The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-03-05


Talking recently with an intelligent
gentleman who is one of the best con
versationalists We know, he attributed
his ability to express himself with read
mess and i'll we'll chosen language to the
fact, that when a young man he had
been in the habit of attending 4
country lyceum or debating society,
and taking part III the debates that
were held stately near his nome. He
had soma misgIving at first as to his
ability to speak before an audience
. without cons derable preparation. Like
most persons who have ever attempted
! to speak Ia public his IDEAS desert ell him
upon first arising. bus ..fter SOM little
! practice, he learned to collect his
/ thoughts aud after SON, practice, cou d
express hIm eli io4dl!y. This gent g.
! mau's exptueucr is recalled by com
lnunicatiou from u Berks county CORES
| pondeut OF tne Philadelphia Ledger, in
which the educatiorp advantages of
( county yceumS are strongly stated and
! urged, and whi;a we rupub ssh. because
We b .lieve they can b. Intelligent manage
ment be made of greas educational use of
| those who live in the country and who
cannot from the uec .ssily Of the case
avail themselves OF TIL, advantage, of
lectures and other INTEL, ctual entertain
ments as readily as Jh.ir more favored
town anH city acqnaintances.
DuiiuV The past few years not 50 much
complaint has been heard IS formerly
18th eff renee t. the dcsertiUn by the
sous OF farmers of the honest occupation
OF their farmers for the uncertainties OF
lie in the crowded elsles,
rns' the tide is 10 louger gDinG tina;
way Las also beeu recently noted, and
one u! the CAUSES for this is attributed to
the fact tina within recent years country
lite las oeeu made IL ire attractive tor
the sons we'll as the daughters OF the
farmers.
One of these agencies is undoubtedly
the country lyceum, one or more of
which are found in every school dis
trict in Eastern Pennsylvania. Years
ago the sons of farmers after leaving
school, which was often 1t a very early
age, at once became Injured to life on the
recreation.
The modern country lyceum supplies
this, and it is wonderful how popular
they have become. A visitor from the
city is astonished at the progress many
your men have made in off hand speak
ing, the interest they take in the dis
cussiun Of the questions OF the day, and
it is cobtiGt ntly asserted that among the
brightest OF The orators CT the next gen.
Grafton Will be found the disputants III
the country lyceums OF to day.
At first some OF the School Boards
found objection to these bodies meeting
in the school houses, but they have loug
ago given way to public sentiment, and
on the occasion 0; tie weekly Acstugs
ct the s. Iyceums tie building is crowded
with yuuI z aid oi,:, farmers aud THEN
families ahu 10 pTetrIir picture Vi Iural
sociahil!iy aud coed Will eau be found
anyw here han 81 the occasion OF the
meetiUg i One ut These. country dchi,-
lnG saoirli 5.
These week., ga,l erlugs for the dis
cusslcu Vi iIlerary suhjec:s have never
been more popular han now, and they
play u large and important part il the
educational lite OF the communities
where thcY exist. There are dozens 81
them in this county alone, and hey
have in IA q, AZ measure suppiauted the
old fashioned singing schools, spelling
bees, quilting parties, apple butter stir
ring gatherings, etc.
The feature of the evening at these
iyceunS j. the debate. 1t is remarkable
with what rapidIty some have been
learned to think en- their feet. Boys
from the farm in i water or Two, have
become ready debalers They cross
swords on the floor OF the county
lyceums with young meu who have
attended the Normal School and are Low
teachers. County politicians often take
part III the debates, Re ding lawyers
sometimes drive GU to tn, Sc !ycrums by
invitation, and participate III the argu
maatS Of the evening. Some of these
Fr. quentlT leading questions of the day
are taken III and discussed with vig"r
and vim Interest in current topics is
stimulated, and in nearly every school
house to day ca be found the nucleus
Of library. The applause from the
audience is frequent and hearty. In the
opinion Of leading educators the county
lvcaum has done much 10 advance the
English in these PenuSy Ivania Germ ~
communities A an eVi 'encr ri the lac
Of que<'ionS thai arr being discuss, d.
1t may be stated thao during the ptsf
week lyceums in thus county discussed
the following subjects:
| Resolved. Tnat the Mckinley bill
should be repealed.
Resolved, That war with Call would
! be iustitiable.
Resolved That this State should nave
a compulsory educational law.
Resolved That thu President and
United States should be elected by a
direct vote Of the people.
| Resolved, That our school boards
should adopt the free text book sysem
Resolved, That reciprocity is free
| trade
Resolved. Tntt protective tariff sys
| TEN is COR the best interests of the cDu.
| try
| Resolved. That The Southern psnpi,.
we're ilscti tble in their attempts At
| Secession
Resolved. TIA. Grant vas greer
| general than Lea
Resolved, That the whife man suffered
more at the hands OF the Indian than the
Ind an at tn hands Of the white man.
Resolved, That marriage is a failure
Resolved That female suffrage should
| become law.