Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-11-07

CELEBRATION OF ms FIRST ANNIyERsARy, LAST
EVENING.
The Webster Literary Society celebrated ite
first anniversary, last evening" and the entertain
ment was marked with hearty good cheer and
friendly feeling.
Arrangements had been made to celebrate the
anniversary in an appropriate manner, and a
varied programme was arranged. The opening
address by the Vice President Mr.. Craig, was
fresh and interesting. He looked back with
pride over the past year and stroye to encourage
the members to greater effort in the future.
Mr. Crippen's reading OF "lf we knew" showed
good judgment in the selection, and was read
with such feeling as to please all
MIR. IL. ID. Morrows defamation was deliy-
cred in straightforward manner and showed
preparation.
An original poem. by J. A. Sloan, made some
capital hits on the members, and WAS well re-
ceived
Mr.. W. D. Pyle's poem entitled "a Year with
the Webster was both touching and beautiful
and well deserved the close attention it re-
ceived.
The trial of Peter sloper, a dialogue, was gotten
of in good style, and elected much merriment.
ALI the participants seemed entirely at ease, and
especially was this the case with the Attorney,
Mr.. Marshall, and the Witnesses Msssrs. Pick
| els and Hizar.
At the close Of this literary programme, the
members proceeded to the saloon of MIR. Geo.
H. lpDhlsOus MltIt tutN ftBhltu tntluhtlNoH
with q supper gotten up IN his best style. For
an hour or more the members lost themselves
not in profound thought, but in most unseemly
eating, and the end and aim OF all present
seemed to be the slowing away Of the largest
quantity in the shortest time possible. When
all seemed satisfied, the members were again
called to order by Br. +. ii. Robinson, the
POSTMASTER, who stated that it would now be
in order to hear responses to the toasts.
The first called upon was the President, Mr..
T. nnl In rTl.s. .Ia.N q
''rhe Webster-What she has achieved" His
remarks were directed especially to the encour-
aging growth Of the Society, how it had devel-
oped both in members and intellectual matters.
Mr.. Downward, in a timely speech, answered
the toast, "Fhe City of Wilmington, -the Glaa-
gov of America
History was warmly eulogized by Mr. V. YAM
dever, and its use and beauty dwelt upon.
Mr.. +. R. DeVou, in his response to the LAD
ies-God bless them, made one of the finest
speeches oil the evening. IL was quite brief, but
50 pointed and well ordered as to receive the
favor OF all.
The toast Daniel Webster was responded
to by f. w. Heisier, who not only made de-
ightful speech, but delivered a finished and
polished Grafton that would have done credit to
| one of much ripper experience He reviewed at
length the life Of the orator iurist, and lawyer
| for whom the Society was named, and by hit
| stirring illusions to his conquests led many OF
| the members to resolve to wrestle more man
| fully IN the future
| Mr., Elliott was next called upon to respond to
| Agriculture, and his remarks, based upon eX.
perlence, were welcomed by the members, at
having special weight, and his quotation from
the Grangers' Song convulsed everybody witt
laughter.
In his response to the toast Marriage" Mr.
Conrad had the full attention of the members
and strove to show the solemnity of the step
which, once taken, cannot be retraced
"Our Future the closing toast, was respon
ded to by Mr.. II. L. Heisler, IN one of his happi
est efforts. He spoke of the work to be done
and urged npon the members the necessity OF
more earnest, honest toll, and he predicted 10
the Society many meetings of a similar pleasant
character.
We cannot desist from alluling to the man,
"oiterngs' which were rendered the speaker
at the close Of their remarks. Some OF thes
were strikiDgly unique. Altogether it was on
of the most pleasant occasions that we have eve
attended.