The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-08-21
w. C.. r. u. Entertainment.

AS is we'll known to most of the
readers of this column, the Shelton
w. G. T. u. is DESTROYS of cree ting a
building with hall for lodge purposes
and commodious reading room. The
ladies have talked considerable about
this project for several years, but now
they are determined to make a united
and prolonged effort and begin the
erection of the building as soon as a
sufficient amount of funds is on hand.
For the purpose of adding to the
nest egg already in the the treasury of
the Building Fund, Miss Heartie
Wood has been engaged to give an
elocution recital in the Baptist Church
this (Friday) evening.
Miss Wood is the Seattle young lady
who last June won the University OF
Washington's Gold medal for Orat Dry,
she being the only one OF the "gentle
sex" among the six contestants.
The following is from the P.-I.:
"Miss Woods delivery was of the bes t
kind OF platform oratory. She show
ed wonderful mental poise for so
young a woman, made her telling
points with grace and skill, and SEEM
ed to possess in some degree that force
of enunciation which charms and
holds and impresses the listener. Al
though her subject was of "trifies and
tritiing" yet the lesson she gave was
one Of earnestness of purpose. In the
course of this she referred to the early
history of this country, to the taxation
without representation under which
the colonists suffered, to the DIR afting
Of the constitution OF the United State
to the liquor question as it is to-day
to the war of the rebellion and to the
Armenian massacre, and the trifes OF
trifling that led to these important
events. In her conclusion she said
"The record of murder and suicide
in the United States is simply appal-
ling. The commandment, "Thou shalt
not kip seems numbered among the
mistakes of Moses and regard for
human life appears to be a sentiment
which American civilization does not
propose to cultivate. There must be
some cause for so great an increase OF
homicide. Is it because people are
gradually drifting back into barbarism
Last year the slaughter reached tota
of 10000 victims. Among the causes
assigned, dependency is given as the
prevailing one. The difficulties which
may have encountered during the last
few years in providing for themselves
and families is more than they could
courageously face. Is not this appal-
ling? If the financial question is the
chief cause of this bloodshed, and il
undoubtedly is, is it not time that the
people of the United States shall call a
halt, and that the government of the
country shall cease trifing with a
question that involves the entire ma.
ton? The truth is that in many ways
the American people walk too near the
edge of the precipice. When some
one topples over the abyss we are fol
) the moment Mortified; but do we make
sufficient effort to keep the masses
away from the danger line? The
whole industrial population of oul
country needs to be moved further
back from that line. Can you or /
can the people of the United States
stand calmly back and do nothing te
alleviate this suffering? Let oul
congress and our state legislatures
cease from party strivings. Let the
provision of constitutional government,
be obeyed in spirit as well as in the
letter. Let honesty and honor and
patriotic desire OF the general welfare
override personal ambition and sec.
tional interests.
Let the spirit Of the founders of the
American Republic animate all hearts
and when all this has been accomplish.
ed we may sing with full heart.
America has triumphed
Her people are free.'"