Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-18
Local News.
GUILDHALL.

north and two South-rendering the
travelling public all the accommoda-
tons that can be desired. We are
pleased to notice that the trains,
especially those connecting with the
G.. I. R., are generally well filled.
DEBATING SoCIETIEs.-The Guild
hall Debating Club held its last meet
ing on Friday evening, Jan. 10, the
question for discussion being: "Re-
solved that the annexation of the
Canadas to the United States would
be mutually beneficial to both coun-
tries" The discussion was maintain
ed by Messrs. Thyng, Chase and
T. II. Carbee upon the affirmative, and
by Messrs. Mackle, NJ. D. Carbee,
Holmes and Bates upon the negative.
The evening not affording sufficient
time for the discussion of the question
in all its bearings, it was made the
special order for the next meeting, to
be holden on Friday evening, Jan. II.
There appears to be an increasing in
trest in the meetings of the club, and
the school room was found hardly
spacious enough for the accommodation
of the audience. The value Of the in
fuence of such exercises in any vii
lage can hardly be over-rated and we
are pleased to see the interest mani
tested by the older class of citizens
in this vicinity, in the maintenance
and proper management Of these dis
cussions. AS a means Of dissemina-
ton of useful knowledge they are
certainly entitled to consideration.
The debate awakens an interest in the
minds of all who attend, and through
the spirit of inquiry thus induced, va
riedfacts nototherwise likely to engage
our attention are broughtto our knowl-
edge. They serve to give to the
speakers confidence in their own abil-
tiles and practice in the arrangement
and expression Of their ideas. They
profitabIy employ the time of many
who otherwise might allow it to go to
waste or use it for purposes worse
than waste. They offer to the young
a means of becoming accustomed to
public speaking in their youth, and
thus being prepared in many cases
for the exigencies Of after life. They
cultivate taste for literary pursuits,
desirable in all, particularly in the
young. They are school to The Judge
ment of the hearers, preparing their
minds for an intelligent analysis of
any question within the scope Of their
understanding and knowledge, by a
reasonable consideration Of it in all
its bearings. When properly con-
Quoted they familiarize the audience
with the forms of parliamentary pro-
ceedings and in measure prepare
them for the duties Of legislators.
They render people better prepared
to meet and judge intelligibly of the
political questions of the land, in the
various forms in which they may be
presented, since they induce habits of
Independent thinking. When conduct
ed in right spirit, they are the mean
of pleasant associations among neigh
bors and friends, and unite, in closer
bonls of fellowship, communities and
neighborhoods. They are the same
means of rational and profitable en-
ioyment afforded in the cities and lar
ger villages by the eminent lecturers
of the day, with this in their favor,
that no expense attends them, and
they may be held in villages too small
to warrant the expense Of hired lee
turers. Therefore we say to all COM
munities having such organizations,
support and encourage them by your
attendance at their meetings and to
those not having them, organize at
once and proftably and pleasantly
spend one evening of each week dur
ing the present winter, in attendance
upon them!
Some seventy-fve horses and an
equal number Of men are engaged in
numbering in this vicinity. The gen.
tlemen representing the Turner's Falls
Lumber Company make their head
quarters at the Essex Hotel in this
place and are making many friends
by their courteous bearing and gentle
manly demeanor.
We call attention to the saw mill
and waterpower advertised in another
column. From our own knowledge of
the thrifty activity of the village Of
West Charleston, we have no doubt
of the value of the property for