The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-16
SOyUOuORE'S DEBATE.
The Relative Value of Heredity ana EnNi-
ronment Eloquently Discussed.

ronment Eioquently Discussed
The Phnologian Literary Socie,y Il
lie debate last night in the college chabel
large crowd was present ana not"i'le
standing that the heatlng idCin,i,I -,
the house were inadequate, ana tn1t 'nelo
were some delays ia executing the pro-
pramme which made the exercises seem
10 drag. ali seemed delighted with tne
feast OF reason and oratOry onercd thcH'
The programme was as follows: 49,
Weicomc-Prosidont j. W. T. McNiel.
"Claudius and Scynthia'
Rcadne YiYorktown and Appomattox.'
"onestinni Resolved. That heredity IS
more Influential i'm the intellectual ana
moral development Of man thah ehNfoh-
FRS First affirmative. Samuel y. DeVault.
FIRST negative James Il. Stafford. Vir-
' second affirmative. X. Wosey Cawthon,
Georgia.
Second negative. James j. Gwaltney'
Virginia.
Closing Remarks-President
Mr. Stafford was unable 10 appear, nav
ing Yesterday fallen a victim TO the grip.
the epidemic which is raging everywhere
and has smittcn over score or the COZ
lcge students The failure OF Mr.. stat
ford to participate was a heavy dow
to the evenings exercises. lie IS a grad
uatc OF Emory and Henry College. ana
mas won several fnfhdlS III lbl'liSit WI,
tests He had prepared his speech ana
up TO yesterday at noon hoped TO be able
TO deliver il. 1t was then too late 10
secure any one TO take his place.
Mr. Soay's defamation was elegantly
delivered He held the hearers spell
bound and received a hearty applause.
Mr. Rudds reading was excellent.
Mr.. DEFAULT. in opening the dcpdie,
gave a vivid description OF visit TO the
battlefield Of Bull Run. and likcncd man
10 the great battle-ground where struggle
two great forces environment heredlty.
Environment said he lis the popular
one Of the two but God implanted i'm man
talents as germs. Horcdity IS stronger
i'm rs natural position. feredity works
I'm two ways more strongly than environ
mcnt. deciding % the direction OF man
course. as in the case Of COWpcr. VINO.
when about to be spanked for making
verses. cried out:
%. father. do some pity take.
And | Will no more verses make.
and deciding % mans progress. as I'm
the case of Lincoln who
I'm Illinois took an old rusty nail
And worker his mathematics on rail
Mr. Stafford being unable 10 appear,
Mr. CawthOn followed next Mr.. cav
thon wears the best debatcrs medal OF
his society. and on this occasion upheld
his reputation. Said he:
Adam. surrounded by the glory OF
new creation. had faculties and capabil-
ties i'm his nature that would utilize all
ne saw around him for his development.
These. together with Adams fan, have
all been inherited by fallen man. Re
gardng intellect in its brOadcst sense rs
meaning mind. IL possesses two cNcs-the
eye of sense and that of reason. Without
dispas2 ging the value of education. IL
may be truly said that the motive power
that utiliEes both education and environ
mcuts is ScTcdity. Environment has
something TO do with making man: he
has all 10 do with making environment.
Education furnishes glossy varnish.
which circumstances often shake off, and
the rrue inherited nature is left revealed
Mr.. GWaltncy he only speaker left on
the negative. thought Mr. Cawthon had
the wrong pig by the ear, i'm making an
Grafton instead of an argument. He pre-
scented a beautifully wOrdcd contrast be-
tween the educated child Of civilization
and the uncultiVated savage. and indi-
Gated the power of the law of association
and the law of spOutaneity. He held
the attention Of the audience TO an ele-
giant discourse fOrcibly delivered and
concluded that when the true principles
of environment are established in every
home, then Will religion assert her mild
and gentle sway, peace plant her olive
wreath in every nation, wisdom, divine
and time-hOnOred, shed everywhere her
glorious light. a race of men and WO-
men full of rosy health strong, active.
symmetrical, beautiful as the artist $
model. full of honor and lofty principles
will grow up into communities and nd
lions. and make the earth bloom and
rejoice in more than Edens gladncss. A
new heaven and new earth will sur
round us with beauty and arch over us
with glory, for the old will have passed
away
Mr.. Gwaltney made the speech of the
evening.
The Norwegian Mandolin Club furnished
sweet music during the evening.