, 1873-03-08
THE VILLAGE or EVANSTON.

Tho Annual Contest for tho Kcdzlc prlzo ai
the Northwestern University.
The Methodist Church WAS filed on Thursday
night with .wel1-dressed and respectable
audience, called together by tho annual contest
for the prize in defamation, established through
tho generosity Of J. H. Kedzio, Esq. Tho OK.
e1oiscs, which wore announced to begin at TX
o'clock by railroad time, were delayed until 8.
out Of courteBy to those wicked proparatoriane
who 80 nasfdously distributed mock schemes.
Whom tho audience were wo1l supplied, Dr.. H. @.
Briggs offered tho invocation. President Fowler
announced to the audience that the prize was
to be divided into two portions, the Iargor DOT
tion or first prizo to go to that declaimer who
exhibited tho most perfect conception of the
thought mud sentiment Of the piece to bo ron-
dered, and who gave the boat rendition. Tho
remaining portion to be disposed Of on tho Same
general principles.
8. @, McPhemu, the first declalmer On tho
list, having made up his mind to grapple
with tho "1rieh Disturbance Bill of 1885,"
made his bow to tho audience. He seemed In
tho main to understand the meaning, and
worked bimselt into the spirit OF the pieco, At
times slight nasal twang could be detected,
and although he displayed 9 good deal Of spirit
and animation, Jet it seemed to be rather an
natural afilatua.
9. II. Ellingwood followed with "Robert Of
Sicily" for his selection. This gentleman had
not that resonance in his voice that careful train
ing imparts; huskinoss, and, At times. indis-
sessed, howeyor. good descriptive powers.
Miss Sarah Cathcart's rendition OF s'AIother
and Poet cannot be treated in radical manner
pro or con-, except that there WIS too much
monotony. Her selection was one admirably
adapted to q woman and woman's voice, pathos
and sorrow bolng tho predominant emotions !;
emotions which generally oyorpower any lady,
or at loast appear 80 to do, unacoussomed to pub
lie speaking.
Tie "Eagle's Nest" golocted by f. Tav1or.
appeared through all it's parts as about to onl il,
tragedy. AMI 1t may DO that this fact will ex-
plain the nenr approach Of tho speaker to rant
ing. The selection was too long. aud ono which,
from It's sul1ect-mattor, pleased the audience
Tho fifth speaker was 4. J.. Whippor; his sub
1cft, "sccno at the Natural Bridge, Virginia."
This gonttomnn had . fino conception Of this
highly exciting piece of defamation, and de-
though at times there wero attempts at dramatic
efroof.
Mr. Scott Mathews cast his pabulun into
"Webator's Reply to Haines." He spoke with 3
enunciation, but with = lack of earneatness and
conception Of tue importance OF the debate he
esahyed to reproduce.
"Unjust Natural Acquisition Was fairly
pronounced by s; 9; Bradford. Tho speaker had
good voice, but the artificial utteranco aimed
at destroyed tho life Of the selection.
Hiss Emma 2. parka made an unfortunate 60
lection in "Hgh Tide" Her voice WAS good
and her powers Of elocution more than Ordinary.
Still, she seemed to ignore the truth that 1t Ia
Impossible to make III audience, comfortably
seated in commodious church, go distracted
and wild over an abrupt and noisy description Of
aome acene Of peril.
Thoro is something irroHistlbly ludicrous In
these attempts at dramatic effect deatituto Of
any surroundings favorable to suoh an end.
No ono is allowed to onter for this prize who
ls not free from conditions, and elected by tho
class.
Miss Eva Mattison, George II. Lott, and r..
T. Baird relieved tho todium Of tho exercises by
music.
Tho judges wore Robert +. Qucal, David
Talos, Gharioa K. Danuister Frederick b. Nny-
mond, aud ]. 2. Norton, who will sond their yer-
dict scaled to the Faculty.
Prof. r. L. Cnmnock.' the Instructor in eloot1-
tion, deserves groat credit for the worry crotablo
and pleasant entertainment that was given, I'd
tho proficiency and culture displayed Is In = great
measure duo to hlB training,