Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-31

Washington and Jefferson College, who led
| in prayer. An address from the President
| followed, stating the particulars of the
| oratorical contest about to take place and
dwelling in highly interesting style ON
the grand and inestimable advantage to be
derived from tournament of this kind.
CHEERS OF THE GENEVA MEN.
The hour for the conflict arrived, and those
who had been sitting on the anxious bench
were gratified at last, when the first speaker
of the evening, Mr.. F. R. Agnew, of Geneva
College was announced to deliver an grafton
on MARTYRS to Science" His appearance
was greeted with applause that swelled out
into mighty roar from the force of the
huge Geneva College cry which swept
through the hall.
The second speaker was Mr.. H. B. Hum
mel, the orator selected by Grove City Col
lege to uphold her standard. He addressed
the audience on the subject of "The Influence
Of Calvin on Civil and Religious Liberty"
Third on the list was Mr.. Walter Hays. Of
Washington and Jefferson, who enlisted the
close attention of his hearers on "The Civil
War-Its Unfinished Work"
Mr.. A w. Hayes was introduced as the
fourth contestant for oratorical laurels, and
Waynesburg College feels proud Of her
champion. His subject was "An Unsolved
Problem +"
Western University brought out Mr.. W.
V. Johnston as the fifth candidate, and he
spoke on 1.-THE Greatness OF franklin"
Sixth and last came Mr.. G. W. Bovard,
of Westminster College, who went through
1.-THE Hellespont and Its Memories" with
excellent ability.
The speeches had been heard, and now
all that was wanting was the decision of
the Judges as to the best orator of the even
ing. Expectation was on tiptoe, and every
body was in suspense to know the victor,
but before that important announcement, a
speech was called for from Hon. Harry
White, OF Indiana county, who was acting
as one of the judges of the contest.
NOT TO BE EXPECTED.
The silvery hair of the pleasant old gentle
man showed he was nearing the twilight of.
lie, but fun sparkled in his bright eyes
when he arose from his seat in the rear Of
the hall to convulse the audience with:
You'd scarce expect one Of my age.
To speak in public on the stage"
and then went on to say that he wished to
excuse himself from making an address on
the plea of youth, and preferred to screen
himself from observation. The Judge then
walked on the rostrum to confer with the
LWO OIutI JuuStS vi bHS OfdtOilCol COutCct,
DR.. J. A. Grier, Professor of the Allegheny
Theological Seminary, and Rev. DIR. R. T.
Purves. Their consultation was drowned
in showers OF orchestral music, but at last
the decision trembling in the balance, that
was to be for veal or woe, was announced as
follows:
The committee had summed up the re-
ports of the three judges, and arranged the
speakers of the evening in this order, &C
cording to precedence: First, A. w. Hayes;
next, G. w. Bovard; following these, in
regular order, H. B. Hummel, Walter
Hays, F. R. Agnew and W. A. Johnston.
All through the contest college cries had
rung through the hall, but at the announce
ment of the judges decision the enthusiasm
of the boys was at fever heat, and cheer
after cheer rent the air.
Rev. DR.. George, of Geneva College, pro-
nounced the benedictIon, and thus closed
the contest held in response to a challenge
issued by the undergraduates of the West
ern University of Pennsylvania to the
undergraduates of all the regularly char
tered colleges of Western Pennsylvania.