Tweet
Things seem a little slow lately, so how about a challenge- How many different period accounts of Washington's Birthday can we dig up? Was it viewed differently North & South? Did it's importance wane over the duration of the war?
2/27/62
Hornellsville Tribune
WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY
Rogersville Seminary Feb 24 ‘62
Mr Editor—Sir: The celebration of the Anniversary of Washington’s Birth, at the Seminary, on Saturday evening, was a rich entertainment. At an early hour the Chapel was densely crowded and the almost heartless stillness throughout the evening proved them not an uninterested audience. The exercises were opened by a stirring national air after which the reading of Washington’s Farewell Address by CW Stevens, a member of the grdauating class, drew forth many words of commendation for his clear and distinct enunciation, which displayed no inferior training in that important branch of education—Elocution.
Then Mr Gibson, of Hobart College, was introduced as the poet of the evening, who recited an original poem, subject, “Freedom”--.It will be no flattery to give him a high position among poets. He that can sweep down through the cycles of time giving the rise and fall of the Empire faithful to his subject and faithful to his muse, is no ordinary genius. Mr Snow of Lima was next introduced as the orator of the evening,-- subject, “The Good Hour”. He remarked that “to speak then was like serving the fish after the pudding ,” but if the “pudding” was good, ( and it was) certainly the audience did not fail to relish the “fish” for the meat of truth was agreeably seasoned with the spice of wit and served in a sty;e that the most fastidious literary epicure must have pronounced fine. Music and a vote of thanks closed the exercises and we doubt not that each one present went home with renewed love and vows of constancy to “Our Country”.
2/27/62
Hornellsville Tribune
WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY
Rogersville Seminary Feb 24 ‘62
Mr Editor—Sir: The celebration of the Anniversary of Washington’s Birth, at the Seminary, on Saturday evening, was a rich entertainment. At an early hour the Chapel was densely crowded and the almost heartless stillness throughout the evening proved them not an uninterested audience. The exercises were opened by a stirring national air after which the reading of Washington’s Farewell Address by CW Stevens, a member of the grdauating class, drew forth many words of commendation for his clear and distinct enunciation, which displayed no inferior training in that important branch of education—Elocution.
Then Mr Gibson, of Hobart College, was introduced as the poet of the evening, who recited an original poem, subject, “Freedom”--.It will be no flattery to give him a high position among poets. He that can sweep down through the cycles of time giving the rise and fall of the Empire faithful to his subject and faithful to his muse, is no ordinary genius. Mr Snow of Lima was next introduced as the orator of the evening,-- subject, “The Good Hour”. He remarked that “to speak then was like serving the fish after the pudding ,” but if the “pudding” was good, ( and it was) certainly the audience did not fail to relish the “fish” for the meat of truth was agreeably seasoned with the spice of wit and served in a sty;e that the most fastidious literary epicure must have pronounced fine. Music and a vote of thanks closed the exercises and we doubt not that each one present went home with renewed love and vows of constancy to “Our Country”.
Comment