The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-05-14
rae ronnIAL ENrEKrA1HMENr.

The second entertainments OF the ora
torIcal series, which had been on the
taps for several weeks, was held in the
assembly room on Friday evening. The
audience was large. cultured and as
matter of course, appreciative. From
financial point of view the success OF the
enterprise was far IN advance OF the
most hopeful expectations As literary
attraction, Its thorough and varied merit
was quite credItable to the well known
reputation of the State Normal. In ad-
dItion to the undoubted native ability of
the performers, most careful prepare
ton characterized each item on the pro-
gram.
Instrumental music was furnished by
Miss Minnie Sheldon in the form of
piano solo entItIed"Whlspering Winds"
Her execution Is highly cultivated and
that intimate, sympathetic relationship
between the fingers and the mind which
distinguishes a heartfelt performance
from a mechanical one, was happy fac
tor in the presentation of the selection.
Mr.. G. @. Browns defamation called
Saxon Grit" was meritorious chiefly
on account of its freshness and the
unIaueness of its rendition. Mr..
Browns voice and manner are strictly
his own.
Mrs. Alice Hadley's Grafton on "Wo
mans Sphere" was truly pleasing pro-
duction. The auditor Is impressed some
how, with the notion that he is being
treated to views which he neither ad-
mits nor desires to accept He is enter
tanned by their expression, but his con-
victions remain unchanged. In truth,
the orators idea of a woman's proper
place is more fancIful than reasonable.
That q woman's highest ambition IN life
shall be comprehended IN q desire 'to
rock the cradle of future statesmen" and
TO perform the same Office in her lIege
lords home as a rose bush in his front
yard, is an opinion more worthy Of treat
ment in an oratIon than In lifs's stern
reality.
A vocal duet, Burial at Sea-" was
rendered by the Piers brothers. Their
voices are well suited to one another,
blending tremendously in time and quail
itY. They were supported at the piano by
Miss Nettie Miller. Miss Ella FIorY
recIted that most lovable selection from
Longfellow entitled "Hiawa!ha's Woo.
ing" The attention of the audience
was most keeDlv sustained and the
speaker retired amidst great applause.
The Oratoricsl Organ was read by
Mr.. 4. Il. Reynolds and Miss Anna
Marshall. 1t was full of spice from be-
ginning to end and almost exactly suited
our idea of perfect literary society pa
per, but like defining a peninsula, it is
necessary to say almost, but not en-
tIrely." The eGitor-ln-chief should have
borne in mind that while literary society
competition is not only tempting and
allowable but even desirable in the usual
course of events, It Is by no means to be
tolerated, when the societies unite In q
friendly entertainment. 1t is not habit
of this gentleman to so far forget him
self, and we will do him the credit to be-
lACNC S4al Ad0 AC OSCA AGkiy . o4O Va tAS
harshness, not to say rudeness, of his al
lusIon to the Literati society, the refer
ence would not have been presented
Moreover, we regret to be obliged to call
attention to the unwarranted Ievity of
his parody on the Sermon on the
Mount"
Miss Mamie Caldwell's rendition of
'Twickingham Ferry" was most enthu-
siastically aprlauded. Our statement
that she Is ''the rising soprano star OF
Emporia," was amply justified. She re-
sponded to on encore with the maid of
Arcadia"
The "Chorus and Solo" was evidently
we'll received.
When the name of Mr.. G. Fl. Mays
was called he was welcomed by hearty
applause. He recIted so naturally the
experience oil q bashful youth who
gained his wife by helping her in her
work of Smelling Peas" that the audi
ence was fully convinced that ''he had
been there"
The famous Normal Male Octette sang
the old song, "Hesr Dem Bells,' with
charming effect, with Prof. A. G. Moss
at the instrument. In response to a
noisy encore a something, unnamed
and nameless," was delivered, which
was, in its turn, greeted with boisterous
applause which lasted several minutes.
Had these illustrious singers performed
standing on their heels the effect
would have been more vivid and
the applause. still more boisterous; had
they stood on their heads the audience
would probably not have ceased encor-
log up to date. However, the octet
cannot be censured for catering to this
evident popular taste.
But Mr.. Clarence ]. Smiths Grafton
on "BlaIr's Educational Bill" was by far
the most mastery item on the program
He handled it as few men are able to
handle so new question. We do moi
hesitate to pronounce it the best Grafton
in the Normal during the past year.
ICEBERG.