DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 85

DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Motto : " Union is Strength."

The weekly meeting of the above club was held on Tuesday, 25th ult. Emerald presided over a meeting of 19, including Hoohhan, Ned-. De Vine, Fra Diava.o, ana Primrose III — visitors to the club that evening, to whom Emerald extended * hearty ■welcomed Primrose 111 and Ked De Vine being now residents of Dunedin, we hope they will become regular attenders at the meetings. An interesting letter wa3 read from Black Watch, who wrote on topics concerning the club, and Emerald proposed ft vote of thanks to the writer for thinking of üb. Suggestions were received from Dot and Edievale, who were desirous of a rotary syllabus for thiee months; this, however, was held over for the committee to decide. Emerald moved that the committee be reduced to 11, with a quorum of six, which was seconded by Harry, and carried unanimously. The following are extracts from papers : — Living on a farm, young people at times have some healthy exercise chasing unruly calves, etc. This is regarded occasionally *& an amusement by our chum. West Coaster. "One evening I was just finishing milking, and, happening to look across, the yard, what did I see but a black call (Cinders) trotting Btraight for the open yard gate. Someone Shad evidently forgotten to fasten the gate leading into the calves' paddock, and Cinders w*s making the best of the opportunity offered him to make a dash for liberty." Hurriedly West Coaster ran to the gate - and called to the rascal, who didn't take the •lightest notice, but frisked up the paddock. After chasing him for a while, JBlue Violet's assistance was called, and even Water Lily was obliged to appear on the scene to secure the runaway. After <a long run, West Coaster states that they managed to get Cinders back to bis quarters. He also advises other D.L.F. to experience this for a fortnight, and give their decisjon as to whether the exercise is as good as the games played nowadays. — West Coaster ("A Little Bit of Exercise"). "Fiction was a new force in English literature when Jane Austen lived. Miss Burnley's ' Evelina ' was the first domestic novel. She was followed by Jane Austen, whose place as an author of English fiction is a deservedly high one. She lived in a country house among quiet twople, and she painted the world she .kne^ with fidelity •nd sympathy, and h lively sense of its blemishes and its redeeming sentiments. Sir Walter Scott said of her writing : ' Tlie big bow-wow strain I can do my eel f like any now going, but the exquisite touch that lenders ordinary, commonplace things interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment of her writings is denied to me.' "—Shasta ("My Favourite Author"). Shasta gave many more quotations from Miss Austen and from admirers of hei> works, but space will not allow them all to be •printed. Sha&ta had evidently meant this paper for "Authors' Evening," but it unfortunately arrived too late for that occasion^ "When a person has done us an injury ■we usually try to pay the offender back in ixis own coin. But 'To err ia human ; to forgive, divine.' Many <a happy home has been wreoked by son or daughter erring in some trivial matter. The stern father hardlieartedly turns his child from his door into ihe cruel world to fight life's battle alone. Perhapa the poor victim being thus cast out will err worse, and with the thought of the father's uniorgivene6s will perhaps reach an untimely end."— Giulia ("Forgivenness"). Scots Grey's paper on "Farewells" was teeponsible for more than one outburst of laughter on the part of the members; also "that of T. S. Fairys on "Buddock's Goat.' Cornish in his' interesting paper ou "A Tour Bound Outram " stated the pleasure he derived from visiting a bee farm and also in sampling the honey. As it is impossib'.e to extract anything mor« from the other various papers on account of the limited space, tho names of the contributors and the Subjects selected by them are eriven. They *re as follows: — "An M.P.'s Visit to the CoWfielda," by Bush Boy; "General Readingt," by Haprjy Wag; "My Favourite SUareation," by Edievale: "Description of a ©•ashee," by Violet Rose; "Books," by ■ Sweetheart ; "Comments on the'-*. Poem of Barbara. Freitchie." by Texas Jack; j "Energy," by Scribbler; by ' Indian Chief; "I* Fiction Beneficial or Harmful to the Mind," by Giulia; "An Amazing Tangle," by West Coaster. Emerald r«*d a letter by herself describing her day of cleaning out the D.L.F. library. We are I much indebted to Emerald for the time she j took in cleaning it out, «,nd it is hoped that i mir present librarian will endeavour to keep • 4h« library in the clean and orderly state di ie in at present. j A committee meeting was held to die- ! fetus th« suggestions of a rotary syl- ' Übus, and decided that it would be J advisable to adopt such for the future. • Do* will publish the syllabus every week, i 'tecli time leaving out the top subject and .

adding another. Emerald accorded a vote of thanks to country members for their papers. Greetings were received from Willow Brook, Edieva'.e, Scots Grey, and Black Watch. In the debate for next meeting, "Which has done more for the World — Science or Literature," Kippiehoe is to lead for the former side, and The Shepherdess's Fairy ffcr the latter. Emerald notified the club of "Emmeline's" kindness towards us in contributing books to the library, and moved that the secretary write and thank "Emmeline." Thi& was seconded by Indian Chief. The club was then declared closed. KIPPIEHOE, Acting Secretary. CLUB SYLLABUS FOR ENSUING FOUR WEEKS. March 10.— Short lecture by Dot, taken from Tennyson's "Idylls of the King." March 17.— Debate, "Does Education Help the Woiker?" M«rch 24— Song-tit'e evening. March 31. — Open meeting.