THE BATTALION. 35 shops is highly interesting. Miniature bridges, center tables, all kinds of turned work, etc., were among the samples in wood. The joint celebration of the Austin and Calliopean literary societies took place this morning at 10:30. The program was interspersed with music by the college band. President C. P. Rogers of the Calliopean society delivered the address of welcome. John S. Randford was the orator of the occasion, his subject being “Are Republics Doomed?†Mr. Randford took of the history of the re publics of the world from their origin, reviewing the rise and fall of those in the past; discussed expansion, imperial ism, capital and labor, trusts, etc. The speaker, in con clusion of the address, while fearful that the question forming his subject might be answered by time in the af firmative, expressed the hope that some Moses of Ameri can statesmanship will solve the problem of American des tiny and good government An essay on “Patriotism†by F. H. Lerblanche fol lowed the address. Debate—“Resolved, that the United States should adopt the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1.†Affirmative, J. L. Spiller of the Calliopean society; negative, J. D. Carter of the Austin society. The judges were General Waties of Houston, E. J. Smith of Denison and Rev. Dr. Wilson of Baylor female college. The decision was unanimously in favor of the negative. The light shower of the morning was followed about noon by a gracious downpour of rain, which quenched the thirst of nature and relieved the air of the stress of heat.