The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-29
The Celebration at Arbor Hill.

/ The Celebration at Arbor Hill.
When the people Of the Arbor Hill vicinl-
ty determine 70 givea public entertainment,
they always 90 at it with vim that COM
mands success, and every preliminary detail
that can possibly contribute to the end IN
view is carefully attended to. They leave
nothing to chance, but see to it that the
most minute arrangement is fully carried
out, and no possibility of failure enters into
their calculations. The result is that all who
attend, and especially those from town, feel
as. If they would like to take up permanent
residence there, and become an Institution
of a neighborhood that possesses so many
attractions, and accomplishes its undertak
ing with so much credit and so little diff
Guilty.
Several months ago 1t was announced that
On the occasion Of the fifth anniversary eel
ebration of the Jackson Literary Society OF
Arbor Hill. Joint discussion would take
place between the Mint Spring Debating
Club and the above named society. Friday
night last was the time determined upon.
Long before the hour announced for the
commencement of the exercises, the spacious
school house was densely crowded, and the
gentlemanly ushers and marshals, Messrs.
J. Fl. Bowman, F. B. Yates, L. S. Palmer,
C.P. Rosen, All. Towberman, j M. Yates,
W. Fl. Swartzel and j. S. Palmer, were
forced to exercise both wits and muscle in
order to discharge the difficult duties Of their
positions. Ladies and gentlemen for miles
around crowded in, and soon every seat and
almost every foot Of standing room was &C.
cupied, principally by ladies, whilst the crowd
on the outside, unable to.gain admittance,
would of itself have made large audience.
Looking from the rostrum, before the speak
ing commenced, the scene was an animated
one, for on almost every face intelligence
and refleme mt were plainly written, and
eagerness depicted. Each Of the societies
evidently had strong 'partizans, and party
feeling was at its flood. Many OF the ladies
held beautiful bouquets with which to reward
the efforts of their special favorites, and the
merits of the debate and debaters were
thoroughly canvassed before the Stonewall
Band had completed its Introductory piece.
At O'Clock the assembly was called to
order by A. G. Christian, who, as President
| Of the occasion, introduced the speakers in
| few we'll timed and suitable remarks. On
behalf of the Mint Spring Club. Mr.. j. w.
Churchman delivered beautifully conceiv-
ed and expressed Grafton on the s'Induence
0e s., Vho
pressive, and. clothed as they were in Ian
guage chaste and elegant, could not fail to
be appreciated by an audience so intelligent.
At the close, the orator was rewarded with
generous applause and a number of bou-
quets.
The question for the debate was then an.
nounced. ''Resolved, That men Of thought
are mere beneficial to the world than men
Of manual action" and the following gen.
tlemen as debaters Afirmative-W. G.
Abney, R. J. Dyche and D. Henkel, Of the
Mint Spring Club;-Nega tive-R. A. Pal
mer, G. G.. Hanger, and j. F. Hanger, Of the
Jackson Society.
Each of the speakers entered upon the
work before him with an earnestness that
meant business, and each was well equipped
for the fray. AS one listened to the debate
he was forcibly struck, not only with the
talent displayed and strong arguments adj
duced, but more particularly with the tan
gible evidences of those arguments which
confronted him. Mental grasp and physical
vigor were well represented in each of the
debaters, and showed how intimately the
two are blended and how inseparable they
are. At the close of the discussion, the final
Grafton was delivered by c. Il. Nader, of the
Arbor Hill Society, whose subject was ''Ideals
of the human mind.' 1t was one OF the
handsomes addresses we have ever listened
to, filled with imagery of rare beauty, and
model of rhetorical excellence.
The judges elected to decide the question
were BE-. Hailmen, Esq, of Arbor Hill, and
John Towberman, Esq, of Mint Spring,
with A. C. Gordon, of Stanton, as umpire.
After consultation, majority of the judges
decided in favor of the negative, nd the de-
cision was announced by A. C. Gordon in q
handsome little speech in which he compli-
IuCutCu SpCdhClS dllu AuUlCuCt3 duQ tx.
pressed his qualification at the pleasure af-
forded. Il
After the decision was rendered, Mr., Tow
herman, Secretary Of the Mint Spring Club,
gracefully acknowledged the defeat, and
challenged the victors to another contest to
come off at Mint Spring. He was replied to
by Mr.. J. F. Hanger, who stated that the
challenge would be considered at regular |
meeting of the society. The audience was |
then dismissed with music by the band, |
which had from time to time interspersed |
the proceedings with its choicest selections,
and so ended one of the most pleasant and |
enjoyable OF entertainments.
Before the band was permitted to leave,
its members were called to partake of an ell
egant supper which had been prepared for
them, and number of the visitors were in
vited 10 the hospitable table of Mr.. C. T.
Palmer, where everything that could tempt
the appetite was provided In abundance, and
it is unnecessary to add that full justice was
done to the rich viands.
Items from Waynesboro.