Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-12-20
NrNfx,EfssARx
o. 4ua BMovnm0 soCTkTT or THR wEsLEYAN
FEMALE CoIlEGE.

FEMALE CoILE0E.
Last evening. at the Wesleyan Female College,
the Browning Society of that Institution celebra-
ted their frst anniversary. The hall was hlled
with the Society's fFiende, not few bei0g OF el-
der years. NumerOoa evergreens decorated the
surroundings of the platform, while on the wall,
to the right were the words, "No step back WArdS,
and to the left, "BrOwning, 1873" In letters Of
gold. An anchor, formed OF burning jets OF gas,
was suspended from the ceiling. Miss Mary Rey-
bold, Of this city, presided.
At half-pdst' seven O'Clock, bev. John Wilson,
prealdent Of the college, announced that the exer-
clses OF the night were under the direction OF tho
Browning Society, that tie young ladies had ta-
ken enthe charge of the programme As they
were young and not a. much experienced in such
thlngs ~ were the more advanced young ladIes,
10 asked the audience 10 be attentive aud appre-
ciative, but not to indulge in any loud applause.
The reading of the Sslectiou, "Remember now
the Creator In the days OF thy youth, was we'll
done BY young lady, after which, "0ottschalk's
Last Hope" was we'll performed on the plano by
Miss Lillian b. Parks, of Penn Yan, N. Y. The
Secretary, Miss Ruth A. Day, Of Dover, Del, then
read the Secretary's report. 1t says that the So
ciety's origin may be dated the 18th Of December,
1872. There ore l32 volumes 10 tho library, and
2l active members. The Misses Bennett and
Cartwright then gave plano music Of SchUbert's
"MardiRFas QuAdrilles," which was followed by
an essay on "Induence OF Cheap Literature" by
Miss Angie Warren, Of this city. She said the
term cheap literature may be used with several
meanings; %literatuTe, as the beet OF thought or,
anything that ia written, whether good or not; or
books may be the meaning There was once q
time when books were extremely scarce and pur-
chaeea only at great price. During the Middle
Ages common people were wholly uneducated
and many persons of the highest rank and in the
most important stations were unable 10 read
Learning was chiefly confined to eclesiastlcs and
monks; with the art Of printing, books became
cheaper. Now, nothing Is more easily obtained
than books. Cheap literature was once used in
terms Of reproach, and vas applied only 10 nov
els-becAuse they were printed on cheap paper
Good novels now are as dear in price as any good
literature. Two hundred years ago newspapers
were unknown now they are 30 plentiful as to
constitute the cheap hteFatnle Of 1873. In Eng
land, the reading OF cheap literature has caused
rapid strides in the peoples Advancement. Cheap
hterature possibly contains evils. 1t Is said that
written words influence us more than spoken
words.
A solo. "When the Thorn is White with Bios
son." (Weber,) was sung by Miss Mamie h. Ss-
mans, Of OOHteaville, Pa. recitation, "NeW
Years EVe,sby Mss Florence Bonsall, of Phia-
delphia, Pa IpiUtpTed little girl vending matches
on eOld viueer nigati the sales were very small,
but little Gretchen saR, through Windows, happy
folks In hne and comfortable paTlors she sought
shelter in the angle Of two great houses, for he-
home was cold and desolate, without food or fire
she lit q few matches, bat the light was Of short
duration; she felt dreaming, and in the morning
was found cold and rigid. "Canadian Boat song y
(Aoore) was then sang by the Glee Class, assisted
BY Mr.. HsF. Rickels. An essay, "rhe Wise Man.
1Ime," by Miss Annie d. Johnsoa, Of Farming
ton, Del, pictaTed an sutumn. evening at sunset
l4th OF October, the anniversary Of the discovery
OF America hy Columbus; and, an old man with
houE-gtass anu Ocythe-by some called Old Father
Time-by otherS, The Wise Man. Time is the
only one Who knows the true history Of the world
The Mlsses 6mithers and Parks spoke dia-
logue, "Arehie Dean" The Glee Class, assisted
BY two geutl8men, sang Goodrant "Christmas
FalFies." after WAich, Miss Emma L. Cartright,
q AAaeA Chsnk, Pa, gave Smiths piano solo.
'Aarche heB TambOnrs." The Misses Revnolds
Christie, SmhAeD. Howell and Jump gave a cen
cert FecitatOns0s Barbara FFlotehie" Il related
70 4he rebel inRasion Of Frederick. Nd. The
Aissea kaufman andrSemAnB followed bv slnRiDg
"TWo, CopninA,R which wa onthnsiastlcalIy re-
eeived BY the audience and caused the fair ones to
be the recipients Of q number Of boouets A
wedding March" piano performance. by the
Misses Bennett Warner, and Howell, and the
vocal solo "WhAt the DaiSy said" Violstta,) BY
Miss Lizzie y. kaufman, Of Sheridan, Pa, con-
clnded the oBening's music.
Mia May Rey bold read an essay entitled, s.The
Spirit OF the Age" II said that every age had its
spirit, either OF Scientific research, var or plea
sure. That OF the XIXth century seems to be ex-
traVagAnee. financial troubles Indicate this
SOme oay "talk" v the spirit Of this age Talk is
heard In the cara at concerts Lectures In churches
IN fact wherever two persons are. Some talk 70
themselves when no one is present. But, the only
place where silence rslgRs is at Fnends' meettnRs
Few persons know just when TO talk or how 70
talk. The Idea that we must say something some-
times leads Us to say much Of which we are aftee
wards ashamed. 1hO weather Is generally first
hArped upon. How often q short sentence or ain
gle word has created hard feelings that have lasted
through life A word ftly spoken has been the
means of maAy good results. Incessant takers
are EaEely mHch OF anything else. They often
call upon imagiuation after the facts are exhaust
ed. II ts beat nOt 70 talk 90 much. The Bible
dlscounesnAneea t. HeW much the condition OF
socisty would be improved If children be taught
10 speak only sOmeahing worth talking about.
At the conclusion Of her essay, Miss ReyboId
thanked the audience for their attention. and
turning to her society, said few words regarding
ln organization for mutual improvement, and its
name being in honor of the poetess the late Eiiz
absth Browning.
At twenty-five minutes past nine o'clock the
exercises Wese finished