The New York herald., 1878-01-11
INTERCOLLEGIATE CONTEST.
The Youths of America in Noble
Intellectual Rivalry.
DIGNITY OF KNOWLEDGE.
Brilliant Scene at the Academy
OF Music.


My only aroogy for appearing here this capacity
sonight 10 that have yet ceased 10 be student
myself" said Rev. Dr. Taylor, OF the Broadway TAB
ernace, when he last night assumed the char at tho
Academy of Music conduct tho intercollegiate ora
toricai contest In consequence Of the heavy RAIN
storm which prevailed the ednce was only one-lhrd
0lied but those present exhibited an intense interest
In the proceedings. Among the prominent gentle
men who occupied seats upon the platform were
President McCosh, OF Princeton College; General
Alexander s. Webb, President OF the College OF tho
City of Now York; Professor Werner, of tho same
Institution; Professor Martin OF Columbia College,
and President Catte OF Lafayette College. Ten COL
lcgcs werc represcntcd-Coegs OF Tho City OF New
York, St. JOHNS Cornell. Rutgers, Lafayette.
Madison, Wesleyan, Syracuse, Princeton and tho
University of the CITY OF New York.
THE EMINENT EXAMINERS.
The examiners liz the various subjects, aside from
oratory, for which prizes wore awarded wero T.
Wentworth H'gginson, james 7. Field and +. G.
Stedman who acted judges VI essays; Bayard Tay.
lor J. r. Hawey and E. II. Chapin judges of oratory;
Charlton 7. Lewis T. W. Chambers and A. Hardness,
exam Greek; J. II. Morse Mytton Maury and
j. b. sewall. examiners Latin Simon Nowcomb, p.
S. Michie and A. Hall, examiners in mathematics;
Noah Porter, J. H. seelye and c. T. Kraun, cxamn-
ers In mental science.
MADISON UNIVERSITY.
Dr.. Chaplin made u brief opening prayer and the
contest opened by Mr.. James II. Mason, Of Madi-
con University. The subject OF his address was
sProgress and Penalty" He coDtendod that the
apostle Of advanced thought In any department OF life
was always martyr to the prejudces and persecu-
t!ons Of his more conservative or ignorant fellow men,
PRINCETON.
Princeton College next entered the lists in the per-
son OF Mr. Charles /. Williams, who spoke OF ''Our
Mother Tongue.v His delivery was good, and he was
loudly applauded when he retired In tho course Of
his address be took occasion to commend President
Hayes for his policy toward the South.
ST. JOHNS.
Mr. Peter A. Hendricks OF ST. Johns College, Ford
ham, powerful looking, black haired youth Of about
twenty three, talked about PrincipIe. "what axoms
were to SCIENCE what the heart was TO the body,
principle" he said, 'was 10 morality" The young
man spoke with powerful voice, with good artcu-
laton and graceful gesture.
UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
s.Tho Cuban Revolution" formed the subject OF the
address OF William J. Roome, Jr, who came for
ward to battle for the University of the
City OF New York. He had good, ring
ing voice, graceful demeanor, and spoke
with earncstness and had the sympathy of. the
diencc the nrst He said the spectacle OF iree
people struggling against the oppression OF tyrrany
had always been regarded as a grand one, and from
generation to generation had enlisted the warnest
Tympathies Of mankind Tho samo spirit exhibited
by the Greeks at tho Pass OF Thermopyin animated
tho bosoms of tho Cubans to-day. Mr.. Roams was
made the recipient oil several floral testimonials
The orchestra the ravishnR strains Strauss
.'verdcten" waltz vibrating through tho house tor
I've minutes.
Mr.. Seaman Miller, OF Rutgers College, next nd.
preston OF Thought, and tho speaker. after review.
