182 THEISLAND ACADIANS 
     
    
   
   
    
     1894, debating clubs became very popular in Acadian circles. The 
     
     members would meet regularly throughout the fall and winter. A topic 
     
     for discussion would be chosen ahead of time and all the members 
     
     invited to state their point of view during the debate. A vote would 
     
     be taken afterwards to determine which side of the question had won 
     
     the most supporters. 
     
    

    
     The editor of L’Impartial was delighted to see these clubs being 
     
     formed. According to him they could contribute greatly to the training 
     
     of young men: 
     
    
   
   
    
     We cannot do too much to promote these societies that have been taking 
     
     shape lately in the form of debating clubs in several of our French centres. It 
     
     is certainly one of the best ways for our young men to become accustomed 
     
     to speaking in public, as well as acquiring a great deal of useful information 
     
     that can be applied to ordinary everyday tasks. (TR)* 
     
    
   
   
    
     The subjects debated were varied and often quite educational: 
     
    
   
   
    
     — Which has the greater influence: wealth or education? 
     
    

    
     —Which is the better form of vote: the ballot or open 
     
     declaration? 
     
    

    
     —Which country offers the greatest chances of success for a 
     
     young man: Canada or the United States? 
     
    

    
     — Who causes the greatest harm to the public or to society: the 
     
     vendor of liquor or the drunkard? 
     
    

    
     —Which is the better form of government: the monarchy or the 
     
     republic? (TR)*’ 
     
    
   
   
    
     Some of these clubs did not last long, but after a brief lapse they 
     
     reappeared at the beginning of the twentieth century and operated 
     
     again for a few years. 
     
    

    
     New clubs for farmers organized in Acadian localities at the end 
     
     of the nineteenth century constituted an excellent source of informa- 
     
     tion for the agricultural community. People met on a regular basis 
     
     mainly to improve their knowledge in the field of agriculture. These 
     
     clubs will be examined in detail in the section on farming. 
     
    

    
     On several occasions at the turn of the century, genuine evening 
     
     courses were organized for young men in some Acadian school dis- 
     
     tricts. In his annual reports of 1898 and 1928, the inspector for the 
     
     Acadian schools mentions that these courses existed**.