The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-29
LANCASTER.


Correspondence of the Herald
LANCASTER, March 20, lSs2-0n yester-
day the weather was clear, bracing and de-
lghtful, and the regular monthly exercises
at The Lancaster Masonic institute at
tracted u large crowd OF visitors.
At O'clock p. m. the literary society was
organized with Mr.. Frank Rawins in the
chair, and Miss Hughie Fitzsimmons act
ing as secretary. 1t was then announced
that the house was ready for Business, and
the exercise of reading being the first thing
in order, Miss Minnie White, u young lady /,
10 years of age, as fresh as u rose, as pretty
as a peach, and as fair as loves young
dream, took the stand and read piece oil
poetry, which was selected with admirable
taste and Judgment, and rendered with
sudii exquisite skill, and in a
tone OF voice SO distinct, musical ana fault
less, rs to elicit suppressed murmur
OF applause, which followed her to her seat
from all parts of the building.
Defamation being the next thing in or
der, Messrs. Walter Beasley, James DEAN,
Orlando Caldwell, aud Frank Mollett sue
cessiyely took the stand, and with much an
1mation and spirit delivered the speeches
which they had 80 long and faithfully been
engaged in committing TO memory.
The reading of essays being the next ex-
erGlse on the programme, Miss Addie
White, one of the loveliest and most highly
intellectual members of the school, came
forward and read an original production
upon the subject " lie sure you are right,
and go ahead" This essay was expressed
In chaste, elegant, ana beautiful language,
ald was full of strong masculine
thought and valuable suggestions,
and was listened to with delighted
attention by the entire audience. She was
followed by Misses Clara Porter, Eta
Floyd, Sallie Newton and Alice Halter
each and all of whom distinguished them
selves greatly by their excellent and admir-
able compositions.
The debate was next announced, and the
question selected for discussion was as fol-
lows to-wit-" Resolved, That the land
exhibits greater wonders than the sea -
Messrs. Scott Nance, w. l.. White, Ed Me-
Eluraight and others participated actively
in the debate, and after fierce and des-
perate conflict, which lasted about fifteen
minutes, the smoke of the battle began to
clear away, and the sepulchral gloom was
broken by a still small voice from the chair,
which said II give the victory to the
sea. +"
But the last, except one,
ana perhaps the most celebrating,
exercise OF the evening was the reading of
the Monthly Literary Magazine edited by
Miss Willie Lacy and Mr., James Porter.
Miss Lacy is as bright as sunbeam and her
mind a caskct of intellectual Jewels, which
glitter aud sparkle in every production of
OF her pen and hence the department over
which she has control was replcte with
flashes ofgenuine wit, lifclike and humor-
Gus sketches, caustic and scathing criti-
cisms, literary boquets, made of the choicest
tiAWnrl nj fancy nnni ~ ahnll II iona npitu,,h.
anagrams, and samples of every species of
literature, from the bad pun" to the
loitiest plateau of science Many of the
pieces which she read weree appaudcd to
the echo, and no one contributed moro
than she did to the enjoyment OF the even
ing.
Tho last exercise was the dialogue
between the old bachelor who
had advertised for u wife, and
tne female respondents, young
old aud widowed, who came TO visit and
comfort him in his distress. Ed. Clark
represented the old bachelor and Miss
Maggie spruance the widowed applicant
Tor his hand, and Miss Laura Perry the
successful applicant, and the whole scene
was intensely ludicrous and amusing and
occasioned many outbursts OF daughter and
applause.
Mrs. w. Il, Clarke, who has been absent
many months visiting relatives in Ken
lucky, returned to her home yesterday,
reaching 1t about dark, and was most
agreeably surprised TO find 1t clcan.swept
and garnished, the windows brilliantly II.
Illuminated, a bountiful supper prepared
and In waiting, and host of warm and ex-
pectant friends ready to meet and TO greet
her as she arrived upon her own threshold.
Mr. H. g. Thurmond, brother of the
late Judge J. NJ. Thurmond, is at present
SOinurninn In our inwn