Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-07
THE HIGH SCHOOL CONTEST.
The Initiatory Effort Grand Success il
Every Particular.

Every Particular.
few months ago Prof. E. B. Smith,
principal of the Great Bend city schools,
put under way arrangements for prize
contest to be participated in by mem
bers of the high schools of number of
towns in this immediate vicinity. The
plan met with the approval of the prin-
cipals of various other towns, and the
first annual meeting was held In Great
Bend on Friday evening last. A per-
manent organization of the association
was formed, with the following officers:
President, Prof E. B. Smith, of Great
Bend; secretary, Prof. L. n. Foutz, of
Larned; treasurer, Prof, ]. W. Quay,
of Lyons. These officers compose the
executive board, and the contests will
be held annually, the next contest to be
named hereafter.
The high schools of each city hold
local contests and decide upon one OF
more contestants to represent such city
In the district contest. These local
contests were held about month ago,
and the following young ladies and
gentlemen were selected:
From Lyons-Miss Alma Johnson
and Master Arthur Casselman.
From Larned-Miss E. Anna Stone
and Master Ira Bartle.
From Pratt-Miss Blanch l.. Miller.
From Sterling-Misses Rosa Wilder
and Bertha Knause.
From Great Bend-Miss May Meek
and Master Charles Emley.
THE CONTEST.
The exercises opend with an overture
by Cars orchestra of this city, at S:45
P. M, the commodious opera house
being filed 10 its fullest seating capac-
ity. Rev. ]. Boggess, of Sterling, Prof.
Leahy and Sam ]. Day. of this city,
had been previously selected as judges.
Lrof. Foutz, master of ceremonies
for the evening, announced the pro-
gram. The first speaker was Chas.
Emley, who presented 1.-The knight,
the Hermit and the Man. He was
embarrassed on the start by having to
"oPen the ball. and though displaying
excellent training in every particular,
he did not recover sufficient self posses
sion to carry him successfully through
the piece.
Miss May Meek then delivered '.How
He Saved St. Michael's." She was
probably the next to the youngest
speaker of the nine contestants, and
exhibited wonderful ability for one
whose training has been solely confined
to that which she received in our public
schools. She was enthusiastically
cheered by the well pleased audience
Miss Florence Poole then rendered a
fine piano solo with her usual skill of
execution.
The third contestant, Miss E. Anna
Stone, of Larned, presented 1.-The Leg
end of BTegenz,' selection which the
young lady was enabled to render in a
most excellent manner. She is a grace
full speaker, with pleasing address and
winning movements, and was loudly en-
cored.
Following came the Grafton of Ira
Bartle, of Larned also. His subject
was: Choose ye This Day Whom We
VIII Serve His address was ably
prepared, and delivered without any
bad breaks, but would have taken bet
ter with the audience had he put more
life, vim and earnestness into it.
A song by Misses Dalziel and Wilmer
and Messrs. Walker and Bosworth, the
Great Bend quartette, served to vary
the program.
The fifth speaker was Master Arthur
Casselman, of Lyons. The subject OF
his Grafton was: 1.-The World Moves, -
and was excellently presented by the
young lad. While some of his ideas
may have been thought deep for one SC
young, his manner of delivery was
He went at it like he meant what be
said, and easily captured his audience.
Miss Alma Johnson, of Lyons, rend.
cred '.The Sioux Chiefs Daughter. ;
She soon convinced her hearers thai
she was no novice at dramatic reading,
and did some heavy acting that is otter
more poorly done by old professionals
Her selection was well chosen. and she
added to the effect of its rendition BY
arraying herself in the costume of ar
. Indian maiden. The writer thought hel
facial expression and gestures excellent
, but little overdrawn IN some passages
A piano solo, by Miss Frankie Heller
Of Great Bend, was then listened tc
with pleasure.
The seventh speaker, was Miss Blancf
L. Miller, of Pratt. Her selection was
'sO'Connor." 1t was the simple tale o.