Public Exercises of the Lee Society-Friday Evening, March 23rd

Public Exercises of the Lee Society-Friday Evening, March 23rd

[Unknown]

http://addison.vt.edu/record=b1775388~S1

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

April 1877

Jenna Zan, Josh Dobbs

Permission to publish images from The Gray Jacket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Text

English

Article

LD5655.V8 L4, ser.1, v.2, no.6 (April 1877), p.4

It having been generally known that the Lee Society would have a public debate and, that with a fine corps of speakers, the old Chapel was, sometime before the hour of the exercises, filled to overflowing with an intelligent audience eager for the debate to begin. The audience was not kept long in suspense, as the president, Mr. W. L. Gravatt, soon called the house to order and opened the exercises with a most appropriate address, at the close of which he introduced Mr. E. C. Thomas as first declaimer. Mr. Thomas acquitted himself very well indeed, knew his piece perfectly, and personated the principal character finely. The second declaimer, Mr. Freeman, although as silent as Judge Radcliff, came out upon this occasion as he usually does on examinations, considerably more than distinguished. Orations being next in order, Mr. H. M. Smith handled, in a masterly manner, the subject, "What is man," and although he journeyed among the little stars and then tunneled the earth in his discourse, he never for once grew dizzy or soared above his audience, but kept their attention throughout his most interesting address. Mr. Maurice, second orator, had chosen for his subject something nearly allied to that of Mr. Smith in that it embraced one class of the human family, "The Fallen One," was thoroughly discussed by Mr. M., who though from Eastern Va., the land of aristocrats, could not let this opportunity pass without giving this peculiar and much persecuted class of individuals a big piece of his mind. The debate being next in order, the President read as the question for discussion, "Does love exert greater influence over man than ambition?" and introduced as first speaker on the affirmative, Mr. C. A. Weller, who opened the debate with spirit and seemed so well posted on the affirmative that we suspect he, although so young and modest, has had some experieince in that line. Mr. Bennett answered next for the negative in a humorous speech fully characteristic of himself, as he never rises but to make somebody laugh. The debate was then continued by Messrs. Mecklin and Owen on the affirmative, and Messrs. G. H. Taylor and H. M. Holladay on the negative.

All of these gentlemen acquitted themselves well. Mr. Mecklin was out for the first time before a public audience, and therefore became somewhat embarrassed, but nevertheless went through his speech all right, while Mr. Holladay, in closing the debate covered himself with glory and brought down the house in applause.

The question being then opened for general debate, several of the Roanoke students, being present and called upon, responded with humor, fun, and good sense, in a most appropriate manner.

The whole programme was well carried out, and a perfect success, as the good order and attention of the audience testified in much stronger language than we could possibly use.

The portrait of the noble old hero, after whom the Society is called, hanging in rear of the stage, seemed to be of itself an inspiration, and drew from some of the speakers words touching and eloquent. Truly his name is, with Virginians, immortal.