Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-06-12
IN FAVOR OF
THE NEGATIVE

The annual contest between the
Garfield and Lincoln Literary Societies
of the High School took place Fri
day afternoon With the single cX-
ception of Commencement there is no
event connected with our Schools III
which the public shows a greater in
terest than in these annual affairs,
which so strikingly reveal the progress
and mental development Of the pupils
and reflect so creditably upon the gen
eral efficiency Of our schools. The
large audience, Friday, which lit
orally packed the High School room,
was no exception to the rule which
has obtained in the past.
The contest was presided over by
Mr.. Randall Jacobs of the Garfield
Society and Miss Kathryn Rogers of
the Lincoln Society.
The program as announced III these
columns was fully carried out with
the exception of two numbers a recita-
tion and vocal solo by Miss Olive
Rank, who was detained at her home
by illness For Miss Rank recitation
one by Miss Catharine Vastine was
substituted, entitled Rich Man, Poor
Man, Beggar Man, Thief. .
Without exception the speakers
showed themselves thoroughly at home
before an audience, speaking without
the least embarrassment, revealing a
good knowledge of elocution and the
benefit of abundant drill. The music
was really something to enjoy, no
number on the whole program probab-
ly winning more appreciative applause
than the violin solo by Frank Kemmer
and the instrumental trio by Misses
Cousart, Divel and Books.
1t was in the debate, however, that
the greatest interest centercd. The
subject :" Resolved, That man is more
powerful intellectually than woman,
was one that admitted of a great deal
of argument and to the credit Of both
= anu itSIJINN II lilAioN w
acknowledged that the ground was
very thoroughly covered.
The debate was opened by Charles
Hartt for the affirmative, who advanc-
ed several novel propositions In as
suming mans superiority over woman.
he did not deny that she is splendidly
endowed intellectually he admitted
that she is strong mentally, but insist
ed that man is stronger. Woman, he
held, surpasses man in capacity of
emotion and susceptibility of impress
sion. Man, however, in his Judgment,
reasoning power and general mentality
surpasses the female sex. Woman
knows certain things by intuition man
reaches his conclusion by the exercise
Of reason. His mental grasp is broad
er and his Judgment is more to be re-
lied upon. The human brain in man,
he said, weighs more than that of wO-
man, the difference being some 5l2
ounces. Logically, this deficiency of
brains matter, he held, must manifest
itself in diminished brain power.
Again, man eats more than woman,
the difference according to Mr.. Hartt
figuring being 20 per cent. AS all
human energy results from amount OF
food taken, it seemed clear to him
man in this respect which must show
i'll greater intellectually. The brain of
the male, he said, when examined
after death shows a greater number of
convolutions than the same organ i'll
woman, which is taken to Indie ate
greater mental activity.
Howard Lunger opened for the mega
tive, disputing with a good deal of
effect the propositions advanced by the
affirmative.
1t remained for Miss Harman as a
woman to sustain the view that her
sex is mentally inferior to man. 1t
has been so demonstrated in the past,
she said, and remains so today. Wo
man is great through her heart, but
man has always directed the impulses
of the world Man is the image and
glory of God and woman the image
and glory of man.
Carlton McHenry was the second
speaker for the negative and he very
ably sustained his side. He was fol
lowed by George Maier, Jr, for the
affirmative who in turn was succeed
ed by Raymond Harrington for the
negative.
DR.. f. A Curry, Rev n f. Cleaver
and Hon II. NJ. Hinckley were select
ed as judges. They retired at the close
of the debate, but soon returned with
their decision, which was announced
by Mr.. Hinckley.
For defamation the honor was
awarded to +. Pursel Angle Of the
Lincoln Society; for recitation, to
Miss Catherine Vastine OF the Garfield
Society. In the debate the decision
was rendered in favor of the mega
tive.