This report spends one third of its brief length defining "critic" before praising the Society for their good performance. Transcription included.
Kirkpatrick, John P., 1881-1946Persifor Spilsbury (brother of Raymond) offers his commentary on the state of the Thencanic Society meeting. After serious remarks on the turbulent behavior, he gives praise to the students who participated in the debate. One student remains unidentified. Transcription included.
Spilsbury, Persifor G. (Persifor Gybbon), 1882-1959An unusual typed report, detailing the final meetings of 1898. Post notes the debate's topic, which may reflect post-Spanish-American-War discussions of the role of the media. He also mentions a challenge from the Normal [School] Debating Society, fines levied against "unruly members," and the return of a lost "opera hat." No transcription, as this is a typescript.
Post, J. Foster, ca. 1882-This humorous report details the students' interest in a new game called "basket ball," and John Britton's oration on pies. The critic also reject's the Society President's attempt to levy a fine against him. Transcription included.
Note that the connection with Hervey Studdiford is somewhat tenuous, as he likely graduated no later than 1895. The Society did occasionally receive visits from alumni, or It may be an unnamed younger brother or relative of Hervey's. But without a first name there is no way to confirm this Studdiford's identity.
Katzenbach, Welling S. (Welling Sickle), 1884-1913A short review of the meeting that would be otherwise unremarkable if not for the juvenile comment about the Society's president "refusing to allow any babes." Transcription included.
Hanson, Howard E. (Howard Eagleton), 1881-1966A humorous summary of the Thencanic's meeting, which included a game of football, name-calling based in U.S. monetary policy, and demonstrations on "how to make love." Transcription included.
Thencanic Society (Model School (Trenton, N.J.))A report signed only as "Critic," perhaps due to the harsh words it has for the Thencanic Society. Though brief, it shows that the problems of teenage boys continue to affect the Society's operations. The anonymous Critic caps off his report with a flourish that leads into a doodled illustration of a man in a top hat. Transcription included.
unknownA short report, but a historically interesting one as the Thencanic's debate on the "Cuban Question" marks the first mention of the events leading to the Spanish-American War the following year. Transcription included.
Packer, Donald J. (Donald Julian), 1882-1944Two critic's reports for the same meeting, one rejected and the other accepted. Presumably the first report did not accurately describe the meeting. Unfortunately, no records survive as to why the Officers rejected the first report. Transcription included.
One student, "Dunning," has not been identified as the few mentions of him only include his first name.
This booklet outlines the events of one of the Thencanic Society's "entertainments." The main item was Howard Hanson's farce-comedy "An Equilateral Triangle," the text of which does not survive. It does, however, include the names (or at least the first two initials) of the participating members, as well as their class years. No transcription, as the booklet is typed.
Thencanic Society (Model School (Trenton, N.J.))