Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-12-25

our town that the Woodstock Graded
and High School Literary Society would
have a public debate on Friday even
Ing last. we provided paper and pencil
and proceeded 10 the Hall. On arrlv-
inc at the door we were met by a very
polite gentleman who demanded # us IL
ticket. not having one, we endrav"red
IN exul,iu that being member of The
press. a ticket of admittance ought not
TO be required, that newspaper men
never paid to 90 anywhere aud seldom
paid for anything they bought, but
this did not seem to be satisfactory To
the door keeper aud he again demanded
cur ticket. We at last told him BY way
of bride that if he permitted US to
enter we would put his name in the
IEkALD-we were admitted.
The minutes of the former meeting
were read by the handsome secretary
amid great laughter occasioned BY
his witlicisms, and af.er IA long delay
the you'll full pr, sident announced the
question for debate, which was a
follows: Does mans intellectual
greatness depend more upon mental
endowmenls or individual exer,iOn:'
b fore the debate began ii committee
OF three gentlemen was appointed to
hear and decide the question.
The first gentleman who spoke was
,videnily OF the opinion that The COM
mittee had neither genius. upon which
he dwelt 50 much, hOr common stnse.
Tor he gave the definition Of each word
III the question. For twenty minutes
he entertained the audience by reading
an essay OF considerable inert.
Alter repeated calls from the pre'i-
dent the second speaker took .he floor.
rnis gentleman was evidently more III
tent on winning the favor Of tie la;'
sex present than on gaining the ques
ton, .or he addressed himself to The
ladies instead OF the committee. III
this he showed his good t,ste ii uot hiN
sound sense, for the gentlemen OF the
committee werewolf. not very goo"
looking, while the beauty of the lair sex
was conspicuous. The speaker mad'
some good hits and took his seat amld
great applause from the ladies.
The third speaker now took The tl'oi.
lie commenced his speech by drnyiH-
the assertion made by the gentleman
who had proceeded him. w: that all
persons were born equal in intellect.
On the contrary he argued that nalur
loved variety, that some persons were
born short and some long, some dwalis
and some giants () The gentleman ;
speech (Which was written and rlo>el,
r ADJ ave evidence Of Lrr at labor IN IT.
preparation. butt was Euch too len.
tly Tor the occasion and was for tia
reason not listened to very attcn,ivcl,.
During its delivery we were well pcli'd
by the ladies with paper wads and on
member of the committee took ON
plper aud began To read rur account oi
The discussion. At the conclusion @.
the speech. the gentleman was loudly
applauded. but we think it was bccau~'
he stopped speaking. rather than from
an appreciation OF his remarks. The
debate was then closed by wl
endorsed the views OF his colleague.
tina. all persons were born with Tie
same amount of intellect. hut. admi
ted that Intellect in different individual
could not be developed equally il tie
same direcuOn-lhat some were born
warriors. snme painters and s'me
street singe1S. Om observation cSnvn-
ces us that the latter is not true. "a
least we nave never been able To apprc
ciate ihlauulc mu,ic, and trOW the sup
pressed laughter which followed this
l., mark. we are Inclined to think til,
Audience were ofou opinion. At thr
conclusion of The debate the clairmaI
o. the committee read the following de-
cisiOn
Knowing the Ne.ative had tbs
str INCEST side, but ttnk n the Ailinra
tive made the ablest ar-uneut. ana
having a bass solo to aC,O npany Tia
musical voice Of one OF its members.
We The honary committee therefore de-
eide IN favor OF the Affirmative.
We are glad to learn that the sOclet'
is growing in members and interest.