New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-15
Communicated.
A DAY AT PASS CHRISTIAN.

within two hours and half of the city,
that 80 many of our good citizens should 60
| to the North or to Europe for recreation.
health and pleasure. 1t was my first visit
there, and never, in a lite OF many, many
summers, have passed q more delightful
day. Three gentlemen Of us had received
| invitations from the Irving Literary Society
| Of the college to be present at an entertain
ment to be given by them last Wednesday
evening. and which, from the programme
transmitted, was to consist of orations,
| essays, coiloquial discussions, poems and
debates, interspersed with music. The bill
Of fare-so to speak-was attractive. From
the high reputation of Pass Christian Col
lege, we had been led to expect good deal
from the training and scholarship OF the
young gentlemen, and were certainly not
disappointed. The exercises were marked by
evidences of genius, research, information
aud maturity Of finJellect, such as are seldom
witnessed in the performances at our colleg!-
ate institutions, and evinced the enhght-
ened direction exercised over tho youths Of
Pass Christian College by the learned,
| thoroughly skilled and indefatigable Chris
tian Brothers. The fine music Of this in
stitution has obtained widespread celeb
rity, and its reputation, not only for the
concord of sweet sounds" but for sounds
that stir men s souls from the very depths,
was fully sustained on this occasion. Why
is not this branch of education-music,v vocal
and Observation-Disclosures attended to than it
is, in our American collegess Nothing is
better calculated to refine the rougher ele-
ments of our nature, and to furnish rich
source of lifelong enjoyment, always social
in it's tendencies, than this noble accom-
plishment
It would be unfair, among tho exquisite
performances of the evening, stamped
throughout with character Of superiority,
to indicate any one in particul ar as entitled
to the highest praise. All were good-very
good Style-the result of practice and ex-
tensive reading-has certainly been cul-
tivated in this institution, and but few evi-
dences Of carelessness in the structure of sen
tences were; exhibited in any of the compo-
sitions If there was any marked deficiency.
it was in the style of delivery and Of reading,
which. in some cases, had not received all
the attention which they deserve from those
who wish to entertain a public audience,
most exacting in its demands.
The opening address by H. B. Brunot was
finely conceived and impressive in charac-
ter, but an orator in such circumstances
places himself in an awkward predicament
who has to refer to his manuscript for a
word. which prompter, near at hand.
should supply. The author of the disserta-
ton on american Democracy Mr.. Hogan,
INDUCED in an original vein of thought
which. in these days Of common places, was
truly refreshing. The idea that Americans,
in the mass, had only since the late war
begun to study the nature of their own in
stitutions, and understand the character Of
their own government, caused many sig
| nifcant and approving smile to play over
the countenances Of his hearers. A
poetic recitation-"Song Of Erin,' by
w. C. McCarty. which the reporter Of
the Times by misnomer calls - read
ing" was fine production, said to
have been written by the president Of
the college himself. Had Mr.. McCarty
put little more Of that native fire, which
am sure he possesses, into the delivery Of
this patriotic poem, every stanza Of it would
have kindled an irrepressible enthusiasm,
and added additional force to his admitted
grace. SIS the mind Of woman equal to
that of man p In the examination Of this
popular theme the object of Mr.. J. Curtis
seemed to be to convince-that Of Mr.. T.
Proudhomme toi ientertain-the audience.
Both of them succeeded in their design.
The champion of woman's intellect under
stood and handled his subject with mast
erly ability, while the advocate Of the un-
popular side Of the. question (Mr. Proud
homme) so presented it as not to forfeit his
character for gallantry.
The grafton by Mr.. G. S. Cookery re-
fected much honor on the mind and heart
Of that young gentleman. A poem. enti-
tied Daughters of the South by Mr.. w.
A. Elder. touched popular vein and was
encored. The diaiectical skill of the club
was brought out to great advantage in the
discussion of question which is destined
l fear, sooner or later. to shake this UAion
to its centre. The question was: ''Does the
present system Of government education
deserve more censure than praisel" The
question was decided in the affirmative by
majority Of the committee. DR.. d, K.
Whitaker. J. j. Foley, Esq, and Mr..
Flowers, of the Piceyune, invited
guests from this city. Tbeifrst affirmative,
by Mr.. j. L. lesson was an admirable
specimen OF logic and forible defamation.
The first negative, by Mr.. Fl. c. Burke,
was equally admirable in the tone of
thought and delivery. Mr.. Burke has only
to acquire more compass Of voice to become
in time a splendid orator. The second
affirmative. by Mr.. w. A. Elder, evinced
the hacd, strong. COMMON sense Of the
speaker, who has not, however, paid suffi.
aient attention to the graces of eloquence.
The second negative, by Mr.. r. FL. Tiernan.
was powerfully argued with great skill and
fullness of information. Indeed. each of
the several disputants was equal to the
occasion, and exhibited a thorough &C.
auaintaace with the character of educa.
rional establishments. both Of Europe and
America, and sustained their own respec-
tive views by authority Of the highest
order. DR.. Whitaker. in reporting the de-
cison of the committee, commended the
marked ability exhibited by each of the
contestants. and. in short speech Of five
- 80 oh