The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-06-14
AT THE NORMAL.

The annual prize contest in declama-
ton and debate took place Saturday,
at p. m. every available seat in the
Assembly room of the Normal was oc-
cupied, and soon standing room was at
a premium and, many people were
turned away for want of
room. The rostrum of the
hall was beautifully decorated.
The exercises were opened by a Ia
dies chorus, Rocked On the Rippling
WaCers," which was excellently, rem
dered by the Lorlei Club, composed of
twelve of the Normal's most talented
''fair ones" Invocation was then pro-
nounced by Chancellor Lippincott, of
the State University.
President Taylor next explained the
method of selecting the contestants,
viz: The three DISCLAIMERS are chosen
from number of aspirants of the ga"
and "B' classes by the faculty, while
the debaters are selected by the two
rival literary societies, the Lyceum and
the Literati.
The contest began with a declama-
ton, 1.-The Painter of Seville," deliver
ed by Miss Leuella Hurst, of Howard
City.
This is one of Susan Wilson's produc-
tions and Miss Hurst did credit to her
self and her class in its rendition. She
was heartily cheered and was the re-
cipient Of many elegant boquets.
The second member on the pro-
gramme was William W. Reed, of
Nickerson, who rendered declama-
| ton "Erin's Cause" an extract from a
speech made by ingalls,. He proved
himself to be an orator of much
weight and he fully interpreted the
piece selected.
The last defamation was
by Miss Frank s, Hayes OF
Rlchland, entitled, MARY Stuart
This selection was composed by the
great German writer, Schiller. 1t was
spoken in a very effective manner
This was the prize defamation and
was received with much applause
which indicated that the decision OF
the judges had been approved by all
The duet presented by Miss Maud
Mason and Prof. A. G. Moss, THE
| Fisherman" was one of the most in
teresting features of the programme
After repeated calls they could only
be induced to make pretty bow, muct
to the disappointment of the appre
ciatiye audience. Miss Mason has {
very sweet and clear voice which hal
few equals. Prof. Moss is too vel
known to need comment.
William G. Stevenson, of Eureka
representing the Lyceum, opened tn.
debate on the question: Resolved
That a National System of Education
Should be Substituted for Our Presen
State System Mr.. Stevenson spok'
of the vast amount of illiteracy which
now exists in the United States a
compared with Switzerland and othe
nations that have a national system
that there are eighteen millions o
children under school age in the Unitet
States, and that not over seven and
half millions avail themselves of tn
school privileges offered; that tn
money of Utah was expende'
for the advancement of MormoniSm
that the national system would ad
vance the colored population and b
compulsion, all would be made to SO
the inside of the school room.
The question was denied by Jeremial
M. Rhodes, of Jasper, Mo-, on behal
of the Literati. He made very abb
and eloquent argument and said tina
with the 40 900 federal officers, change
every time of change in the politics o
the government, the number of teach
ers added to this already host Of office
holders, the tendency would be muel
less toward civil service reform; that
republic rules by sef-imposed laws
not by the viii of the central govern
ment.
Against this eloquent speech, Elme
o. Creighton, of Americas, OF the Lyce
UNI, upheld for the affirmative side o
the question, and made very power
full but short speech. He said that th
National Government had dorated 13
million acres of land for public schoo
funds and no one ever disputed th,
right TO do it, but considered it one o
the grandest movements Of this Ma
ton. That the system had proved sue
cessful in other nations and why not il
this nation.
W, B. Brown. Of Howard. of thl