Wheeling Times And Advertiser

To the Wheeling Times,

Mr. Wharton

It was with great pleasure that I read a communication signed 'A' in your paper of the 10th inst., which deserves instead of a hurried glance, an attentive perusal. It is a subject fraught with welfare to the young men of Wheeling, nor should it be suffered to pass by unheeded and unattended to. Calls have often been made, but they have not been responded to in the right spirit; the thing has not been taken hold of in the proper manner; the shoulder has not been put to the wheel. "To will is to do" and what is so easy as to will when the object is a good one and the end in view a noble and worthy one? If a half dozen can be drawn together who will determine to see the matter through, it will succeed, for if the thing be decided upon, there is nothing to stop the consummation. The well wishers and approvals of all are sure to be given, and with the proud consciousness of undertaking a noble and worthy object it cannot but succeed. I was forcibly struck by an expression made use of by the Rev. Mr. Kenney a few weeks since, the substance of which is as follows: he said that he was surprised that in a city the size of Wheeling there should be no Literary Societies where the young men might pass their leisure hours of an evening in the improvement and instruction of their minds. It is not only a matter of surprise but a disgrace to Wheeling—a disgrace which should not long be permitted. There are many young men in Wheeling who would willingly form a society but are afraid to start one lest they should be thought too officious; but I would propose that you be so kind as to make an effort through your paper to effect the object in view. Could a meeting be called at the Court House or some private office? Perhaps there are some who take an interest in this and would willingly admit a meeting to be called at their office for the purpose of consultation. If so I would suggest they report to Mr. Wharton, and that Mr. Wharton give notice of it in his paper if it's advisable. If I can offer a better suggestion I hope he will do so. I think Mr. Wharton might do better than take the recommendation he has: get a list of names of those who would attend, ask the privilege of holding the meeting at some office or other place, then call the meeting through the paper.