The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-13
ALPHA SIGMAS MEET.
Five Years Since the Society Was First
Founded,

-
Five Years Since the Society Was First
Founded.
The Alpha Sigma, composed OF girls of
the Jersey City High School. held its
fifth annual open meeting 10 the Assem-
bly, room of the school building yester-
day afternoon. About three hundred
guests were present. Upon the plat
form, which was surrounded by foliage
plants, was Miss Louise Fuller De Hart,
President of the society, will Miss ElIza-
beth Hamilton Speers. Vice President,
their dignity upheld by a large stuffed
owl TO the right of the desk, where he
has been placed every Open Meeting Day
since the founding of the society. The
bird occupies the place OF honor in the
Alpha Sigma club ROOM, wears a. blue
and gold necktie OF their colors. a
lends his name TO the club paper.
At four O'Clock the President opened
the meeting by a few words of welcome,
Introducing Miss Beth Guilford, who
played an operate potpourri upon he
violin with her sisters piano accompani-
ment, Miss Blanche Leone jackson fol-
lowed with q dramatic recital OF a scene
in gypsy life. her vivid picture of a thrill
ing scene bringing her long continued aD-
plause. The essay Of the day was by
Miss Louise Fuller De Hart, on college
Education For Women.o 1t is hardly
necessary to say that Miss DE Hart well
coined the advancing movement as the
precursor of the state when ome
should be regarded as rational human be-
Jugs, with their own personalities to con-
slider. their own destipies to control" She
mentioned the hospital fitted up at Girton
for girls whose health was to break down
under the strain Of study-the hospital
that has never been used.
"The OiUl." the club paper, edited by
Miss Elizabeth Hamilton Speers, con
tanned several bright bits of composition.
especially an account OF the Alpha Sig
mas unofficial view of the Naval parade.
and a versified catalogue of the brother
society" of the school, who appeared to
enjoy the personal hits therein. The
event of the afternoon was the debate
upon the question Resolved. That the
Chicago Fair shou Id De opened on sun
DAYS." Miss Edith Earle Guilford, in
presenting the affirmative. argued that
the action of closing the Fair would not
represent the wishes of the majority of
those interested, violating q basal prin.
ciple of American governments; that the
outside population that would be detain-
ed on that day in a strange city
in emp loyments less profitable and praise
worthy than visiting the Exposition. and
that those who wished to close the gates
of the Fair wished not only to satisfy
their own consciences, which they could
do by staying away and attending church.
but to interfere with the con
v~ictions of a large portion of the
community, who honestly believe
such action beneficial. was urjustihabie.
Miss Mary E. Stone, on the negative,
took the standpoint of the church, and
argued from this basis, bringing her de-
bate an excellent piece of rhetoric, to a
close by reciting the fourth command
ment. Miss Guilford was assisted by
pecial attention to the attitude of the
Chicago liquor dealers in standing against
Sunday opening, and to the many fairs
which have remained open to the benefit
of the ~workiDgman, whose time would
otherwise be curtailed. This Miss
Edith Fuller Crasto disputed, bringing
stats tics of fairs that had closed on Sun
days, yet remained successful. The
Judges, City Superintendent Henry Suy-
der, Principal w. s.. Sweeney and Pro-
fessor Langdon S. Thompson, decided in
favor of the negative. Miss Jessie E.
Marvin played Liszt's Second Polonaise
with great success. and the entertainment
closed with the "Good Night" poem, sup
posed to come from the claw Of the Owl,
read by Miss Gertrude May Bushtield.
The committee in charge comprised
Miss Bushfield, De Hart aud SDeers. The
guests were seated by the members OF the
society, the two chief ushers, Miss Elsie
Whyte aDd Miss Edith Knox. wearing
academic caps and gowns. The officers
of the society are:-President, Miss Louise
Fuller De Hart: Vice President. Miss
Elizabeth Ii. Speers; Secretary, Eiss
Edith E. Guilford; Treasurer, Miss Elsie
Whvte.