The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-14
Scene a, Female College.
Editors Of the IntellIgencer


In your issue Of the 18th instant Is con.
tanned an editorial under the above head.
ing, in which you describe visit of two
Friends (QuAkers) to the Female College,
You also state at length some facts In re-.
gard 10 what those eccentric gentlemen
said by way Of lecturing the young ladies
Of that institution.
Now while l am in no way responsible
for what you chose to say concerning the
style of the friendly speaker upon that
occasion, yet l am interested in having
the facts as they were substantially stated
in your editorial placed before this COM
munity in no unmistakable light. l shall
for that purpose refer to an article signed
by one w. II. Morton, which appeared in
the 1NTELLIoENcER Of yesterday. The
writer Of that article seems to be con-
cerned lest the institution with which he
Is connected should suffer from your rep
reservations, and endeavors therefore 10
avoid the force Of the facts as they have
been stated. As was q modest actor in
the scene described, I feel interested in
having the public know that my part was
not altogether gratutitous, but was pro-
voked by direct assault from Asa Bran.
son, "the speaking member Of the firm" ,"
as your editorial has it I was invited
into the audience room Of the college for
the purpose ol hearing Friend talk, II
perchance the spirit should move him to
utterance. For you must remember that
our Friends never presume to say any,
thing upon their own responsibility, but
always wait the option Of spirit which
seems peculiar to them as q religious peo.
pie. What that spirit ia we sinners have
no way Of ascertaining, but must accept
1t as one OF the mysteries OF Godliness." !"
However, the spirit upon this particular
occasion was very accommodating, and
allowed our friend Branson q free and
full utterance Of his pent up indignation
against the Vanities Of life in general, and
against the opera, the theater and the
plano In particular. This was amusing
to all present, and excited laughter from
the Faculty and visitors, and the young
ladies almost split their sides with q style
Of subdued levity very commendable to
their self.control and q compliment To
their home training, The young ladies
did not behave "unseemly," nor did your
article in any phase bear such coloring.
Friend Branson, however, was not pleased
with the seeming absence Of solemnity,
and abruptly changed his style to that Of
q persecuted Saint. He said, "Yes, you
may point the finger Of scorn at me you
may tsunt me; but can bear all for the
sake of the Master" He here quoted,
BLESSED are they who are persecuted for
righteousness sake, for theirs 10 the King.
dom o. heaven" with the evident inten-
tIon OF applying the quotation to Friend
Branson, whose body the speaker in
hablted. lie then referred to the vanity
Questionable dress, and apparently would
have US all habited In the Christian Ssrh
in which he was encased.
Now as to the whole performance I
have simply to say that 1t was Character
lied by a degree Of blgotry and audacity
which ! have never before Witnessed. L
was direct insult TO the institution
which has as one Of It's principal features
instrumental music: 0 direct insult To
the parents Of the young lady pupils,
who are supposed to be competent direc.
tors in the matter OF educating their
daughters: o direct insult to every
minister present and an iLnposition upon
good manners and the commonplace de-
cencles Of civil society. ~
These things might be excusable In q
young and inexperienced man, but II Il
not 10 be overlooked when coming from
an aged and experienced minister. /
therefore saw proper to say some things
In defence Of what all Christian denomi-
nations excepting the Frlends) counten-
ance and sustain as an essential element
in refining and cultivating society. I said
nothing OF o personal character, nor did /
use one offensive word. I simply called
their (the Frtends) attention to some OF
the events in the life Of Christ, as con-
trasted with the austere and ascetic life
which John ltyed, and recommended to
them the sunshine AZ Nell ag tha ahaAoyv