The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-01-29
THE STATE NORMAL CONTEST


The contest in essay and Grafton, is
the chief event of the tTm. The stu
dents, The faculty aud the citizens, ere
always eager for its arrival. There is no
more interesting scene than the messur-
ment OF strength by strength. associated
with good cheer and harmonious feeling.
Thursday, an audience of some SIX
hundred people were treated to an excel
lent literary repast. Three essays were
read and four orations were delivered,
not one of which reflected the least dis
credit on the Institution. The following
was the program:
Music-P,ano Sust. March from opera
"TAnnhauser." Professor A e. Moss and
Miss Judith Dent
InvocatIOn-Rev. w. Brooks.
Essay-"The Right OF the Majority to
Rule" Alien n Bushey.
Essay-"WOmen OF the Nations"
Louie Cham berlin.
Ess4Y-"EconomIzs Energies" VIII
liam Z. Woodward.
Music-Double quartetLe. tine Old
Path by the BroOkside +"
Oration-"The Congo Conference"
Alfred Docking.
OraIion-"Success in Life" Thomas a.
Pollock.
oration-"Humau Progress" Abram
l.. Funk.
Oration-"Psrpetuity of Free Institu-
tions," Thomas II. Reynolds.
Music-Chorus-"Minstre are We"
WaRner's "Lohengrin."
Decision of judges.
Presentation of prIzes.
Benediction.
Before the work begun President
Taylor announced the names of the
judges as follows: On essay, Rev. D B.
Shuey, Miss Ella CAMPBELL and Miss Ellen
Plumb. On GRAFTON, Rev. w L. Books,
Mr.. Ed s Thscher and Miss Watson. In
passing judgment on the essays the toll
lowing points were to be considered:
Subject matter, including originality,
arrangement and dicuon. In addition
to these points, delivery was TO play a
part in estimating the oEations. The es-
says were confined to eight minutes in
length and the orations to two thousand
words. The items on the program were
taken up in the order of their arrange
ment.
Mr.. Bushey's ESSAY gave evidence of
through acquaintance with passing
events and political outlooks. The
thought was evidently his own. His
production, however, was too long, and
his voice was not under good control.
Miss Chamberlsin's appearance on the
stage was easv and graceful, and her
subject was treated in a unique and in
tercsting manner. She held the atIen
tion of the audience, perhaps, more
thoroughly than either OF her two com
Detitors. Her articulation, however
was so imperfect that many persons in
IN the rear of the room bad some diff
Guilty in hearing her.
MIR. Woodward's essay is to be CON-
mended chiefly for its undoubted origi-
nslity and elegant dictIon. 10 this lat
ter respect it distanced all the other
essays and oratiODs. But many of his
opinions were antagoDizing, if not
harsh, and some of his words ought to
have been "sborn of half their great
ness"
Mr.. DOcking's Grafton was charac-
terized by high moral tone. 1t was
not an ordinary address; that is. it
was not on an ordinary subject and on
that account the interest of the audience
was Well maintained. His articulation
was quite distinct and his language,
while not a, all oratorical, was terse and
full of meaning. HIS voice evidently
needs cultivation.
Mr Pollock " as probably the youngest
orator on the stage, and his excellent
voice did him great credit, but his man.
ner b ld, perhaps. the air of too much
pomposity. Mr.. Funk's Grafton was
truly an Grafton, lot only In the fluency
Of expression, but N the matter of tone
and manner OF delivery. His reference
to his notes was unfortunate and IN
dOubtedly exerted bad infience. We
venture 10 predict that he will at no dis
tAnt date make his mark as public
speaker.
Mr.. Reynolds Grafton was full of new
thoughts and pithy statements His use
of words is remarkable. His subject
matter savOred, possibly, too much of
the stale, though the manner of its ex-
preston Was highly original and Vigor-
Gus.
The discussion was UNANIMOUSLY IN
favor of MIR. Wood essay. The
prize was "McCauleY's Complete Es-
says" Mr.. Docking carried off the palm
In Grafton. His prize was "Green's His
tory of the English People"
Mr.. Docking will represent the nor
NAL IN the state oratorical contest which
will be held here.