Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-06-15
OUR COLLEGES.

.
quite equal to some Of the others Of
previous years. Yet the speeches
were nearly all good and the ora
tory fair. We noticed that in the
particular 81 enuncation the speak
80 c<ccllcd those Of any similar
contest heretofore.
The committee selected by Col
King, the founder Of the medal,
consisted of 1. g. Fowler, Rev. 4.
j. Brown, ID. d., and Rev. I. Z.
Massey, Of Aloemarle, Va.
We append the few notes We
were able to make Of the speeches
us they were delivered.
The first speaker was NJ. W.
Willard, whose subject was Hope.
Few young orators have exhibited
more pluck and delibcration, tom
pcrcd by SO Porscptible a degree
Of embarrassment. His gcsticula-
ton was sparse and pretty good
and though he once or twice forgot
his speech he stood his ground
manfully until he was able TO res
sumo. His composition was com
prchcn5iye in It's scope and was
marked 10y some very nice flights
of fancy. We observed a few
faults Of pronunciation, but his
cnunciation was rather better than
usual. lie spoke - minutes and
retired as coolIy rs lie had walked
upon the stage, conscious tnat il
he had no. won lac had not at all
failed.
Mr.. \. Y. Sloan took the same
line Of thought, his subject being
OUR UIorE. His cXordium was
pleasant and while a few Of his yes
lures were crampcd, the far greater
number were excellent. His voice
was pretty good and he seemed
conscious Of his power to hold the
attention OF his audience. There
was a nervous resort to climax
which Ectokcned earncstncss. lie
spoke seven minutes and closed
when We were not expecting it.
John Ii Caldwell next walked
with a lively step to the front and
on the subject "The Papacy EX~
posed" went Immediately TO the
work. lie soon forgot his speech,
but asked leave to refer to his mans
uscript, and without the slightest
embarrassment sailed again into
line. There was in his delivery
more Of the conversational incis~
ivcne55 than any of his prCdeccs
sors had exhibited. He seemed
fired 10y the matter Of his speech
and TO desire to convince his audi
cnre. Time II minutes.
Yesterday Our Guide, was the
basis Of a speech by Mr.. q. B..
IIanchcr, who in a few deX.crous~
~ linked sentences showed q pur-
pose to lay the foundation for an
address that he seemed to have
perfectly at the end of his tongue.
With posture coolly taken he
talked right ahead and seldom at
tempted a gcstarc, and never any
but a good one His voice was
musical and marked by good com
pass. His cnunciation was really
good and his pronunciation still
better. There seemed a connects
inc wire in each sentence and an
active battery 1t lis ends. With
out being profound or tightly log
ical the speech was well conceived
and admirably delivered without a
break in the connection. Time Il
minutes.
Mr.. r. B. Alley-Thc Triumphs
of Christianity being his subject,
opened with a manifest purpose to
appreciate the value OF each wcrd,
giving TO some OF them even a lit
lie too much emphasis OF what in
music should be called stacato, but
he had am carncstness which fitted
well with il and left 1t doubtful
whether the two characteristic:
would not have to be torn apart in
order to find fault about them
There was evident conviction il
tho matter of his speech and h'
seemed fired by it. Time /;
minutes.
j. u. Hamaker said, my them,
Is TRUrH, ahd went to work viii
ease and discipline to build a sole
structure on it. His manner wa
perfectly cool, his language rich
but temperate, and earncstness an
delibcration rather than displa
seemed aimed at. Time S minute.
Harmony of Nature by |. 5. An
dcrson was the next and but on
.be last effort. The speaker show
cd oratical cultivation, perhap
more bv its delivery than in tn
matter. but even in this respect
,r.s meritorious. There was NOR
of ,ba artificial than the natura
orator exhibited in il, but be TIN
se il NAV, the ladies, at the end {
Il. eavan minutes, sent dow
mon him an avalanche of flowers
A Montgomery closed the con
te.t from the subject =, an
made a pretty speech of 9 minute