The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-03
The Annual Debate as to What
Family the Watermelon
Belongs.
"a Philadelphia Debating Society
Discusses tho Matter In All
Ita Phases.
Colored Gentlemen ana Ladies' Grow
Warm Discussing the Luscious
@ Red Melon.

society held \ watermelon symposium IN a
room in the rear Of the Big Bethel, Mt Sixth
and Lombard streets, last night, says the
Philadelphia Record, and a lively and dig
nifed debate ensued On the question: "ls
the wAtei melon q vegetable or q fruit1"
Tho club ia made up of the leadeis of COL
ored society in this city, and the debate
showed TINT the participants had made
deep inroads into the very heart of water
melon lore.
II. lowering Judson, ar attache of the
Bijou theatre. acted as chairman for this
especial occasion. and at the very outset
ha d considerable trouble in starting the
a dress in the proper channel. For In
stance, Il. Hanri Strange, the tragedian,
who spoke at great length on the subject,
De clared that the question to be properly
debated should be presented like THE:
"Resolyed, That the watermelon is a
vegetable. and not a fruit"
Mr.. Strange declared his willingness to
take tho affirmative or this issue, but the
chairman said he did not care to 'change
the contour of the debate by arbitrary
Vaccinations" He was satisfied in his
own mind that the question could be set
tied as easily on the first proposition as on
the second. Therefore, in view of this fact,
he did not see the necessity for a change in
the corollary syntax of the previous propo.
sitlon or question" MS it was originally put.
Therefore, the debate began on the original
question. .- NJ
The members entered into the spirit of
tho occasion heartily, and at times there
was considerable msrriment. Mr.. John
Warner, who is somewhat of a student of
botany, took up this oudgel first in favor of
chasing the watermelon in the vegetable
family. He said he had abundant oppor-
tunity for observing the watermelon. as his
father owned two truck wagons, and he
had peddled the e~sculent product for Sow
eral years in conjunction with other vege-
tables.
Mr.. Warner based his argument princi-
pally on the fact that fluit was sold by
measure, "and," said he, whoever heard
of anybody selling a peck of watermelons?
No, Mr.. Chairman, no matter what the die
tionary or the mntriculated works on
natural history may discern, fruit is sold
by measure and watermelons are sold by
the piece; therefore. w~atermelons belong to
the vegetable class"
In less than n minute after MIR. Warner
uau LuhGll LIS III u Au'l AOLCIl
both male and female, who were on the op-
posite side of the question, cla1nored for
recognition by the chair. Miss Mary Trim
BILE, q bright young lady of about 10 years,
who was both modest and logical. proceeded
to rip Mr. Warmers argument to shreds IN
a pointed and pretty speech. IF my
learned contemporary is not laborinR
under an i~llusibnary motive, perhaps he
will allow me TO diamember the hypothesis
upon which he bases Il theory as false as
false can be. If all things that are meas
ured are to be considered fruit, why not
call potatoes and onions fruit? Why not
call calico fruit? Is not calico measured?
OF course, it ia not measured by the bushel
or peck, but it is measured just the same,
and any person h attempts to rob the
watermelon of a well-earned reward should
remember the fate that overlook Erebus,
Curtius and Cleeonelllta."
Charles X. Judson, Il brother of the chair
man. at once took the floor in opposition to
the theory laid down by Mr.. Jackson, and
with the keen blade of his sarcasm, on
deavored to rescue the watermelon from the
vegetable family. ~ may not be able to
PERSONS said he, "but ! can think a
little and I have read consider
able. If everything that apper-
tains to the culinary department
of the ordinarily conducted eomicile is
vegetable, then what is an aprle? / might
go IuTtnef anu ASK II peaches ARG HOG
cooked? Are not cherries, plums, pears
and aprioots cooked? Did my learned an
~tagonist ever hear of huckleberry pie?
Die he sver yearn after a slab of lsmon
custard pie? Then why, may / ask, are
not all these Rbstractitious products low
cred to the rank ard file of common vegeta-
bles?'
Miss Eleanor Carter, another bright
young miss, who Ind evidently studied
deeply on the question, advanced a strong
argument in favor of calling the water,
melon q vegetable. "My observations
said she, 'while not distinguished by the
idiosyncrasies of the ordinary botanical OF
genealogical student. are of a practical and
convincing character. Now, I can eat vege-
tables from one days end to another, and
/ I'M mover distressed in the least, but the
smallest bit of fruit causes me great
pain. Now, watermelons never give nc
pain, and l eat a great many
of them. Therefore, l hold tina,
watermrlons must be vegetables. Mis-
Garter paused a moment for Il reply, but at
none came she proceeded further, but witt
this rooosition was not so successful. "Al
products that grow on vines are vegetables
ms can be proven by the sweet potato. thu
cucumber, the tomato and the pumpkin
The watermelon grows on n vine, and
therefore, must be a vegetable"
1.-The debate continued in this manner
until nearly all the members had spoken
and Mt the close the chairman said he woult
deliver his decision at the meeting of thu
cluh peyt Tueadny NIGHT