Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-13
The oratorical Contest.

The Oratorical Contest.
William Jewell Coliegsis an Institution of
iearning situated at Liberty, IN Clay county,
Missouri. 1t was founded In 1919, and re-
ceived its name from one OF tie earliest and
most liberal subscribers to Its
fund. The college is under cohtrol Of the
Baptist church i'll the state, ana comprises
In addition to Its regular collegiate course 4
school of theology. 1t is IA college IN the
high acceptation OF the term, Its chairs being
filed by gentlemen of eminent learning aud
the curriculum being u complete one. Its
work is sud. by those familiar with the
school,, to be very thoroughly done. 1t has,
this session, about one hundred and sixty
pupils. forty-nine Of whom are students o.!
theology. These theological pupils are.
naturally, a check and an example to the
others, and William Jewell bears an enviabie
reputation for the morality of its young men.
Its alumni are finished scholars and cultiyat-
life with honor to their alma mater and credit
to their state. Altogether 1t is an institution
of which Missouri may well feel proud.
Rev. w. T.. Fleenor, now pastor Of the
Baptist church in Atchison, KS, graduated
from this college. He is quite an orator,
was so even as a student, and took great in
terest in that feature OF the college course.
About five years ago he decided, as a means
of encouraging the cultivation OF oratory,
to offer, annually, a handsome gold medal to
that student who should excel In eloquence.
Until this time the contests for this media!
have taken place ut Liberty, but this year
the young gentl. men desiring, we suppose,
a large anu apprecistlve audience of the
fair sex, concluded to hold their tilt Of
words fifty spoken in Lexington, the seat
Of the leading Baptist Female College in the
state.
They were not disappointed, and on Fri
day night, December 9Th, they were greeted
at tie opera house. In spite OF very incle-
ment weather, by a large audience Of the
best people of our town and vicinity.
Owing to the unavoidable absence Of the
| president OF William Jewell, Prof Jno. F.
Lanneau, president of the Baptist +, male
College, who formerly filled q chair at VIII.
! liam Jewell, presided, and did it very grace.
fully.
The following was the
PROGRAMME.
Prayer by Rev. q: W. hyde. Of Boonyille.
SonS-''Queen of the NIght'-by MeSSrs.
Smith, Chiies and Conner.
Piana solo-Kunkel-Miss Mnude Hardwicke.
Oration-''TOil a necessity, hr. J.T. Bruce.
Vocal solO-'TOo Late'-N1iss Fannie Salmon
Oration-''Ac.ivity Indispensable, AIR. A
Piano solo Liszt-Miss Emmie Powell.
Vocal solo-"Waltz song" Miss S. n
Thompson.
Oration-Beyond the Alps Lies Italy''-Mr
w. S. Peace.
Vocal Duet-.sweetP Pleasures on the Water
The Misses Wikof.
O~rat;on-"True Life-Manhood''-Mr. j. II
R"thwell.
Piano solo-"Luccrczia Borgia"- Miss 10
hanna Kriehn.
Vocal sOlu-''GOOd Night, Farewell'-Ais
Emma Brnsher.
Where all did well it Is hard to make dis
tinctions, but we will be pardoned If W
mention particularly q few features of tn
evenings exercises.
Among the pupils of the Baptist Colleg
who assisted, we note the voice of Nts
Fannie Salmon, as especially worthy O
praise. The young lady lsbored under som
little difficulty at first from a very natur,
dittidence, but this soon passed away, an
the rich, full notes of her fine contralto voic
rang out clear and strong, with ~sufficien
volume to ill the house with their melody
She received loud plaudits to which she re
piled with a modest bow. There are fin
possibilities In her voice.
The male trio did we'll, as the gentleme
always do ; Mr.. A. w. smith in his gran
old song, ''The Fall of Zion" brought dow
the house in thunders Of applause.
The Instrumental feature OF the evenin
was Miss kriehn's pi mo solo. This youu
lady, u mere child In years, seems wonde
. fully gifted as a pianist, and never appea,
before an audience, but to surprise and eIe
/. trify 1t.
or Miss Thompson we must speak mo-
] at length. As teacher OF ,ocal music at tn
] school, she has sustained the high reput
: ton which it had built up before her 4
cumbency by special and unusual attentic
to this department. Much was expected
5 her, and she has In no wise disappointed h
j many friends. On the evening in questic
: she appeared dressed in u black gros-gra
j silk, en- trains, profus ly trimmed, ruche al
y lace about the neck, a bunch OF flowers
the throat, with gold jswelry and diamor
e ear drops-a very pretty southern blond
e She sang her lively italian waltz song,
Intricate piece OF music, with much fseli,
and fine effect. and was rewarded with
rspturous encore to which she respond,
e with that sweetest of all songs, when W,
sung, "The Last Rose of Summer" III
q song being nearer the hearts o. her au,
It ence, seemed to call up every latent pow
OF the singer, and She accomplished b
v difficult task most admirably, which "
: testified by the loud and long continued o
a plause of the audience.
IS The young gentlemen, whose cratic
e were the special feature of the OCCASION,
q acquitted themselves well. The judg'
o. Col. Jno. Reid, Rev. Geo. L.. Leyburn a
n A. A. Lesueur, were required to consit
10 three points only-thought, composition a
delivery. That this might be the bet
n done, the manuscripts were sent to thu
several days beforehand, and were careful
examined. The line OF thought was ve
is similar in all the papers, probably by e,
It sign, and three of them ranked hIgh
both thought and composition. Taking
things together the judges believed \
Rothweil entitled TO the medal, but all {
is well. Their compositions were fine on
III ani their delivery was excellent, with @
* fault, however, which was much to be
,d tributed to the room-they spoke too 10,
~. The reason for this suggested itself to
as experienced persons at once, they pitct
d. their voices to the key required in the |
81 in which they were accustomed to spe
10 whereas the hall here, having admira
acoustic properties, a Conversations ton,
loud enough to be heard In its most rem
H. parts. Even this error was not In an ex
err gerated sense, and the speeches which W
iii replete with fine thoughts and beautlt,
lie rounded periods, were well received by
audience, which was as critical an one
can easily be assembled in Missouri. :
successful contestant in this regcOntrS
-: talent Is but fairly in the tight, as 1t n
=, becomes his duty to represent his colleg'
-. the intercollegiate oiatorlcAl contest wi
-, will take place at the State University II
-. spring.
- Lexington feels honored by the dis
ala guished visit OF these young gentlemen