Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-04-09
Hoe We Held an Open Meeting Of our
Debating Society.

DeOUttHg society,"
will tell you. We we're more than SIX
months old, and had had name for three
months. 1t was Philomathian, ana the
gentleman who sent it TO us said that means
lovers of knowledge We met once In two
weeks-on Saturday nights-and we sang,
and we played on the piano, aud recited
poems as well as other pieces. But that IS
not all for when the roll was called every
member responded to his name with quo
tation-that is if he could remember one.
Some of them had most venerab e flavor.
In this regard | think VIM. Shakespeare
was our best friend, for he says so many
short things. After this we generally dis
cussed something. The intention was 10
have two gentlemen and two ladies in each
discussion, but we seldom had so many Tor
the gentlemen had sad way of being alb
sent or the ladies would be unprepared.
True, we had two weeks for this preparation,
but thought it sufficient excuse if the pre-
vious day was subject TO interruptions, for
like all great literary people we never do
to-day what can be put off till tomorrow.
We elected a critic with an assistant so
that our good things might not 60 unrecord-
ed f.: but we took care that he should not be
of such disposition as to notice severely
our shortcomings.
80 now we were a six months old Philo-
nathan society and we thought it time the
general public should become aware of our
progress on the road TO that learning which
we professed to love.
The evening came and so did a select
crowd, for we had determined that no one
who would not pay thirty-fiye cents should
have an insight into our sacred mysteries.
Indeed we had spent weary hours of several
meetings in discussing the subject of the
hes. possible expenditure of the money.
We were working for fame but having pros
pective wealth thrust upon us. We must
decide upon the best way of showing our
selves public benefactOrs. Some suggested
water works, others advised fire depart
ment. some of the baser sort even suggested
a picnic, but this was rejected with scorn,
aud we voted TO pave the town.
When the society convened before pre-
senting itself to an admiring audience, we
counted but ten of our forty members. The
opening exercise should have been roll
call responded to by patriotic sentiment
in favor of his native State by the owner OF
each name. So we held constitution and
concluded that roll call must be omitted.
After prayer, and music by the band, which
did not form part of the Society, we had
some very good music on the piano. Our
next on the program was an address from
the president, but he was absent from town,
so il was necessarily omitted, but we had
some very good music on the guitar, violin,
cornet and piano. After another consulta-
ton concerning the probable shortness OF
our exercises, we had a most entertaining
recitation, "The Debating Society,"" given
by one of the young lady members. We
felt better after this and did not consult
very long before we had some music, a song,
The Merry Alpine Maids" by two of the
lady members. Then came an Grafton by a
Young man, but he was out of town and the
Grafton was necessarily omitted. After
some consultation the lady who recited be-
fore gave us "The Fourth of July" which
was received with applause by the expect
ant crowd. 1t twas not on the program, but
there seemed to be time and the band gave
us another performance.
"The Painter of Seville" recitation by
one of the gentlemen, was omitted because
the gentleman was not present, but We had
some music, solo, "The Chalet Horn" by
one of the lady members.
We had prepared Society Paper, full of
good things, but the gentleman who should
have read it failed us. There was, however,
one man brave enough to attempt the large
print. which was enthusiastically received
by the large audience. Such of these arti-
Giles As we heard were @ entertaining as to
convince us that this society could distin-
guish itself in the newspaper line.
A cake had been presented to the cause
bv an admirer and after some consultation
all were invited to vote it to the most popu-
lar YOUNG lady, at ten cents per vote. Any
variety was welcome even if it did involve
expense. so the excitement ran high and a
fair sum was realized before it was awarded
to the young lady member who gave us the
Rotations, not without several consulta-
tiOnS, however.
The consultations did take great deal of
time but the omissions counterbalanced them
so it was not late when the band gave our
farewell.
The Society will pave the town when it
gets some more money.