Ing the various methods by which thought
10 communicated, declared that the painter
with bis brush, the sculptor with his chisel
and the musician with his instrument must
all give way before tho man who uses words 10 ex.
press his deas. Words the only vehicle OF pro-
iouud matured thoughts. Every thought had It's
peculiar dress. No labor could be too Direct too
untirIng too earnest Tor The mastery OF words,
when that power had been acquired It's proper use
should be 10 elevate mankind and not to lead them
astray.
Mr. Joseph Ness, OF Cornell University, made bis
bow next He appeared 10 be about twenty-five years
old. He spoke nuently and distinctly. The theme
be had chosen was "rhe Catholic Church-A Blessing
IN History, and he concnded that Latin Christianity
nations OF the North had been conquered BY
the Roman arms In the pagan DAYS, but
the domination was but for brief period.
Not the Roman arms had civilized the world. but the
Church OF Rome whose missionaries going forth into
the wilderness taught The people agriculture, and
who by their own example taught tho uncivized
denizens OF the wilds to love goodness and truth.
WILLIAMS.
Mr.. Carlton r Miils, young man about twenty
the champion OF Williams College "rhe National
Life Of Ireland" was his theme, and he spoke
Reviewing tho history Of the hapless island from the
time OF Queen Elizabeth until the present time he
pronounced the story ot the nation's sulerings as
dark tragedy sweetened by spirit OF freedom. He
reminded bis bearers that onosixh or 0De-sevcnth OF
,hc population OF the American colonies was Irish at
the timc the Declaration Of Independence was made,
and predicted that the freedom which the children
OF tho Green Isle have or centuries timo and again
drenched her soil with blood will one Gay be hers.
"Fverlasting Man" was tho title OF the address de-
livered by Mr.. Paul Krole Of the College Of the City
OF Now York, young gentleman whv spoke with ex.
ceeding veor aud vehement gestc tculatlon. HIS voice
was full anu round and his address received with
much iavor. he argued that the mere existence oil
universal belief IN Immortality Is sufficient that mans
soul does not perish with his body. This belief has
ennoblsd even savage tribes TO taco death and
the earliest ascctcs aud martyrs of Christianity to
endure the greatest ings Tor he sake OF establish
ing the conviction OF this future life and ITS
He ended by saying, 'You, who believe no God, In
no hereafter no eternity OF soul or body; you whose
imasnstioDs soar, easleke;as the fys shot from the
heroic acts OF early days strike your eyes Will you
credit with sisnhcance almost super natural the
deeds inspired by Christianity deeds more grandly
moral, more saciincill than those others because
prompted by the immortal soul, fully confident OF lis
Immortality" His effort was rewarded with loud and
long continued applause
The character OF Claiming was the themc of Mr.
Thomas G. Martin OF Wesleyan College Mr. Martin
1owing side wniskers There three great
thoughts, like threads OF gold, running through tho
lie OF Cnannng The Drst was his love Of truth. !.
Instead OF calling upon mon to gather around him he
cxhorted them 10 rally around the truth His second
was his love OF humanity Claiming looked upon
man ns a medallion from the hand OF God, crowned
with glory and tho GROWING work OF creation, and
lie worked to elevate the character OF bring
out the divinhy IN him. Mr.. Murun deicnded his
subject from the charge Of beng seotarian. True
in his lie he had preached against many churches
Yet seven denominations preached funeral services
for him. He preached against Catholicism but when
his remains borne TO the tomb the bell of n
catholic Cathedral toicd his krel. The history OF
sectariansm had not parallel TO such an event.
LAFAYETTE
Mr. JamessJ. Grant, tall, dark gentleman OF
twenty 6vc stepped forward rs the representative OF
Lafayette College "rbe Convictions OF Laborn
Afforded i'm material for address OF considerable
power favor of tho claims o the aborcr which
was delivered in strong, clear voice. lie pictured
the sorrows and suffering oi the laborer; he asked
what there Tor him after q. 900 years OF slavery
Art ciaimo,l all that beautiful. philosophy ali mat