUbjec, +: STARS
come out al nighf:'-in tone clear and
sonorous. in style peculiarly lorcib'e and
forid. he performed with success iha,
which is exceedingly difficult. the success
fol rendition Of On Essay. To US, sur.
rounded by darkness that may be ielt."
convey ed a cheering thought that our sky
may not be void OF those stare, and tho
blue arch OF our political high, msy DO
studded with consultations Of no inferior
magnitude.
Mr.. Jas. p. Obsnshsin. OF Roanoke. Of
The Ciceronisn Society. then, in plea
SAINT manner, read an Essay on the sub
ieci: "Prominsni Features Of The Age"
The style showed that the young author
wiclds The "pen Of ready writer" and
the treatment OF the subject decided ac-
quSinisnce with philosophy and literature.
The next feature Of the evening was
the Oraiions. which were dilivered by q.
EgQborn Nelson. OF Culpeper. Of The De.
mosthenisn Society, and g. Edward
Penn, Of Patrick. OF tie Cireronian So.
cie,y. II would be invidious TO discrimi-
nate betHeen The oraiory Of these two.
Ca ,uccessive occasions they have met in
the arena and crossed swords for the
prize. and in the first instance ono snc in
The second the other was declared victor.
The orsuons were ornate and perpicu.
ous, the delivery very good. The subject
OF the former was, "Knociedge 10 Poc'
err; OF The latter, "1riumphs Of The
Cross"
The question lis Civilization more in.
Jebied TO The Con mercisl, or 10 The Phi.
lsnihropic principle T. was then discuss
ed by II. M. Fairfax. Of Fairfax. Of tho
Demoslhenesn, and J. X. Nowlin. OF Ala.
bsas. OF the Ciceronisn Society. Mr.
Fairfax in advocating The affirmative
dwelt specially on the dollar tendency IN
man. and in presenting that he brought 10
his aid such good Lumor snd vi, - TO
make his speech novel for these occs ions
and specially interesting. His delivery
was well adapted 10 argument.
Mr.. Nowlin j, the con OF former resi-.
dent OF our town; and bore from Ibis lsrl
the special interest and good will OF lilo
entire audience. llis DISCUSSION OF the
negative was done 10 strong. argument
alive style and earnest pathetic orsiory.
An interesting feature was added 10 ,bs
exercises by our liberal minded towns
man. Capt J. s. A. Crswford. Of the
Central Hotel. by presenting . Medal TO
the most deserving Of the contesisnis. The