The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-23
"The Present Condition OF Society

The Wsverly Literary Society met last
night in Weisel Hall aud presented to
their assembled guests long, varied and
most agreeable programme. A choicer
and better audience could not have been
gathered together; most OF the young
people and some OF the old, of the first
class families in town were present. The
room was crowded long before the time
came for the beginning of the entertain
ment, and the merry, quick wltted daugh'
tiers OF Eve chstted with their 6edur cGU.
dLitrS on multitude of topics. What he
heard, reminded the reporter Of Pragds
description OF the scraps OF conversation
heard ut the Derby.
"And then the talk on various themes
veritable Babe.
With scandal, gossip, query, teens
That Lady Dash'-That Mabel
'Eloped you said'-'Ah we'll you know
THE brown colt'-'keeps her car
.VIenna'-'saw her years ago-'BelIe
Berkeley'-'What marriage"
Presently Josie Kramer struck up
lively air, and at its conclusion Mr..
Archie Paxton gave "a Swel's Solilo.
GUY on War" 1t was in the Dundreary
style, and was q success. Mr.. Paxton
did not attempt too much, did not pro.
long his soliloquy until it became bore,
but made it short, spicy and funny.
Mr.. f. z. Jepson then read an essay
called "From Olympus to Hades." The
paper was scholarly one, tracing the
tall of famous nations and individuals,
together with the causes which brought
about the same. The delivery was
little monotonous, owing TO the fact that
the same tone of voice and emphasis
were preserved to considerable extent,
but the subject matter demands
praise, both in the choice
of material and its arrangement.
"Scot and the veteran" by Mr.. s. G.
Wilson, was well rendered. 1t was
touchlngly delivered in pleasant voice,
and was we'll received. Mr.. j. +. Days
essay "About Boys" was bright, spark
ling description Of the sorrows and joys,
the trials and pleasures OF boyhood in
contrast with those Of, girlhood. To
speak candidly of the essay, we would
say that it had no fault except It's length.
Ii the same material, written in the same
style. had been compressed into two
thirds of the space it would have been
better. We do not say this with de-
sire of being hyper-criticsl, but simply
offer it as advice for an intelligent and
pleasing writer to consider.
Mr.. Z. Lsrkin recited stirring poem
by one of Irelsnd's poets, whose
martial verses resemble IN their
ring, Macauley's best battle pieces.
1t was called "The Battle Of FontenOy,'
and told in well chosen language the
story of that famous battle, and how the
Irish exiles retrieved the fortunes of the
French army. Mr.. Lsrkin's voice and
delivery are both capital, and when be
closed he WAS greeted with hearty APP
plause.
THE Lessons of the Revelation and
the TH enty. second" was the subject OF
q talented Grafton by Mr.. John o. Pen
dleton. The orator was somewhat
spesd- esgle once or twice, but taken
As whole, it was the best production
of the evening in point of eloqence. Mr..
Pendleton is = fine speaker, aud one who
can be listened 10 with pleasure.
a debate then took place on the ques.
ton: Resolved, That the present con-
dition of society is 10 be deplored.' The
Affirmative side was taken by Messrs. II.
T. Black and Z. r Dunlap, and the
negative by Messrs. II. b. Holiday and |
Frank Stanton.
Space will not permit Us 10 describe the /
particular merits of each argument but |
we can ssy truly thst seldom hiss better !
conducted or fsirer debate taken place |
among amsteur speakers IN any city. |
The points were we'll brough. forward,
closely argued and all weak spots in the |
argument skilltully hidden by brilliant
metsphoricsl reasoning. Mr.. Dunlap |
q little untimely warmth when !
speaking OF politics, but he was evident !
ly led 70 do this BY zeal for |
his cause. The judges decided I
the question in favor OF those taking the |
negative side. After this sn impromtu /
hop wss arranged and kept up several |
hours. Among those on the floor were I
Misses Ada Black, Minnie Black, Ada |
Evans. Florence Wilson, Jessie Wood !
ward. Jennie Bailey, Joe Eof, Anna Mil I
lef. Jennie Miller, sue Linch, Lizzie {
L.zier, Jennie hupp, Dora Hildreth, !
Anna Chapiine, Matte Hubbard, Messrs.
j Harvey, s. Hszlett, McNechen, E.
Oglebay, G. Reede, II. Black, j. Dunlsp,
Harry McLure, Z. Pierson and many |
others