PALLADIAN.

The Palladian Society was organized early in the fall of 1871, but a few weeks after the opening of the University. Room No. 12, now occupied by the Medical Department, was assigned for its use, and both professors and students worked enthusiastically for the success of the new organization. The hall was at first barren of furniture, save rough chairs for the performers, and a deal table, behind which the debaters fortified themselves. Settees from the recitation rooms were brought in, to accommodate the bare walls and uncarpeted floor. Amid these rugged surroundings, the first Palladians began to train themselves in oratory and debate.

Gentlemen alone constituted the membership in those early days, and as a consequence, vigor characterized their discussions, and the parliamentary struggles that always arise were of unusual fierceness.

In the winter of 1873 a conflict between opposing factions caused the withdrawl of a large number of members, who organized themselves into the Adelphian Society. Palladian, however, was the stronger of the two, and enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity. A carpet was purchased; pictures, an organ, and other furniture was added; and ladies were admitted to membership.

Again, in the fall of 1876, the Society was weakened by the resignation of all the members except barely a dozen preparatory students—the retiring ones fusing with the feeble Adelphian and forming the University Union. A debt was hanging over the Society, and the opposition had deranged the heating apparatus of the hall, making it necessary to hold the meetings in other places. The outlook could not have been more gloomy; but Palladian grit was finally triumphant. The truant members returned; large accessions were made to the membership; and uninterrupted prosperity has since been the lot of the society.

In the fall of 1880 the hall now in use was occupied, having been fitted up at a cost of four hundred dollars. Three years later, over six hundred dollars was expended in decorating and furnishing.

Palladian is now entirely free from debt, has a home said to be exceeded in beauty by but few in the United States, and possesses a membership united and enthusiastic as never before in its history.