Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-07

She brought tears to many a sympa-
thetic eye while telling the simple tale,
and won her way to the heart of every
one present.
Nine young men from the Larned
schools then gave a vocal selection so
excellently that they were called hack
and sang Rocking on the Bllows of
the Deep" They made a decidedly
favorable impression upon the vast
audience.
Miss Bertha Knause, of Sterling,
was the next speaker. She rendered q
temperance lecture '.Am 1 My Broth
er's Keeperf" Her voice was strong
and clear, but pitched little too high
to hold out well. She also showed that
she had spoken to large audiences be-
fore, and being girl of pleasing form
and feature, tastefully dressed and
graceful IN gesture, she won loud
praises.
The heroine of the evening, however,
was Miss Rosa Wilder, of Sterling. As
a gentleman friend expressed It, s.she
came upon the stage with the air of one
who was bound to win.'' Her selection
was 1.-The Blacksmith's Story and she
told it with all the feeling of one who
possessed the ability to fathom the
deepest anguish of the human heart
when brought to part with those loved
best. Her facial expression, infection
| of voice and manner of gesticulation
were equal to what is often exhibited by
the best elocutionists and dramatic
readers of the land. After all the ex-
cellence of the eight others who pre-
ceded her had been enjoyed, the ap-
plause that greeted Miss Wilder plainly
indicated what the decision of the
audience would be should the awarding
of the prizes be left to that tribunal.
THE WINNERS.
The Judges got together and after
comparing their ratings, Rev. w, II.
Hills announced the result: Miss Rosa
Wilder first prize for defamation, aver
age 27o. Miss lima Johnson second,
average 27SR. Arthur Casselman first
prize for Grafton.
| Over 200 visitors from our neigh
boring towns attended the contest, and
we believe all enjoyed it.
| During the contest the Grand con-
tanned probably the largest number of
people ever assembled In II at one time.
The Pawnee boys looked hungry.
but they sang like mocking birds. Can't
The next contest viii probably be
held at Sterling or Lyons, unless more
of the western towns come into the
association.
| Miss Blanch Mille1's average was
as, just one point below the winner of
the first honors, and half point below
the second.
| One of the boys suggests that the
blonde professor from the musical land
of the Pawnees ought to wear a black
necktie OF something, SO that people
would know he was there.
Great Bend appeared not to be ''in
it. and Rice county, as usual, carried
off the honors. Our local contests In
the future will be more carefully looked
after by the citizens generally.
| Prof. Smith is the recipient of many
words of praise for the able manner In
which he managed the first of a series
of contests that promises to be of wide
spread interest In this part of Kansas.
| -Ranesseller Creme and Ebert Eng
lish, two sixteen-year-old lads of Ster-
ling. on banter, walked UP from that
town-3z miles-and appeared to feel
as good as any who came on the
'tSteam keers."
The 'swarwhoop" of the Indian
maiden, and the expression -of her
cOuntenance as she jabbed the life out
of the treacherous lover with the red
fox tail head-gear will haunt many a
one cf her bearers till the end of time.
AS an appreciation CT the efforts of
little Blanch Miller, of Pratt, the busi-
ness men of Great Bend ''chipped in
and sent her two handsomely illustrated
volumes, Picturesque Ireland" and
''In Fair Country as tokens of their
high esteem The two volumes, cost
ing about $40, will, we doubt not, be
treasured by the little lady very
highly.