The Van Buren press., 1870-02-22
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
OZARK, ARK Feb. 10, 10

|
! EDITOR PRrss:-
Some two weeks since " Anonymous
wrote an article, purporting to be for the
"Ozark Debating Society " After has
ing consulted his sympathy, he concludes
that ID as much as 1t does not sosm tt
progress very rapidly" he will offer Z
few words OF encouragement. Veil, ",
have never said anything abou. our De-
batting Society outside Of our town, and
we are glad Mr.. Anonymous has will
to encourage it, and we gracefully make
GESTURE of sanction to his history of
debating ocietes-but now, ,Anony nous,
we are little jealous Of the impression
gone out. We are fearful the public will
conclude that the society is very ordi'
nary half organized, cold fashioned" in
sttution, which suddenly comes and soon
disappears. And that ours has been faint
| ly gotten up. and is now making hutter
ing valedction from existence.
We cannot believe that Anonymous
knows much about our society, and one
to be ignorant Of its progress must be a
new conner in town. He does not know
the date of its birth, and that It's time
honored institution, else he certainl,
would have commented in urging an in
crease Of numbers, suppose he is ig-
norant, too. of the fact that majority
Of the young men who have thirst for
nowledge-exceptiLg some who are
fearful Of sacrificing business--are mem
bers of the society He has probably
never dreamt that our laws do not admit
members, except 10y 4 two third vote.
1t is true, Anonymus. we have. for a
Tune, been suspended, in consequence of
cold weather and pressure of business,
but we are again at work.
No organization of the kind has ever
been more perfect, we imagine. Our
laws have been an object Of much care,
and sitter mach pains have been 40 her
monized us to be thoroughly fitted to the
promotion Of the society. We meet one
night in each week, and probably no
Grecian Court ever maintained moro do
cornm than prevails All possible hon.
or is shown to the officers, who are elect
ed monthly The President, upon taking
his seat, delivers an inaugural address,
which seeins invariable to enlist new zeal
and new interest
We hardly expcct-as Anonymous
would predict--like bright star emcrg
ing from some gloomy valley, to locate
beyond ethereal space, to breathe the air
once inhaled by a Periclcs, Demosthe.
nes, a Franklin, a Clay, or host Of 9th
ers. Nor do we expect to bathe our brow
in ether But, as we fancy we have i'm
proved some, we expect TO Continue, and
hope to increase greatly our stock OF
knowledge Besides this, We presume
to say our morals will not bc impedcd or
lcssened, but upon the contrary it's an
established fact, that in becoming wise
We have more exalted ideas OF virtue, and
greater reverence for the Supreme Being.
Don't understand that we are selfish,
Anonymous, for we, like you, would be
proud TO have more members. and VIC
cordially invite those of good moral
character, or who expect to become such,
to send up their petitions.
We already have some of the best in
tellect Of the county in the society, con-
sisting OF both lawyers and preachers, as
well as some gcntecl orators.
suppose oul debates have been pri-
vate since the arrival Of Anonymous. but
when the bell rings tomorrow night you
come up to the Acadcmy--we arc to have
public debate, the moon shines too,
come up and perhaps the interest mani
( tested will induce TOT to become mem
| Der. ID. r.. BATTER.
| A.