Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-12-29
w. M. A. Entertainment.

| society Is an institution among the pupils, ant
is conducted by them. They deserve grea
credit for taking upon themselves the eXtrs
labor of preparing for the entertainment
| The room was smsll, and a limited humbel
of invitations were given %out-ju>t engugh u
insure the house from being overcrowded
The audience was an appreciative one, belns
composed principally of patrons ofthe school
The exercises were open by prayer oI
Elder G. 9. Blackwell. Then came a muslca
selection by the orchestra, which is composed
as follow: Willie Zeiler, Ed. Gladish, Z. ii
Royle, Robt. Smith, Willie Stewart ant
George Kriehn. The music was very good
and was quite creditable to the young musi'
clans.
Mr.. VIM. j. Howe, president of the societ.
delivered q short address of welcome. Al
the Intelligencer has always said and done
all 1t could for this institution, we hope WI
shall not be misunderstood if we take thu
liberty of criticising somewhat, at the same
time bestowing praise where it belongs
Fulseme fattery of the whole entertainment
would only weaken the praise Of the deserv
ing. The president spoke too rapidly, ant
seemed q little nervous. His ideas wert
good, and we know him to be a good speak
er, but on this occasion he did not do him
self justice. As a presiding officer we coult
find no fault with him.
Song, Golden Time,' bv the 'Boys." Tit
"boys" were Prof. Payne, Messrs. Ed Ry'
land, NJ. B. McClelland, Thos Hall ane
James Whitsett. They sang together yer!
we'll, and the parts were generally we'll sus'
tanned, though an occasional weakness coult
easily be detected. They had only practicet
together for a few days. Miss Tonic Rylan'
presided at the organ, and gave perfect salts
faction.
D~ebate-"Ought one ever to marry fol
Money! Affirmative, Messrs. Ed. Rylant
and Thos. W. Hill negative, Messrs.S. N. Viii
son and Lee Davis.
The debate was opened by Mr.. Ryland
and though he had the unpopular tide Of thu
subject, he handled it with skill, and present
ed many truths to support his argument
His delivery is excellent, gestures graceful
and voice strong and under good control
| We were surprised to hear such strong argu'
ments on that side of the subject.
Mr.. 8. n. Wilson then led off on the mega
tive. He knew he had the strong side, ant
had not studied his points as we'll as his oppo
nent. His address was apparently made
from notes, and showed q very fair power O.
debate.
Mr.. Thos. Hill appeared on the affirmative
side. His address showed that he had eX'
pended much thought In writing, and hao
not practiced on its delivery. he was moi
familiar enough with it, and often had to refer
to the manuscript, and could make no ges
lures. The article was well composed, and Il
it had been well read or well spoken. would
have carried much more force.
Mr.. Lee Davis then took the 1oor on the
negative side of the subject, and in few wei
chosen and well-delivered remarks captured
the sympathy of the audience. His gestures
are graceful, and his speech showed careful,
thought, and our only criticism is, that he
spoke a little too fast.
Mr.. Ryland was then allowed to close the
debate. He did it In handsome style.a nd tore
to pieces some Of the arguments Of his oppo'
nents. While making his strongest points
we could see in his face that he did not be-
Iieve what he said, and occasionally q broad
smile would light up his face. Could he
have retained = solemn visage, his speech
would nave been irresistible. Perhaps we
are not expected to decide this question.
but, while we believe with the negative, we
must say the affirmative made the best de.
tense of their position.
Song, '.Upidee," by the "Boys." This was
not the most musical selection that could have
been found, but it was fairly rendered, con-
sidering the circumstances, and the "Boys'
were rewarded by an encore.
A recess of ten minutes was given, after
which the orchestra played one of theil
sweetest selections, n it was we'll played.
"The Smack in School," defamation, by
Mr.. NJ. B. McClelland. He has a fine appear
ance on the rostrum, agood, strong voice, but
is not entirely free from the common habit Of
dropping his voice at the end of the lines
Practice will overcome this in time.
"Horatius at the Bridge" defamation BY
Mr.. Jas. A. Quarles, jr. He is an earnest
speaker, and seemed to feel the force of his
words. He has a fine appearance, a good
voice and graceful gestures, but was no
familiar with the piece, and required prompt
ing, which always detracts from the force O.
a speech.
Essay, "Aeronautics," by Mr.. Jimmie
Chambers. The subject was very wei
handled, and his thoughts were expressed IL
good language. Jimmie is quite a small boy
but his essay showed a familiarity with thu
subject which would have been creditable to
an older head.
Music, by the orchestra, another fine selec
ton, well rendered.
Essay, "The Mule and the Yellow Pup" b.
Mr.. j. A. Whitsett. While listening to thi
essay we could easily nave declared the writ
er to be q country boy, who had studied tn
natures of the two animals SO comically de
scribed. He shove a thorough appreciation
Of the ludicrous. and what subject could Civ,
a wider field for this train of thought than tn
as 1t might have been.
"Spartacus to the Gladiators at Capua,' de
clamstion by MI. J. F.. Rays. The speake
IS one Of the small boys of the school, but h
spoke with a strong, steady voice, sometime
a little too fast, and his gestures were yer.
good. He has to get rid of the habit of drop
ping his voice too low at the close of man,
sentences. Otherwise the delivery was yer,
good, and his selection was excellent.
"%Spottycus 10 the R~ustycusses at Eas
Moluncus," defamation by Mr.. Jos. s. Cash
This comic Grafton was delivered in a SLOW
and very emphatic manner, and the gesture
were very good, but once or twice were
little more forcible than necessary. We d
not think the speaker did himself justice Il
selecting a comic piece, as he Is naturally
slow and earnest talker. He also require
prompting once or twice. With q bette
selection he could easily have won NOR
praise.
Mr.. Tillard Hays was called for by the au
dience, and spoke ''The Baron's Last Ban
Iuet." To say that 1t was we'll rendered
but feebly expresses our mind. 1t was
very excellent selection, exactly suited to hi
style of delivery, and was given in a name
that would have done credit to a profession;
elocutionist. 1t has been u long time sine
we have heard anything that so nearly cam
up to our idea of e%loquence.
Song, "Good Night, Ladies, }" by the "Boys.
After which the president, in a few wei
chosen remarks thanked the audience for the
} close attention, and the entertainment was
an end. 1t was, taken altogether, a vel
creditable affair, and we hope the pupi
may go on improving, as they have don
This is our only male academy. and we a
: proud of it, and are proud of the boys IL a
tendance.
r r. Friaoht-