Year: 1869

We are glad to know that the younger men {
of our town have banded themselves into an
association for mutual improvement and in
tend, hereafter, to hold weekly meetings, at
which subjects of interest to all will be dis
cussed


In this crowding, pressing business like age
of ours, when so many men fail to find time
for study, save at uncertain periods, when day


by day are accumulated the trashy poisOns of
lighter literature, by which so much Of moral
dyspepsia is manifested, it is certainly crafty


ing to the friends of Education and true Pro-


gress to find springing up in our midst an asso-


citation whose objects are so commendable, and


whose need has been so long and sorely felt in


the community 1t is to be hoped that the


effort thus begun will be seconded and that


the ambition of our youth and even of older


members of the community will be so stimu-


lated and fostered as that it will be hereafter


an anomaly to be without the opportunity of


spending an evening so agreeably and profit


ably to all concerned. What we want in this


age of muscular civilization which is so per.


sistently cOntending with the polished luxury


of thought and of over-stimulated brain are


men with energy, invincible determination,


with right motive, whose right arms shall
move the world, and it is from our lyceums,


and more primary debating schools that these
are to come. If those whose opportunities are


great and pressing shall neglect to cultivate the
field, the laborers will continue to be furnished


in the future, as in the past they have been,


from the hardy sons of toll, whose efforts have
made them the statesmen and Governors and
: Presidents of the present as we'll as of past
= ages. Let the debating society," then, be well
) attended by the older as we'll as the younger
? portion of the town, and the Library so long
= neglected in our midst, or at least not so well
e used as it should have been, be MOI than ever
S priced. There is no reason why SMYRNA should
not be celebrated for the brilliance of her young
n and the mellow ripeness of her older men, nol
e why indeed she shall not in years to come con
# tribute her mcdicum of men of refined thought
e and intellectual culture who are to make W
d the sum of the worlds greatness.
"sOme village Hampden. that with dauntless breast
J. The little tyrant of his Geld withstood,
- Some mute inglorious Milton.
" Some Cromwell guiltess of his countrY's blood
u Or it may be that here in future days may b,
found


lie
ofI Some large heart pregnant with celestial FIRE;


Hands that the rod OF Empire yet may sway,
~ Or wake to ecstasy the living iyre.'


y The signs of the times are certainly auspi
c cious and much good may be accomplished il
le waking up the young men to a true sense o
nc the opportunities they may enjoy. In this ag
10 Ignorance is certainly the most uexcusabe @


blunders-for he who allows himself to suffe
w here must bear with him though life severe
te wound than fabled Chiron wounded in tn
to knee, and with him lose that Immortality c
n mind which might have been the reward G
ut earnest AMI unremitting toll By all means le
be the Debating Society be well attended.