The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-12-26
W.ia.n a n De.,orratic l,IroraIe.


THK nRoWNIS0 ASSIvKRs,HN At WESTERN NARY.
LAND cOiLrGE--A DECIDED sracrs-A PLEASANT
kNENiSo-IAlENT, VII And BEATTY.
Providence has east our ot 10 age 81 laiensc IN,
itlicclnai activity and prugfpS< And rapid and
cheering as Is the maTcll of Improvement trro isnu
lcAiureotl n0re prominent none more substantially
beneficial, than the great awakening the subject
Of Female E,tueation. would not iinder.vaine Inc
utility OF steam presses and their products, OF rail
roads and electric wires but believe that the houI
which opened % woman the higher walks OF knewl
edge which gave her access our colleges. univer
stiles and plofessOuS will SOME time Be regarded
the dawn u new era IN the history Of free invcst
CATION and enlightened thought that whom the grca
musterr0ll Of modern evilycn shall be called over
by ntnre historians. the influence Of woman thus
educated will occupy oeontemptihle position, such
iamy faith and when lheard that literary society
OF young ladies at the college which crowns The
eminenee a. one end of this pleasant little city
over the community, had invited the public q
spend an evening in pleasant Intellectual commun
ion with them no one reioiced morc fervently than
l. and no one Determined with more alacrity TO &c,
cept the invitation. Accordingly, on the evening
announced-the 18th insiant-I wendell MY way u
the college. and although the hour was early. tho
chapel was already rapidly filling. The hum ol
many voices the eager, expcctnnt faces the polite
and busy nsher and the occasional sight Of an anx'
tain, all carried back, In fancy to the days OF
long ago when the silvery locks that cluster round
my forehead now werellketh the raven sshining wing
firm, when In fact In the days of hopeful youth Imy
self was stu struggling for college honona and fellow
cars Suddenly = heavy tread sounded along The
hall, and on looking around behold double file oil
young men, distinguished nom theothers by badge
of some description advancing up the aisle This a
polite little gentleman whom tOok to be student in
formed me was the Irving Literary Society. lie also
said there another male society called the Web
ster. but that the memheu Of Il had not seen IL %
come IN 4 body. But a truce 10 preliminaries The
curtain slowly rose, and all noisy tongues were
and ali hearts delighted by the brilliant blaze OF
beauty that burst upon our vision The opening
say ~ MIS- Jennie starr was sketch q Mrs klEa.
poctcss, afler whom the society Is named This
sketch was simple chnste and beautiful and entirely
lions OF 80 many young ladies' hope viii not say
too much II pronounce Miss starr star" Mis-
Allie Ernest read a humorous selection about That
New Organ 30 Admiralty that cannot trust myself
TO speak Of Il at length lest be accounted enthus-
aste. Let this suffice her voice we'll pitched
her enuneiation distinct her gestures express
i've and her whole manner 30 natural that for once
laulthnders were at fault IAsdth doomed" as re-
hearsed BY Miss Martha Smith, and The Face
against the Pane" as read by Miss Kittle Noel were
executions of which any society might be prond.
congratulate these young ladies on having made
selections 50 well adapted to their peculiar talents
The excellence OF their intonationS the ustneSs OF
their emphasis and the pathos OF their voices made
Us not only hear but fed the concentrated agony and
LOFTY heroisin expressed In the former and the wall
Of anguish that rang out from the latter which stl
rings IN our ears In the amusing drama entitled
ms Willis VIII. Miss Ada starr as the little ser
want girl, was inimtablc; Miss Nichols as a sensible
lady OF wealth, had all necessary dignity, hrinness
and forbearanee; Miss Nansant as Rachel !" was an
admirable Ood-m0ther; and Misses Armstrong and
Noel represented 10 perfection the fashionable oics
the exfrayagant aflectaton, and the senseless alb
suntties OF purse proud aristocracy. Mis- May
Reese, scarcely more than twelve gained credit and
loud applause by her excellent recital Of Annie and
Nillies Prayer poem so long, that 10 memorizc II
was considerable task. yet 80 perfectly committed
and 50 agreeably spoken, that no noon lcft for
criticism. In the last reading although the selec
tion,a Dutch buresque on Anthonys Grafton over
Armstrong displayed what she seemed TO me al no
pains to make manifest Wig: that she is very good
elocutlonist Though disposed TO condemn the
piece could not but praise the reader. But the
audience seemed to enjoy II 50 heartily, and
applaudcd II 50 vigorously, | must not be cap
ions., have reserved the three essays til the
last, hoping that thus might be able 10 write OF
them more fully than otherwise and set forth their
merits as they deserve. But rs have already writ.
L was original instructive and entertaining Of Miss
Hughes on 'SchOoldays," II filled our minds with a
Hood OF recollections Of Youths happy hours and of
Miss Billiards. on "The Old and the New Yoar" the
conception was beautiful and the execution not les
so would be unjust to merit II / failed 70 make
seelal mention OF We beautiful vocal solos by Miss
and plaintiyc, tho other full. free and gushing
They have, welltraincd ands well controlled vote
es. Several hne instrumental pieces were also
well rendered The ladies received numerous forai
offerings books and cards which testified as well as
The frequent applause that greeted them that their
not 10 be 4 criticism Il has been written merely 70
express the pleasure experienced by hoary headed
stEistI III literary entertainment which was. TO
say the least far above the average One very mark
cd Improvement upon most things OF this kind was
the dtstinctness with which every word was uttered
The ladies made themselves heard all over the room
which is rare thing. And gentle reader, TO they
all things thus handsomely in Maryland9 Did Il
ever occur to you how much associations like this
are doing for soceiyl Did You ever think how
much the institution which fosters them Is doing for
the community How ii is diffusing a more li6emi
culture, how IL Is eevating the standard Of taste
now II IS tnstructing and purifying the people9 II
not, you have food for reflection And then did You
ever ask younelf-is the State Is the county, max
ing suitable efforts to repay the college for all this
Have We sent every available student have we sent
every available dollar TO its aid Iste city Of West
minister. SO peculiarly blessed by the benign iniiu-
encc OF this institution, doing all II can 10 speed ID
progressI II may answer these questions, fear
not. For have been informed that the college Is
groaning under heavy burden Of debt Can Il Be
possible that the people are so blind 10 their own
interest ~ 70 permit thing vital TO their pros
perity and happiness necessary TO the culture and
Of their children suffer for the bread
Of life, when they have means, and TO spare That
this may soon be changed is the ardent hope OF
SEMEN