The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-10-28

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young man.
Some of the exercises in English were
very fine. may especially mention the
singing of "Larboard Watch, and the
defamation or recitation of "The Wing
ed Worshippers," and "Thanatopsis-
in these performances As | was one Of
the judges III these recitations, may be
permitted to 'adjudicate," or criticise
the performances. Martha Miss Mary
Pugh, of CincinnatD certainly far ex-
celled all competitors. She was so very
natural l was told by one who always
admired that wonderful production,
"Thanatopsis, that he never understood |
the grandeur of the production, nor the |
true meaning of the author, until he |
heard Miss Pugh recite it.
There was young woman from Gin
cinnati, do not know her name, who |
recited both these pieces, and she would
be fine declaimer, if she did not put on
so much agony, and become so unnatural
In reciting "Thanatopsis' she WORKED
herself into kind of frenzy, and before
she was near through there was great
lump of ioam in the corner of he- mouth,
and she appeared almost wild with ex-
element. To show how unnatural she
became, will only refer to one part of
the performance. The poet says;
Earth that nourished thee, shall claim
| Thy growth u be resolved to earth again;
And, lost each human trace, surren dering up
/ being. 90
TO mix forever with the elements
To be a brother 10 the inSensible rock
| And to the sluggish ciod, which the rude swain
Turns with his share and treads upon-
When she recited this she attempted
to show how the rude swain, would
tread upon the clod. If she had been
stamping the life out of rattlesnake,
she could not have exhibited more
malice, hatred. loathing and disgust.
Now the poet knew, and every one
knows, that the plowman does not
trample the cold because he hates it, but
he does so through utter indiffence, and
the poet intended to show the utter for
getfulness of the human dust, by refer
ring to the very careless and indifferent
manner in which the plowman steps or
tramples upon the clods as his plow
turns them up IN the prosecution OF his
work
Charles A. Atkinson perhaps recited
this grand poem as well as did Miss Pugh,
with the exception that he did not have
it well committed, and he left out some
words and some entire sentences. Char
ley is fine eloeutionist, but l will sug
gest here, for his benefit that he puts on
just little too much agony, and runs
rather into the nasal twang OF a hard
shell. II he will guard against this, he
will soon be one OF the foremost among
elocutionists.
The singing of Welsh songs in the old
style, was rich. l heard some of the old
Welsh songs just as / heard them thirty
five years ago, in the rude cabins, before
either Moriah or Horeb churches were
built
The erowning glory of the whole Els
teddfod was the grand chorus, The
Heavens are Telling There were five
competing choirs. The order of singing
was determined by lot, and the jackson
choir came first, the two Oak Hill choirs,
then Ironton, and last Cincinnati. l do
not profess to be judge OF music, but
do know the jackson choir made music
which sounded the best. No one can
!, doubt that the part by the three voices
performed by Eben Jones, S. E. Evans
: and Mrs. Hull. was vastly superior to the
> performance of the same part by any o
the other choirs. Moses D. Jones is
teacher Of which this choir should fee
proud. He was calm, graceful and dig
nifed. His countenance wore an ex
preston of confidence, which inspired
the entire class. His manner of keepin.
the time Was graceful and perfect Al
. the other leaders looked anxious anC
excited. and some of them went through
. contortions which would do credit. to
v person in a regular epileptic fit.
r 1 am happy to be able to announc
. that the jackson Choral Society has re
a organized, and will be happy to NEE
n Cincinnati at some future time, whel
r there may be another umpire to deter
mine where the real merit lies.
q / write the above at my own sugges
e ton. l have not had any talk with Mr.
d Jones upon the subject. He may believ
;, that his choir was fairly beaten l d.
not