The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-06-16
REGENTS PRIZE CONTEST.
GEORGE E. BOYD, JR.,
OF Wheeling, West Virginia,
the Successful Declaimer.

] A large and enthusiastic audience
filed the Commencement Hall last
night to. witness the contest for
the Regents prize offered for the best
declaimcr in the Preparatory Depart
ment and to hear the Prize Essay
read. The exercises vera opened
with prayer by Rev. L. b. Hughes,
of the NJ. Il Church. President
Wilson then announced the program
of the evening. The Judges appoint
ed from the regents Of the University
consisted of Regents w. p. Wiley,
d. G. Gallagher and Cameron l..
Thompson. G. S. Bennett, of Lewis,
county, opened the program with a
selection entitled "The Mldman."
This was very diff ;ult selection,
! but the performer executed the ges-
lures and initiated a mailman as
nearly rs can be accomplished by one
who is sane. His voice lacked the
smoothness characteristic Of good
defamation, but the gentleman made
up in action what he lacked in voice.
Mr.. Bennett may we'll be proud of
/ his effort.
Mr.. ia. Birkett then followed with
grand old defamation "Shamus
O'Brien." Although Mr.. Birkett's
rendering was one ont of the usual
conception Of the piece, it was ex-
ceedingly pleasing. The length of
the piece may have accounted for the
monotony of expression and gesture
which became apparent before the
closing. His rendering of the pa
thetic portion was very effective.
Wheeling was then represented by
George +. Boyd. with Wcbster's
speech on the Trial Of Murderer. :"
Mr.. Bovd's manner was calm and
dispassionate. His force lies in dis
tinctness of cnunciation and dignity
of delivery. Altogether Mr.. Boyd's
style is peculiarly pleasing, and cal
culated to inspire respect in the au-
dience.
ga Tribute to the Memory of An
drew Johnson" by Mr.. r. w.
hcuuONS, lOliOMfu. Hc StlcCtiOu
was an excellent one, full of spirit,
and afforded splendid opportunities
for oratorv. Mr. Meadows voice is
clear cut, and his gestures are grace
full and flowing. That the selection
was appreciated was manifest by the
applause following its execution.
Mr.. Thos. G. Rector then rendered
in excellent taste selection, entitled
"The Modern Cain" Mr.. Rector's
voice is one of wonderful volume,
while his gestures were forcible and
emphatic. Commanding in appear
ance and manly in delivery, his
defamation furnished an excellent
field for pathos, and enunciation, to
which the gentleman did ample JUS
tice.
Mr.. Waters, Of Preston county,
then rendered a stirring defamation,
entitled "Thc Curse of Regulus."
Mr.. Waters action was somewhat
constrained and his voice at first
seemed broken. Warming with his
subject, he launched and finished his
performance with credit to himself.
The committee retired in order to
make up their decision, and pending
their return Mr.. Matt. S. Hughes
read the Prize Essay. His delivery
was admirable. He held the closest
attention of the audience during its
entire length, which was twenty-five
minutes. isf
AT the close of Mr.. Hughes essay,
the President introduced Mr. f. W.
Lawson, who read the essay written
by our deceased friend George w.
Cunningham. This was done in re-
spect to his memory. 1t was very
creditable performance, especially
so when it is remembered that he was
already very i'll when he was getting
it ready for presentation to the COM
mittee. His was the only essay upon
the negative side of the question.
We regret our inability to publish it.
The committee upon its return,
through its chairman, w. ?. Wiley,
announced that they had awarded
the prize for Defamation to Mr..
George E. Boyd, Jr., of Wheeling.
Mr., Boyd bore his honors very mod
estly, and his competitors sustained
their defeat most grace fully.
Miss Lille Nimon, of Fairmont,
died last Sunday evening of typhoid
fever. Miss Nimon is we'll known
in Morgantown, and her many
friends deeply mourn her untimely
death. She was young lady ofiex
emplary life and high Christian char
acter, and her winning disposition en-
deared her to all who knew her.
Tho rom ainc will hn hrnu q ht hnra to