Nature Versus Art
Subject of Interesting Debate in Local Grammar School
January 29, 1915
The pupils of the Seventh and Eighth grades of the Susanville Grammar school have begun a series of debates. The first of these was held Friday, January 15, and the interest was such that the debate lasted nearly an hour beyond the usual time for school closing.
“Nature versus Art” was the subject debated, the affirmative – that art is superior to nature – being taken by the Eighth grade, the following pupils participating: Eileen Younie, Mildred Long, Dottie Carman, Violet Childers, Eveyln Woodward and Amelia Borrette.
Taking into consideration that they had the difficult side of the question, these young debaters made a credible showing. Eileen Younie and Violet Childers spoke like veteran debaters, and in Mildred Long was revealed a budding lawyer.
Mildred’s subconscious mind told her that she had a bad case, and she took full advantage of the attorney’s privilege – “When you have a bad case abuse the other side.”
The mingled sarcasm and contempt which she heaped upon nature and its defenders was extremely vitriolic, and showed her to be the possessor of a keen and well-informed mind.
The Seventh-grade pupils who took the negative side, and demonstrated that nature is superior of art, were H. McKenzie, H. Lane, H. Westervelt, C. Acord, Ina Arnold and Myrtle Yarborough.
The arguments of the first two named were simply unanswerable, and their side was given the decision.
The judges were Miss Fisher, Mabel Delavan and H. Wilcox, Prof. Sifford acting as chairman.
The entire affair reflected credit upon the management and demonstrated that her in Susanville young men and women are being trained that they will be able to hold their own in the forum of the future.
