Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-05-11
q Normal Netes.

The Fourth Annual Declamatorl
Contest tor the William +. Baird priz,
medal was held d, the Normal Chapel
on last Friday evening. The auiienc,
being late in assembling, the exercise!
were delayed till about 8. 80. Ats. 8:
the eleven speakers with Miss Lizzie
Taylor at the head, filed through ths
east door and up the north aisle of the
Chapel amid the most deafening ap
plause. With ststely step each ascend
ed the rostrum, and as they passed
across the stage in the full glare of the
footlights, they presented a fine ap'
pearance. The young ladies nigh,
have been mistaken for creatures from
another land just on a transitory visi,
to our planet, SO wonderfully bewitch.
ing and fairy.like did they appear. The
young gentlemen too, graced the group
in a fitting manner.
Rev. ]. B. Mitchell invoked Gods
blessing upon the exercises Of the eve.
ming. The Kirksville String Band fur.
nished the music which was of an ex.
cellent character and added much to
the enjoyment.
AtS.45 the first speaker, Miss Alice
Robins. representative of the Senior
Society. stepped to the front and de.
claimed in clear silvery tone. 1.-The
Orphans Prayer. The speaker pos.
sesses a good voice and tho she spoke
low at times, twas easily heard by all
in the room During her recital of the
prayer, the whole audience was almos,
motlonless. In articulation, she was
surpassed by no one, and had her ges-
lures been more free and graceful many
might have accorded her the honor oi
the evening.
Miss Ida Barnard, second speaker,
was a representative from Mrs. A. E.
DEFINES Rhetorical division. Her
defamation. "Kit Carson.s Wife," was
we'll rendered. The gesticuiation and
articulation both good, but no; quite
enough earnestness displayed for such
a piece The thought was brought
out so as to be easily understood.
After music Miss Anna Mcpherson
Zetosophian Society, recited the decla-
nation entitled "Tke Young Gray
Head" She seemed to be perfectly
at home upon the stage, and spoke as
tho she felt the force of what she was
saying. So touching was her render
ing of the pathetic part of the declama.
ton that tears were seen to glisten in
the eyes of many.
:Asleep at the Switch was the de-
clamation rendered by w. D. Grove,
representative from the Senior Society.
This gentleman had some gestures in
his piece that were positively fine.
Had it not been for one mistake in
modulatior, Mr.. Grove would have
made it more perplexing for the judges
to render the decision. As 1t was, he
elected many compliments from the
listeners
The next speaker belonged to Miss
Ovens Rhetorical division. Twas
Miss Lizzie Taylor, the youngest of
the contestants, and her selection was
The Death of the Old Squire"-a
very difficult one. Notwithstanding
this it was we'll executed, the speaker
entering into the spiri. of the piece
with zeal and eamestness that at once
engaged the rapt attention of the au-
dlence. If we were to criticise at all,
we would say that the gesticulations
were rather too frequent.
The successful declaimer of the eve
ming was the next to appear upon the
stage. Upon Prof. Blanton's calling
"The Light-Keeper's Daughter" Miss
Kate Clark, representative of the Phil
omathean Society, came to the front
with graceful step and spoke her selec-
ton in a low, yet clear and distinct
tone Of voice. The gestures were per-
[ectly appropriate, and all performed
with ease A grand round of applause
vas given the speaker as she retired
rom the floor.
Of all the speakers subjected to Miss
Ada Greenwood's training {, none SEEM
ID to have canght her manner of de-
'laiming so well as Miss Lucy Turner,
he next one on the floor, and represen-
alive of Miss Snyder's Rhetorical di.
,ision. So perfectly did she initiate
Ter trainer that one had to take a Sec
md look to assure themselves that the
peaker was really the one named. The
election was, "On the Wrong Traip."
comic one, and a happy diversion