Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-05-14
rhe clnrhsrille Reaalng club.

udy nlgnJ IN May, at luc
of Mr.. VIM. Turnkey, on Commerce
street. The weather was not invit-
ing, and the postponement for the
Old Folks Concert, caused confu-
sion as to time. These causes affect
ed the attendance. 1t is best, how
ever, never to emphasize numbers
in estimating results. This was
one of the most enjoyable evenings
we have had, and l much regret
that all were not present to partici-
pate.
We have lecturers from abroad
(and pay for the privilege of listen
ing) whose efforts are inferior to
DIR. d. f. Wright's lecture before
the Reading Club. He called it a
"Post Mortem Examination OF an
Old Bachelors Heart" We were
never before present at an inquest,
and had supposed it to be an alto
gether sad affair, but in this we had
music, moonlight and flowers. As
a composition, it compares well, in
playful wit, humor, satire, ease and
elegance of diction, with Addison's
dissection of a "Beau's Head and a
Coquette's Heart" AS a lecture, it
was equal to DR.. Stoddard's famous
one on "Courtship and Marriage"
We could give it in e~rtenSO, but in
dulge half a hope that the Doctor
will consent to repeat it at some
convenient season. One of the
most enjoyable features in it, what
"Merry John Haywood" would call
an " interlude," was "The Sere-
nade," played by Prof. Emery and
sung by DIR. Wright. The after
talk between head and heart, or
sense and sentiment, showed the
hero of this sad story to be made of
sterner or softer stuff than the spec
linens of the genus homo we COM
monty meet, whose hearts are like
common china-they break, but can
be n1ended any number OF times.
Miss Wilson and Miss Baker en-
tertained with "a well executed in
strumental duet. The next reading
was by Miss Belle Keesee, IA new
member, and her first effort at en-
tertainment in the Club. She sue
ceeded admirably. She told IBID
dy's Troubles with a force and
naturalness which appealed most
touchingly to the Irish in my
nature, and which would have
moved even an impassive "Chi-
nee," fresh from ''tay box"
Miss Jennie Bailey prof. Emery
at the piano. then sang 1.-The Mar
quette Waltz" to the great pleasure
of all the company. DIR. Wright's
hero would have said of her all the
sweet things written of Mary Jane
Ianthe, Violet, Roselle and Marga-
ret, the pearl" The question pro-
posed by Mrs. Couts, some weeks
since-"Charlotte Russo" was then
called for. MI. j. w. Rudolph,
who was asked to lead in the dis
cussion, had understood that his
part of the work was to eat, and he
was reddy.
Some tempting descriptions were
given of the dainty dish, which so
whetted the appetite as to suggest
the hungry campaigner's order:
"Here, waiter, a dozen dishes or more,
Sure, these folks have never eaten before"
L came home hungry, and if such
a~ppetizing subjects are discussed,
shall have to take a Iunch-basket,
or ask the repeal of that bye-law
limiting the entertainment.
This discussion was closed with a
paper from the president, giving
origin and history of the words
Charlotte Russo.
Introductory to the discussion on
McCauley, Miss Nora Baker played
"Home, Sweet Home" The APP
pointed e3sayists were all absent,
so McCauley's favorite method of
passing the time was followed, viz:
talking.
This topic, McCauley, had been
continued from a former meeting,
at which an essay was read by Mr..
Rudolph and matter contributed
informally by other members, be-
sides several selections read from
McCauley's poems. The last paper
by the president touched upon
points not developed previously
McCauley, as a cOnversationaliSt-
as a humorist-hOw he bore defeat
satire on a country squire-his
hatred of mathematicS-lOve for
mother and sisters-old bachelor
entire devotion to literature. Our
first and last picture of McCauley-
a little boy, two years old, with a
book in hand-a man Of almost
th~reescore, dying i'll his library
with a book in hand.
The next author for discussion
Sir ThoS. Moore.
The Club will meet at Mr.. Sam
Stewards, third Tuesday night in
May. We be5peak a full attend
ance and ask all to add to the in
terest of the occasion. Come pre-
pared, whether appointed or not.
Historic Word-Ring-A fascinat-
ing theme for old and young, mar
ried and unmarried.
MRS. SUE f. MOONEY.
DIR. G. r. LEWIS, son of our fell