Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-06-20
EMORY ~ HENRY.
The OratoricaI Contest.

Last tuesday ,lbe usual CIo"ui ue'y-
ing the indications of rain, assembled
mt Emory, under the huge Pavilion.
An hour later than the schedule, at J
past eleven. The Committee Messrs.
Geo. w. Palmer, ID. f. Bailey, r. A
Richardson, r.. n. Sledd, and Judge
Frye were aligned in front of the stage
and the exercises opened with prayer
by Rev. A. J. Brown of BlOuntville.
Music was furnished by the Green
Vile Band, and their first piece was Il
solemn dirge, suggestive of the death
Of Andy Johnson.
President Wiley announced that the
speeches would be short, none of them
exceeding ten minutes in length.
TRUTH's DRAMA, by Alex p. Kelly,
who went thoughtfully, and .tremu
lousy into his speech. His gesticula-
ton was admirable and his emphasis
really seemed in harmony with the
poetic sentiment very aptly clad in
figures that pleased and touched, but
there was u little too much stage walk
ing-so we thought.
The speech exhibited originality Of
maner aud of matter, and originality
means thought.
A HEMP SEED, by Jno. NJ. Dickinson
of Glade Spring, had the stirring and
dignified strain of the Odd Fellows
march for his inspiration. He com
menced with n GOODNESS and delibera-
ton which were trille above the
conversational, and left excellent OPP
portunity FOR the fine emphasis after
ward developed. The subject was used
TO illustrate the importance of small
things, and there was an unbroken
vein Of good sense pervading the
speech that marked the young man as
one Of very practical mind.
TOO LATE, 10y H. II. Childers of La.
Here was the son Of my old bosom
College friend of 1S49, and gave him
my attention. The friend of my boy
hood was dead, truly it was "tOo late"
for me to revive the past.
Dignity and Evolutionary culture
marked the speech and its peroration
was excellent.
T'wAs SWEET, TWAS FALSE, tbs
FLED, by e. A. Carsey, Nashville.
The Band gave him a sort of in
voluntary medley that was horrid to
begin with, but he went slowly to
word painting and rarely left the fields
of fancy. These he culled with some
skill, and toward the close entered
the domain of serious truth. His
manner and delivery were good.
Thus far Mr. Kelly has the medal
THOU ART WEIGHED IN THE
BALANCE, by Edward N. Tully, of
Texas, commenced as though conscious
of increased length of human life, and
after painting the fall Of BeltshaZar in
very vivid style drew very wholesome
deductions therefrom. Occasionally
there was little too much of the dra-
matte, on which few speakers can
successfully venture. He closed with
quotation from BryAnt's Thanatopsis
which was very appropriately used.
TIE MODEL OF THE EAST, by o. L.
Miles Of Emory, commenced with a
beautiful picture which he very beau
TRULY painted with word and gesture,
but which he followed scarcely far
enough.
Gestiulation was much resorted to
but it was nearly faultless. Strength
and beauty were associated throughout
the speech, and he was the first to dis
pute the medal seriously with Kelly,
from whom we think he wrested it.
THE FARMER, by ID. r.. Stubblefield
of Nashville, began with vehemently
expressed purpose to rescue the farmer
from what he declared was degraded
and mental position. His delivery
was good but his championship of the
farmer was a considered as little over
drawn in that, it asserted the farmer
to have accorded him an inferior posi-
ton in society. The fact is, only the
fools and snobs think so. The men of
sense honor the farmer and rank him
y | among natures noblemen. The
effect of the speech would have been
better. if he had so stated, Some per-
sons thought he ought to have the
medal and some such We're good judges
too.
THE FALLING STAR, by f. p.
Broyles OF Jonesboro, Tenn, who
probed truth at his first thrust, and
had the attention of the audience
His earnestness and force of thought
were at once acknowledged, a thric,
told quotation gave the speech some
thing of the character of II sermon, bu
the direct force, originality and
oarnestness of the speech placed 1t
almost abreast Of the polished elocu
ton of Miles.
THE LANIP or GLORY STILL BURNS
by NJ. II. Honaker, of Abingdon, was
full Of pretty images, and very hand
somcly delivered. 1t was short but
very pretty.
WE, THE HEIRS OF ALL THE AGES
Ivy J, c, Wysor of Newhern. The
strength, depth, and force of this