Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-06-06
Literary Picnic.
journed

CLARKsBURG, June 3, 10.
Nc. Editor - On Monday last the Literary
Association of this place gave their first pic
mic and literary entertainment inlhe grove adj
jacent TO this village. Extensive arrangements
had been made 70. decorating and identifying
the grounds so as to present an attractive APP
pearance to the large crowd that was expected
to attend and participate in the entertainment.
The Committee of ladies, appointed 10 decor
ATE the stand and grounds, had made ample
arrangements for the occasion by securing a
bountiful supply of flowers, eyergrecus, etc..
including flags and banners.
By tNo clock the grove was filled with
carriages from all parts OF the county. The
occasion was enliveued with martial strains
by the Clarkshurg band assisted by Prof.
Wndsor's excellent organization Of vucalists.
Among the distinguished persons expected to
be present Hons. Montgomery Blair, Dowell
Darlington and L. b. Preityman were
conspicuous for their absence. Those in
attendance included many candidates for Of
flee aud other representative men from all sec
tons Of the county, and an unusually large
number Of ladies. OF the visitors Mr. G. F.
Purdum delivered very interesting address
Considerable Interest was manifested TO hear
the question for debate argued aud the seats
and stand were thronged to overfiowing, while
the carriages were formed in circle around
the inclosure presenting lively and pictur-
esque appearance, filled as they were with the
fashion and beauty Of the SURROUNDING coun-
try. pa
Tho question selected for debate was, care
the United States under greater obligations 10
her warriors than TO her statesmen ?" Col. T.
II. S. Boyd opened for the affirmative, sketch
ing what the warriors Of the country had ac-
compished from the inception and birth Of
the nation, commencing with their achieve
ments on the heights of Boston, the exhibit
tior of heroic valor on Long Island, thence
through the cotton fields of the Carolinas and
Georgia TO the surrender of CORVALLIS. in
referring to the late war he said, at has been
only fow years since the dark spectre Of iu-
ternecine war brooded over our country and
our fair possessions were filed with bitter dis
sentons and sectional differences, now there
was no North, no South, no East, no West,
but one united country, stretching from the
ice-bound shores of the st. Lawrence, trayeTs-
ing the great Middle States, thence through
the cotton fields and orange groves of the
South TO the Rio Grande, and from the broad
Atlantic TO the golden gates Of the land Of
0phir on the Pacific coast. Such things as
this c0nvinces me that the melancholy past
bad been forgotten, and annually when see
fair women and brave men gather around the
last resting place of the fallen warriors disrib-
uIing flowers and evergreen over their graves,
/ / feel assured that this exhibition of the love
and gratitude of the people for the departed
soldier was proof that must be convincing
that TO the warrior was due the deepest G rati-
tude."
He was followed by Judge ]. s. Belt, who,
in mastery effort claimed that the warrior
owed his existence to the Statesman, conse-
quently the gratitude Of the country was due
to the statesman. Then came Mr.. A. &. Mer-
riweather in the Affirmative, WIN. Watkins in
the negative, followed by l.. L. Rose, the peo-
pies attorney, who in an imprisoned speech
essayed TO prove that the warriors not only
deserved the gratitude ard respect OF the Ma
ton, but they also made history, and that
their memory was perpetuated in bronze and
stone, which are placed in our public hal ls
so that their mute images may speak to US and
recall their heroic acts aud deeds Of valor,
that we mig BIT live In free and independent
country. The rain which had been threaten
ing for some time commenced 10 fall causing
the audience to seek shelter in their vehicles,
| and continuing il was found necessary to ad-
journ for The evening and to continue the en-
tertainment over until next Saturday, June Z,
at o'clock, p. ~, when the acmainder OF
the speakers viii have an opportunity Of dis
playing their eloquence. Col Boyd and Judge
Belt have the closing speeches, W hen the ques-
ton will be given TO the judges to decide, and
il Is hoped that this yexed question, which has
agitated the community for months, will be
finally settled OBSERVER.