Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-25
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| FINAL CELEBRATION OF THE FAIRFAX LIT
ER.ARY SOCIETY. final celebration of the
Fairfax Literary Society Of the Episcopal High
School, last night was attended by large
number OF ladies and gentlemen, the school room
being entirely filled The exercises commenced
with prayer by Rev. II. Sutcr, of Liberty, Va
The president oil the Society, Mr. j. q. Dugan, of
New Orleans, III appropriate terms, introduced
Mr.. JOS. w. Ware, of Clarke country, who de-
ivered u vaicdctory on "Dccison' as an clc-
ment Of masculine character. The young ora
tor treated his suhie D very credltable man
ner, and the audience manifested their appre'
citation by hearty applause
| The President in neat speech then present.
ed the medal for the best debater in the Socle-
ty, to Mr.. L. Addison Perkins, OF Louisville, KY,
The remarks Of Mr. Perkins, in accepting the
medal, were eloquent and feeling, and deliver
cd with great ease aud grace.
| An intermSson of some minutes followed,
during which sweet music was dlscoursed by
the excellent band present from Georgetown.
Upon rc-asscmbling, the President Of the So
cicty, introduced as the orator OF the evening,
Mr. Linden Kent, Of this city, who proceeded
to deliver on ''The Dignity of Labor very
chaste and eloquent Grafton, of which the fol-
lowing synopsis will afford a very imperfect
idea
He stated that in complying with their kind
invitation the most appropriate subject upon
which he could address them commended it
self as being closely allied with their success in
life. He spoke OF the present as an age OF
Labor, aud Of great progress commended
! highly the achievements in the material world,
and the monuments of industry and skill which
it will b@queath to coming generations, but IN
the pursuit OF the prizes Of wealth, fame and
| L., RI 1
ed them against the dangers Of crowdDg with
in short period the labor of a life time, ctin
the examples of Clarke, Brooke and others as
the victims of over work He recognized, how
ever, the greatest danger OF swinging back to
the other extreme-that OF a radical conserva-
tism, amounting to sothfulness, and recommend
ed as the great desidcratum, habits of reason
able, diligent labor, controlled by prudence aud
discretion lie, however, treated the subject
as more directly applicable to that labor in
which as stndeuts they were engaged sought
to disahusc their minds of the prejudice with
which labor was often, viewed when compelled by
the necessities Of condition and station and hap
PLY illustrated the power 10 securing positions Of
respect and esteem. In comparing the fruits
Of genius and labor, he very much questioned
whether nature ever bestowed her gifts 80 lavish
ly upon Individuals as many thought, and that
il one mau was highly gifted above another the
rare gift consisted not in the power of accomp-
Listing ends without labor, but the cyceency Of
the attainment was the great capacity for labor
gift of idlcness that the most intense aud
untiaggiug toll and labor was that which
was exercised in the accomplishment of
original discoveries and Inventions The
labor of acquiring knowledge from a
comparison Of the teachings Of others was
not to be compared to that unccasing
toll required in the fields Of original thoug hit,
and yet he whose boIdDcss led him into the re-
gions Of uneXplOred science or upon some new
branch of uudcvclupcd learning, if his lahors
were successful, was hcralded to the world as
!; genius. The need Of his prasie was more
| exalted than nIen were accustomed to cOnccde
to labor ard they accounted for the brancy of
the achievements by the intuition of some
higher Intelligence. And so on FIR about an hour
did the orator continue to impress upon the
members of the society the great Importance of
earnest, constant, persistent labor, if they would
attain to any commanding position in this world.
This truly beautiful address was listened to
with marked attention by the large audience,
who frequently testified their appreciation of
its cloqucncc ~ hearty applause.
The very delightful occasion was graccd by
the presence of some Of Alexandria's fair
daughters, as well as the beauty Of the "Hill.
As a pleasing incident of the evening it may be
mentioned that Rev. VIM. n. Pcndlcton, late
General aud Chief Of Artillery in the Army of
Northern Virginia. was present and seemed
much interested 10 the different exercises.
At quite late hour the guests departed, all
expressing themselves as highly charmed with
| the evening $ entertainment.
|