The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-10-31
THE IYCEUM'S FIRST ENTERTAINMENT.
Music, Recitation, and a Debate-The Lo-
cal Option Law not Eli cient.

| 4A'''N, NSti'atioui anu btDute-l he lo-
cal Option Law not Eli Client.
An audience larger than the academy
could accommodate gathered within its
walls an Monday evening last to enjoy
the first entertainment and debate of the
'Elkton Academy Lyceum.' After the
appointment of Prof. Foulk to the chair
the business of the meeting was pro
ccedcd with in routine order. The re-
| port of the committee on organization
and bylaws was handed in and read by
the chairman. The bylaws were adopted
in whole and accepted by the society
for its fuCure government the meeting
then elected the following officers: Presi-
| dent, Prof. Foulk, Vice President, asso-
| ciate editor THE WIG; Treasurer, Chas
F. Hinchliffe; Secretary, Richard Reese;
assistant Secretary, Ed. Perkins. The
regular programme of the entertainment
committee was then IN order. 1t was
opened by well chosen organ solo by
Mr.. Asher Scott, DIR. Howard Bratton
next dellevered a brief but brilliant little
address, and then followed vocal duet
by Mrs. Thomas and Miss Carrie Rick
etts, a beautiful selection beautifully
rendered. "Dorkins' Night" a drama
tic poem, was then recited by Miss Saliic
Manly. Miss Mahly's elocution was for
chile and effective Next in order came
the debate. The question, elias the
present Local Option Law of Cecil
county accomplished the purposes for
which it was instituted" was discussed
by f. Mckinsey and Rufus ID. Rowland
on the affirmative, and Chas. +. IIinch-
life and Geo. r Ash on the negative.
The arguments proved deeply interesting
to the audience, and at times were witty
and eloquent. 1t was generally conceded
that the defendants of the ailirmativchad
the weaker side of the question, and the
decision of the judges, Mr.. l.. NJ. lIaines
DR.. Howard Bratton, and Mr.. Geo. NJ
Reese, in favor of the negative proved
conclusvely the correctness of the asser-
ton. The argument of the victorious
side was taken upon a practical stand
point and its debaters sustained with
much ability their belief that the Local
Option Law lacks every fundamental and
practicable principle and has failed to eff
feet its purpose simply from the weight
of public opinion lately brought down
upon it. 1t may have met with the ap
prevail of the voters of Cecil county, they
agued at the time Of its foundation, but
several years experience with it has
proved it an impossible law, snd eventu-
ally dead law. To these penetrating
sword -thrusts of truth the defenders of
the affirmative could not offer very
strong shield, although now and then sevaa
eral opposing blows were struck from
this side of the question which met with
no worthy refutation. They argued
plainly and clearly that the charges of
the negative in reference to the present
prevalancy of intemperance in the county
and the unlicensed sale of intoxicants
were not due to an Ineffective pohibitory
Ia " uioilC puO " vel uClcCllNt ell
forcement of that law. That the increase
of intemperance and crime In the county
is iuiinitesimal to what it would have
been had the licensed sale of liquor been
continued, and after all had been said,
that throughout the general objection
to the law no better one had been sug-
ppStpd niv u 1,,.,
should not be beneficial, or that the
work of the law as technically interpre-
ted had not been accomplished, But
the practical proof of the negative over
came the too idealistc theories of the
ambitious young alternatives and the WIS
dom of the judges at the terminus of the
pleasant contest deduced decision ia
vorable to the anti Local Optionists. At
the conclusion of the debate, an appro-
pirate vocal solo was rendered by Miss
Lizzie Merritt, and following it came the
selection of question for the next meet
ing and the appointment of a Committee
on Entertainment. The former was:
(Which Is the Greater Benefit to So
cety, the Gid Maid or tie Old Bach
elor?' and the latter consists of Messrs
George NJ. Reese, Rufus y. Rowland and
Miss Sallie Manly. The next debate and
entertainment will be. held in the Acad-
envy on Monday evening, the 9th of No
vember. The chief disputant upon the
side of the affirmative will be Mr.. Will
liam Knight aryl upon the side of the
negative Mr.. George r. Ash. At the
next meeting better seating accommoda-
tions will be made for the guests of the
Society, and the room will be more bril-
liantly illuminated. The first entertain
ment of the young society was greeted
by the friendly audience with general
approval, and each feature of the
programme elected much commentator
and applause. The meeting of Novem-
Der 9th will be equally interesting and
an improvement in some ways over the
first effort