Roanoke College’s Excelsior Literary Society Program, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/excelsior.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: William Fischer, Jr. ============================================= January 2002 PUBLIC EXERCISES ---------------------------- The young men of the Excelsior Literary Society of Roanoke College invite their friends and the public generally to assemble in the hall of the college at 8 o’clock next Friday [24 Apr 1903] evening to witness the exercises they have prepared. No admission fee will be charged. The entertainment will be a delightful one. The program is as follows: Music -- Miss Parrie ZACHARY. Oration -- J [Jesse] A COOK. Music -- Miss Verna FAUCETT. Debate -- Resolved, That ambition contains more vice than virtue. AFFIRMATIVE W E JOHNSON, C PURCELL, C B HOLDER. NEGATIVE J F HESTER J D HOOPER A E L PHELPS Music -- Miss Berta FREEMAN. In addition a comedy in one scene will be presented by the smaller pupils, under the direction of Miss PITTMAN. [From The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 22 Apr 1903, p.3] ---------------------------- FINE PROGRAM ---------------------------- The public entertainment given in College Hall last Friday evening under the auspices of the Excelsior Literary Society was a brilliant feature in the college life of the community. The house was packed, and the interest of the audience did not lag throughout the two hours’ program. Professor LITTLE presided, and first introduced, after music by Miss Parrie ZACHARY, Mr J A COOK as the orator of the occasion. He had a well written speech upon the theme, “Stepping Stones,” and he delivered it with pleasing effect. Miss Verna FAUCETT then rendered music, after which Mr LITTLE announced the following subject for debate: “Resolved, That ambition contains more vice than virtue.” It was discussed by Messrs W E JOHNSON, C PURCELL and C B HOLDER upon the affirmative, and by Messrs E A L PHELPS, J D HOOPER and J F HESTER upon the negative. All the young gentlemen presented strong arguments and they were the recipients of much applause and many compliments. Miss Berta FREEMAN favored the audience with a piano solo while the committee was considering the merits of the debate. The judges were Messrs R W ANDERSON, J A JEFFERS, J W RADNEY, R G ROWLAND and L M STEVENSON. Their decision, which was reached by a majority vote, was announced by Mr STEVENSON in favor of the affirmative. A comedy in one scene was then presented by several young ladies and gentlemen, who displayed marked talent and won hearty applause. The Leader is pleased to say that the college literary society is doing a high grade of work, as is also being done in all departments of the college work. Some well rounded characters are being developed in Roanoke College. We shall expect to see some of the boys and girls now under tutorage in this splendid institution rise in after years to places of honor and usefulness in the various walks of life. ---------------------------- LOCAL NEWS AND COMMENT ---------------------------- Editor [A W] HOLSTUN, of the LaFayette Sun, came up Friday evening to the debate and other exercises. ------- While school boy oratory was flowing at the college Friday night the attention of the audience was partially distracted by the approach of a brass band in full blast. Very few people knew there was such an institution in Roanoke, and they rolled their eyes in wonder. It proved to be a negro [sic] band that hailed from No. 2 [?]. They had secured some time ago eleven instruments of the old HANDLEY Silver Band and employed a teacher, and now they play fairly well. After the exercises were over Friday evening the band rendered several pieces on the campus. [All from The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 29 Apr 1903, p.3]