Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-06-04
SCHOOL CONTEST.
A PLEASING AND SATISFACTORY ENTER
TAINMENT.


/ II vOuld be a difficult matter to show
when there has occurred more general
Iy successful and satisfactory entertain
ment at this place than the contest given
Friday night at Court House Hall, by
representatives of the Senior and Junior
Literary Societies of the High School.
1t was expected that the attendance
would be cut down by the circus, but the
hall was well filled when the programme
was begun. Miss Daisy Burlington re-
cited "How Ruby Played" Miss Buff
ington has undoubted talent, and her re-
citation took fast hold of the audience,
provoking smiles and laughter through
out. Her opponent was Miss Anna NJ.
Longley, who recited the Massacre of
Zoroaster," from F. Marion Crawford's
romance of ''Zoroaster." Close attention
was given Miss Longley, and she showed
herself master of An exceedingly difficult
recitation. Miss Maud Ferrell and Miss
Mary L. Blair read essays on the sub
iects respectively "Words and their lnfiu-
ence," and 'Mind, the Glory of Man
Both essays were gotten up in an in
structive and entertaining way, and
were charmingly read with clear enunci-
alton and graceful gestures. Mr.. w. ).
Fulton came next with a select Grafton,
'The Traffic in Ardent Spirits" This
young man has been for some months
out of school, yet he is evidently a natur-
al and eloquent speaker. Miss Lacy
Hartleys Grafton on "The Ruins of Time"
was a fortunate selection, to which she
did full credit. Miss Hartley has singu-
larly distinct voice and a pleasing manner.
F. w. DUNCAN and j. A. Rusk delivered
original oratiOns, the one on Progress
ion" the other on agitation" Mr..
DUNCAN went about his speaking in
perfectly natural way, showing more
self-possession perhaps than any other
speaker of the evening. The matter Of
his address was thoughtful and well-ar-
ranged. He showed what progression
had done for the world, what it is doing
now. and drew a rosy picture of what it
will do in the future. Mr.. Rusk S
speech was delivered in aquiet and forcl-
BILE manner. and was much to the point.
Select readings by Miss Ella n. Meek
and Miss Lucy =. Alexander, in widely
different veins, the one humorous and
in the negro dialect, the other full OF
pathos and poetry, were enjoyable. 1t
must have been a difficult matter for the
Judges to determine to which of these
two contestants the honor should GO
The audience expected much pleasure
from the debate on the question "ls the
Mind of Woman Inferior to that OF
Man 2" and they were not disappointed.
Robert Boggs took the male side OF the
question, and upheld the dignity and sn-
periority of the masculine mind with
much strength. Miss Mamie X. Shan
non presented the claims of women. She
evidently felt that the decision OF the
question depended on her showing by
her address that the female mind is not
the inferior of the two. Her points were
| well grounded, and her manner of put
ting them so direct and fOrcible that she
at once won her hearers to her side.
The judges appointed were Hon. c. l..
Weems,- John Pollock, Esq, and Judge
briggs. Mr.. Weems made known the
decisions of the judges in witty little
speech. The lucky contestants were as
follows: Recitation, Miss Daisy Bufling-
ton; Essay, Miss Mary L. Blair: Select
grafton, Miss Lacy Hartley; Original
Grafton, E. W. DUNCAN; Select reading
Miss Ella n. Meek; Debate, Miss Nan
ME r. Shannon. All the winners except
Miss Lacy Hartley are of the senior socl-
ety. The music with which the Other
exercises were interspersed consisted OF
songs by chorus, and instrumental SO
los by Misses Mary Blair and Maud Fer
rel. The Whippoorwill song was espe
cially sweet. Every one went home de
lighted and satisfied. The young folk:
surprised their elders, and gave evidence
of pains-taking training in the practica
branch of education-public speaking
In the last few years our schools hav'
made a great advance in this line, ant
their efforts deserve all commentator
The entertainment was a success finan
cially. and the small admission fee, witt
the attraction of the "sawdust scented
canvas tented, ETC." at the fair grounds
kept the nervous and obstreperous smal
boy away, and added much to the goo'
order and to the comfort of the audi
ence.