River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-06-22
Educational
II. =. BAKER. A. h, Editor.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT
Annual MestiRg Of the Normal Literary Society,
FRIDAY Evening, June 18th, 1876.

The President OF the society, Alex.
Moran, called the meeting to order.
Sec. southworth called the roll, to
which each one answered with SEN
timent.
The following is the programme of
exercises: Roll call, response by sen.
timent; music-anthem, Great is the
Lord, = c. w. Youngman, Ellsworth,
Conductor; opening address, S. A.
Farnsworth, River Falls; ESSAY,
Gems" Hattie Powell, River Falls;
defamation, ''Emmet's Defense" |.
n. Southworth, Mondovi; recitation,
"Queen Yashti," Estella Hanifn,
Grand Rapids; music, 'llountain
Echo" debate Resolved, That the
heroines of history are more deserving
OF admiration than the heroes; An,
B. 4. Cummings, Eau Claire, I. W.
Borum, Sandusky; Neg, j. w. Cor.
don E. d. Levings, River Falls; mu.
sic, 20, We Tears" essay, work and
Wait, Ida j. Bates, Amboy, Illinois;
defamation. Duties of American
Citizens" W. L. Brown, West Salem;
closing address, Alex. Moran, West %.
lem; music-anthem, "Joy to the
World" adjournment.
Miss Martha Balcom presided at the
organ, with easy grace. The musical
members of the society did the sing
ing. The fact that Prof. Earthman
had trained them, sufficiently midi
Gates the way in which the music was
performed, and the anthems rendered.
The taste displayed in the selection of
pieces, was in keeping with the rem
dering.
Mr.. Farnsworth' S address was con-
else history of the society. From it
we learned, that, like more preten-
tious bodies, they had tried a member
for bribery; but happily he was found
innocent by the investigating COM
mittee.
Miss Hattie Powell's essay was, in
the matter Of style, and the use of
classical, elegant English, one of the
most polished that we ever heard. II
was read very distinctly. The matter
was religious, imaginative, and showed
much thought.
Mr.. Southworth's defamation show.
ed that he has ability in oratOry. He
was animated in delivery, and correct
in the use of emphasis and infections.
Miss Hanlfn recited the story OF
Queen Vashti with good effect, and
spoke the spirited passages better than
a male speaker would have done.
The next piece of music contained
an echo, and it was very prettily per.
formed.
Mr. Comings then opened the debate
on the Affirmative. His chef points
were that woman's work is never
done. and that it Is hard for her to
rise above her sphere. He allud-
ed to the chef heroines of history,
from Jephthah's daughter and Lucre-
tia to Grace Darling. He spoke de-
liberately and with considerable dig
nifty, and showed that he would excel
in deliberative debate, more than in
addressing popular, mixed audiences.
His style is beyond his years, and his
ideas are clear. He surprised even
his friends, we believe.
Mr.. j. W. Gordon on the negative,
claimed that women deserve no more
praise than men, for given act; and
brought out few heroes, showing
their good traits at some length. lie
was a very ready, fluent speaker, and
abounded in gesture. He never hest.
tates for a word. lie would move a
mixed audience, or jury.
Mr.. 7. w. Borum on the Affirmative,
rallied Mr.. Gordon for his candid view
of the question, claiming that he fear
ed the curtain lectures of his spouse
50 much, that he dared not stand up
boldly and attack the historical hero
ines, but prudently argued both sides
Of the question, by turns. He claimed
that Washington's mother made him,
by her training, what he was, and also
reviewed the character of other he
roes. His voice is heavy, his manner
cool and he excels in sarcasm.
Mr. Ed. Levings' closing Of the de-
bate was a humorous affair. lie
claimed that the Affirmative were in.
spired by the presence of certain hero.
ines, and as Horatius rushed back to
his comrades, after he had done a
brave deed, so the gentlemen Of the
Affirmative, after their speeches com.
posed Of gallantries, with equal ardor
sought their seats, near those from
whom they expected their reward OF
smiles. His remarks were incisive
and his style condensed; his humor
a success.
The judges decided the question in
the Affirmative, two 20 one, upon the
weight Of argument.
Miss Bates essay showed the neces
sity Of patient labor, and the certain.
~ Of its reward. She illustrated the
topic by a few well.known characters.