The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-17

Capt. J. NJ. Hickey and w. J. Whit
thorne, Jr., have Confederate orphan
girl protegee, aud 1bw weeh 40 ecn'
ceived q very hsppy plan to vt UP some.
thing for her sbeneet. q A sinse!le :
shape OF addresses BY ave Of our talen-
ted young men. Last Friday night wa,
the time chosen and Hammer Hall the
place. We regret to say that only about
one hundred persons were in attendance
when the young men made their np-
pearance. Below are the names OF ne
speakers and their subjects:
LIST. Evan Y. Pillow; subject, .he
Occasion"
sd. WI. Webster; subject. 81 slept
and dreamed that earth was beauty, and
awoke and found that life was duty"
3D.. Gid. Alexander; subject, mission
of the Beautiful"
9Th; W. H. Timmons;, subject, Con
trast between the Ignorant man and the
man of Knowledge
9th. Hugh T. Gordon; subject, "Honor
to the Heroic Dead" q a,-r
The entertainment was opened by mu-
sic from the orchestra. The opening
| speech by Mr.. Pillow was very clever.
He commenced by paying . handsome
compliment to the gentlemen who got
up the entertainment, Capt. j. N. Hiok-
ey and w. j. Whitthorne, Jr., saying
that it was natural and proper for two
such gallant end faithful soldiens of the
"Lost Cause" to provide for the orphan
of one OF their comrades. The speaker
referred to the munificent manner in
which the United States had provided
for the children of its soldiers ofthe wars
of 1776 and 1872, and drew q vivid pic
ture of the contrast presented by the
Confederate orphans. The Confederate
soldiers bravery and devotion to princi-
pie to the death was touchingly portray
ed, and the sympathies of the audience
were deeply enlisted by his appeal in be-
half of the unfortunate orphan girl, the
BENEFICIARY of the occasion. Mr.. Pillows
subject, bearing as it did directly on the
occasion, gave him an advantage over
the other speakers, and he used It well.
His speech was well prepared, and evil
worthy to have received las he did, in
struction from the great Lee, and his
own Shakspeare-loving parent.
Mr.. Webster's subject, though meta
physical in its nature, was yet appro-
pirate to the occasion; because it mainly
spoke ofduty. 1t certainly is the duty Of
the Southern people to provide for the
Confederate orphans. He exalted duty
even to the heigth given to it by the inn
mortal Lee, who said "Duty is the grand
est word in the English language" A
strong contrast was drawn between the
man who obeyed duty's call, and the
self-indulgent man. The speaker said
the mind ofman was never asleep, nor in
active. While the body was asleep the
mind took recreation by transporting its
action to another field, that of dreams
Mr.. Webster's speech was full OF new
deep truths, and new and beautiful
thoughts, and reflected credit upon the
scholarly attainments of the speaker.
Mr.. Alexander's speech was a beauti- |
full mosaic, and charmed the ear like
sweet music, over still water, when |
night, the widow of the day, is clad in
sable garments. 1t was beautiful, and
and that is all the praise we can give it. |
Mr.. Timmons chose very practical |
subject, and succeeded in making it very
interesting TO the audience. Indeed, we |
had never conceived of so great a con-
trast between "an ignorant man and a |
man of knowledge" The speaker. real
ly grew eloquent in describing the |
height, breadth, anG depth of mans
knowledge.
Mr.. Gordon is natural orator. His |
is full of passion and life. His
subject was we'll chosen, and he was fire.
quently applauded, as he would touch
some patriotic emotion in the hearts of |
his hearers.
Mr.. Whitthorne, being called upon by
the audience, came forward, and in a
very spirited manner thanked the speak
ers and the audience for the assistance
so generously rendered his protegee, and
gave brief history of the Confederate
orphan, which, together with a synopsis
OF his remarks, we reserve for publica-
ton in our next issue.