Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-27


| ICosrsspopdsn Of the Richmond Dispassh.l
ASHLAND, VA, April "a. 1885.
The annual public debate Of the
Franklin Literary Society Of Randolph
MAesn College came offin the college
chapel here yesterday evening, begin
nipg at $50 o'clock.
The event was . very pleasant one
socially, and literary treat as well !;
but yet feeling of sadness and regret
pervaded the whole, for tho speaker
FIRST appointed on the negative side OF
the question, Mr.. w. II. Barley, Of Al
exandria. Va, was few weeks ago
seized by the dreadful typhoid-fever.
and on the 18th instant was torn from
our college circle by the hand Of death.
How we longed for the familiar and
ALWAYS welcome voice, and how sadly
ard how much We missed the noble face
and manly form from the speakers
stand
The exercises were opened, IS usual,
with an invocation Of the Divine bless
ing by Rev. F. j. Boggs, and then the
president, Mr.. L. Leitch, Of Bucking-
ham county, Va, introduced as the
orator Of the evening MIR. A. NJ. Hugh
lett, of Lancaster county, Va, who
spoke on the subject Manliness."
Mr.. Hughlett's voice, gestures. and car
rage on the rostrum are excellent, and
his Grafton was well received. or
course cannot we'll expect space in the
Dispatch for detailed accounts Of the
speeches. Mr.. Leitch then announced
the question for discussion, which
was {" Resolved, That Prosperity and
| the Increase Of Wealth Have Favora-
BILE Influence on the Manners and
| Morals Of People," He then intro
duced as the first debater on the affirm
alive side Mr.. A. X. Davis, Of Peters
burg, Va.
Mr.. Davis prefaced his speech with
some touching sentences on the decease
of Mr.. Barley. The Franklin Hall had
lost one Of her ablest and most honored
sons, and he and his colleague an oppo-
nent worthy of their steel. These re-
marks were delivered and received with
much feeling.
Mr.. Davis then addressed himself to
the question before him and gave the
many hearers a nicely-written address
clothed in choice diclion, and which
was we'll delivered.
After music Mr.. 7. DeLeon, Of
Charleston, S. c., having been introduced
to the audience, gave his exposition Of the
question, and with good argument, IN
nice sentences, made a plea in defence
Of the negative. Mr.. DsLeon had to
speak both in bis own stead, and, as far
as another man could, to take the place
Of his dead colleague. He acquitted
himself with credit to himself and to
the Palmetto State.
The next and last speaker was Mr..
John S. Chapman. Of Ruckersville,
Green county, Virginia, who closed the
argument for the affirmative and the
debate. All the speeches were good
and were much enjoy Ell, but Mr.. Chap
mans was admired certainly not less,
ard perhaps little more, than any OF
the others. His arguments were good.
his speech was well written and about
the light length, and he delivered it in
a pleasing, forceful manner.
These gentlemen are worthy repre-
sentativeS and exy yvnsnts of the ability
and eloquenco Of their society; but OF
course all were sorry to lose the speech
of Mr.. W. II. Barley, whom we all SO
sadly miss.
The literary exercises being over, the
audience was recommended to refresh.
ments and social pleasure, and the
handsome young ladies, who had lis
tered with such close attention to the
speeches of the young gentlemen on the
rostrum, now began their entertaining,
and opened their batteries of sweet,
soft, persuasive eloquence ON the ear OF
many youth.
The evening was much enjoyed, and
social converse enliyened the chapel
until a late hour. Z. F. S.