The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-09-17
g. ". l.. =.

This society, (the Grass Widowers Lamenta-
ton Society," held its first meeting one day last
week and is now fully organized. The proceed
ings of the meeting although OF nature strictly
concerning only the members Of the society,
may not be lacking in interest to others, and rs
there is nothing in the objects or proceedings of
the society which will not bear the strictest in
ves.igation, we have been permitted to extract
for publication some portions Of the proceedings
The meeting having been called TO order by
one of the gentlemen present. Mr.. A, Mr. B..
who was supposed to be the prime mover in the
matter was requested TO state the objects of the
proposed society which he did in the following
touching and appropriate address
Mr.. BIS Address.
{ Fell0c M0urners:: We are met together in
solemn cOnclave to organize a society the like of
which has never before been known in this com
munity. No one will be eligible to membership
unless the partner of his joys and sorrows, in eth
er words, his better half" is of on pleasure
excursion, leaving her hapless victim to fill the
resounding arches of their mutual dwelling place
with his bitter cries ofanguish. This is imperative
The principal objects of the meetings of this
society are to extend 10 each other our mutual
condolences in the great affection which is upon
US. The rules of the society should require each
individual member 10 pledge himself to visit
and relieve the respondent, to sympathize with
the heartbroken to set his face against the outer
world of happy husbands whose wives are shed
ding sunshine throughout their blessed homes,
and to discountenance and repudiate all attempts
i -
This brilliant effort was received with cheers,
followed by groans; the cheers representing the
sympathy of those present with the sentiments
expressed and the groans signifying deep sense
of their own wretched condition.
:. Mr.. G. moved that Mr. A. continue to preside
until permanent organization was effected and
that the chair should appoint committee Of
three to report permanent organization, in &C.
cordance with the statement made by Mr.. B., to
include a constitution and bylaws, and nomi-
nation for permanent officers Of the society.
which prevailed and the committee was APP
pointed accordingly. Their report which was
made after few moments delay, was received
and adopted and the committee discharged, and
the meeting then proceeded to elect officers, all
of which proceedings, being of little public
interest we omit
During the absence of The committee Mr. D.
was invited by the chair to address the meeting
upon such subject as he might select, which be
did as follows
MR.. D's SPEECH.
| Dear Friends desire, before attempting to
address you on the subject of Locking up at
Night" which have selected, to give expression
to the deep and solemn satisfaction feel in con-
templating the benefcent purposes of our pro-
posed society 1t was happy thought, Gf one
suffering under the burden of the wretched con
dition We are in can be said to have happy
thoughts) to institute retreat an asylum, so 10
speak, where We who are set apart from our fell
low-men by a peculiar affection may meet to-
gether, unseen by eyes profane, and pour out our
several tales Of woe to sympathetic ears We
should appreciate this blessed privilege, in pro-
portion to the peculiar domestic surroundings Of
each individual member, and esteem 1t a means
of great and inestimable comfort to know and feel
and feel for, each others trials and experiences
during the awful and humiliating ordeal through
which We are passing. There Is q good old
saying to the effect that Misery loves company"
which should be our watchword and our shibbo-
leth, and there Is a verse somewhere q can't
quote the authority just at this momeni,) that
says: Teach us to feel another's VICE." etc.,
which, if we only had tune for, we could ap-
propriately sing at our meetings as part Of the
regular exercises. But the most important order
of business should be the minute and circumstan-
stantial relation of our several experiences during
the season OF our tribulation, accompanied by
suggestions for obvating the many difficulties
and perplexities which surround us; and this
brings me to my subject Of " Locking up at
Night"
Locking up the house at night, gentlemen.
has with me proven one Of the most -. Here
the speaker was interrupted by the return of the
committee, and the consequent proceedings men
toned above. and he modestly retired, promising
to continue his remarks at some future time.
After all formalities were complied with, and
the organization perfected the eralindividuals
present were invited to come forward, one by
one, and sign the roll. each being Intercepted by
the President. as provided in the by-laws, in or
der TO establish his claims TO membership.
This part OF the proceedings occasioBed much
discussion and difficulty, especially h deciding
upon the claims Of two or three applicants whose
peculiar surroundings made Il doubtful whether
they were eligible or not. and we therefore post
pone the publication Of this most interesting por
ton Of the minutes until later issue.
NJ N -~A