The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-13
Beware the Woman.



The debating club OF Harrington
university after stormy session
passed by vote of eleven to ten res
olutlon accepting a challenge 10 debate
from the club of Pocahontas college,
an institution for young women. A
committee of three. consisting Of
Messrs. Abbott, Dexter and Purington,
was appointed to meet a similar COM
mittee of girls. Misses Barbour, Ever
EFT and Turner, with view to arrang-
ing the terms. The president Of the
Harrington club thus addressed the
committee:
"You are to understand that In en-
tcring upon debate with girls we are
necessarily at n disadvantage. In the
first place IL is impossible to get an
awarding committee that will not give
a decision in favor Of girls over men
no matter IL the girls talk rubbish
from first TO last. Then these creatures
are adept in their monkey ways Of in
fluenclng an audience. Secure provi-
sions that will insure us fair play or
don't sign articles"
The president of the Pocahontas club
thus addressed the committee appoint
ed to meet the men:
Everybody who knows anything
about men knows that they will take
any advantage of woman they are per-
mitted to take. You are to steel your
selves against their flattering tongues
and agree to no terms that do not give
us an equal advantage with them.
have been given tip that the commit
tee you are to meet are the finest look
Ing. most engaging students in Har-
rington college. All have to sny In
conclusion is Cave canem'" beware
of the dog.
The committees met IN summer
house on the campus Of Pocabontas
university, and Mr.. Abbott and Miss
Barbour, chairman and chairwoman OF
each respectively. began n preliminary
discussion as to the terms. The other
members. not being called on for their
opinions. strolled away, Mr.. Dexter
with Miss Everett, Mr.. Purlngton with
Miss Turner.
Mr.. Abbott contended that the COM
mittee should consist of men, while
Miss Barbour insisted that they should
be women. Then they agreed that 1t
should consist of both men and wom-
en-. But since 1t must be Of an unequal
number neither would give way to the
other as to whether man or n woman
should have deciding vote. At noon
they adjourned the discussion and
gave out what has been thus far stated
of their deliberations.
Several days passed. Every morn
ing the committees met in the summer
house. the chairman and chairwoman
took up the discussion. while the other
members strolled away as before to
pass the time till the two heads should
agree upon some method.
One day the two committee heads
read a statement of terms they had
reached to their colleagues. 1t was
agreed TO and signed in duplicat. by
each member of the committee. The
copies were written on ordinary note
paper and placed in square envelopes.
Mr.. Abbott took both copies for a final
reading and comparison. The same
evening he met Miss Barbour by ap.
pointment on the porch of her dormi.
tory and bade her goodby in the dark.
Taking her copy OF the terms from
his pocket. he handed 1t to her and
took his departure. Entering the house
Miss Barbour met the president of he,
club and turned over the envelope con-
tanning the terms without looking at It.
The president afterward remembered
that Miss Barbour was destralt.
The next day there was q meeting OF
the Pocahontas club, and the president.
arising. proceeded TO read the terms.
On seeing the first word she hesltated.
frowned and then blurted 1t out:
Dearest.
A shock passed over the assemblage.
followed by a burst OF laughter.
You say that you love me and yet you
unreasonably hold to your position that
the umpires shall consist OF three men
and two women. III you are no unylelding
now, what must l expect in the future.
No: / cannot give my heart TO ono who
insists upon taking so unfair an advan-
tage OF our sex. atill i will admit that
] love you Just a little teeny weeny bit
Do grant Us three women to two men,
and l VIII love you ever so much.
Miss Barbour during the reading
shrank down behind her chum. but at
Its conclusion arose and said:
Miss President, before sending your
comraittee upon its work you said,
Cave canem.' Acting on your instruc-
tlons. | threw the dog piece of poi
soned meat. When he handed me
my copy Of the terms he inadvertently
got hold OF this letter. But | assure
you the terms are satisfactory In ev.
cry respect. Here is memorandum
copy"
Long and loud were the cheers that
greeted Miss Barbour upon the read.
ing Of the memorandum. Never was
triumph more complete. But one cir
cumstance chilled the enthusiasm OF
Pacohontas college. Miss Turner of the
committee was absent the next morning
from chapel and later 1t was discov.
cred that she had eloped with and
married Mr.. purington. She never re-
turned to college. M f.l
The debate was won by Pocahontas
college, but the next year when a chal.
lege was received by the Harrington
club the Pocahontas buildings were