The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-23
CONTEST IN ORATORY.
Interesting Program OF a Literary
Entertainment at Due West.

Friday night was an occasion q: great en-
joyment 10 the people OF Due West, and espc
cialIy TO the members of the ]. .. q. Il.
Friday the wind was sharp and cold, max
Ing you feel that winter was making deadly
onslaught upon the fowery forts OF spring,
and 1t looked as II most disagreeable night
was TO follow.
The Phiomathean Literary Society had
most generously offered their hall. ns the
Good Templars had no suitable hall. The Eu-
phemian Society kindly offered NIL their
chairs, whlcn were gladly received. The
stand of the presiding officer, Rev. o. Y. Bon.
ner, was tasteiully decorated by female hands
AT an early hour the hall was com fOrtAbly
filled. The exercises formerly opened ut p
m, as the speakers for the evening, headed by
Rev. o. Y. Bonner, marched In to the song.
"Pruhibition Bugle Song"
blessing. The choir then sung "The Temper
ance Cause Is Growing" After which Mr..
Bonner said: ave have this evening con-
test IN oratory, conducted under the auspices
of The Good Templars OF Due West II is call
ed DemoreSt Medal Contest.
MIR. w. Jennings Demorest, of New York,
man of immense wealth, has laid his entire
fortune upon the altar Of prohibition, and to
promote interest In mat cause Instituted this
m edal contest.
A number of young men or young women
between certain ages enter the contest for
silver medal. After j certain number have
obtained silver medals they contend for gold
medal, and in like manner for u diamond
medal; all of which are furnished free by Mr..
Demorest, the only condition being that all
extracts spoken must be from books procured
from him, which contain only prohibition
speeches.
We have tonight a contest for q silver led
al, between SIX young men.
am sorry that for some reason the medal
has not come. 1t has started from New York,
but for some reason has failed to reach here.
The contest will be decided by comnittee
OF three, Mr.rT. l.. Miller, Mr.. K. =. Galloway
and Miss Mildred Watkins They will mark
the speakers on voice. articulation, gesture,
memory and general effect, using the blanks
which have been furnished. DR.. Grler Will
deliver the honor"
The following Is the program:
Mr.. +. "A. Chestnut. Young Americas War
Cry.
Song. "What will you do"
Mr.. T. w. Hayes, the Martyred Mother.
Song, Keep your ballot white.
Mr.. j. L. McDavid, the Constitution Rene.
Song. Freemen's Rallying Song.
Mr.. II. z. McDilI, Memorial Days.
Song, Betty and the Baby.
Mr.. j. A. Pearson, the Folly and Fallacy OF
License.
Song, Why don't you do 1t.
Mr.. A. S. Rogers. Talmage on Temperance.
Song. The Middle of the Kings Highway.
Delivery OF medal.
Song, The March OF Prohibition.
Marshals-D. ]. Blackwell, w. NJ. Moffatt,
w. 3. Lindsay.
The speeches were all splendid, and the
committee OF decision had delicate and di f.
fruit duty to perform.
The music was entirely different from what
are loud in their praises Of II. An organ had
been secured, and the songs were all temper.
ance songs. The following persons composed
the select choir:
Leader, DR.. E. H. Edwards.
Organist. Mrs. II. p. McGee.
I.adies-Misses Jennie and Ellen Edwards
and Miss l.. Russell.
Gentemen--J. c. Reid. L. T. Pressly,
! BDyce, Walker Edwards and 3. NJ. Sullivan.
| At the conclusion of the speaking the mar.
shals gathered up the blanks and announced
the result to DR.. Grier, who arose 10 deliver
the honor. He said In substance: The chair
man has told you that the medal has failed 10
come. I once heard q thriftless,. shiltless fel,,
low defend himself for loafing. He was urged
To diversity his industries. "Why don't you
." to ,arming o, How can IN ieiG| iST re-.
piled. We'll how can fellow deliver Il medal
| when he hain't got none.
| You have all heard Of the preacher who
said, "My sermOnt Is baSted on the following
Text" Brother Bonner has not even left me
Il text. But If we have come simply TO hear
contest In oratory. we have missed the real
object Of this meeting. This Is hut II moment
Of rest from great warfare. Many battle
has been lost because the opposing forces were
! underestlmuted. Let us not underestimate"
our foe. l tell you the interests are treinen'
dous.
The speak er illustrated this on three lines OF
thought:
! list. is business enterprises are enormous.
! Did you ever think for II moment how much
cupial IL invested in this nefarlous business.
Let us take the disillleries. There are nun
dreds of them that are worth more-Just the
| machinery and bulldings-worth more than
SlOO,OUO. Their total would foot up many mil
lions. Then take the selling of it, The retail
ing Of IT, Add these together and the sum
will be hundreds of millions. What fights
like capital? Who guards his Golfers more
jealouSy than the miscr?
2nd. The political power. The two Leading
parties dare not utter one word against IL.
Just outside the door OF the halls OF Congress
stands the liquor mans repl esentatiVe. WIN
his pockets full. Stands there TO caJole, to
bribe, TO bully. .,..
3rd Behind It all is that lnsatlableappetlic
that drives man against his will.
The whole speech was Il splendid effort. Mr.
r. Z. McDill, Of Hickory Grove, ). e., won ihe
medal. ~
| The meeting was u grand success. You can
scarcely gain Il fair conception OF II from TINS
mcnyre account. We trust TOO, other com
munities will adopt this medal system, as II
will awaken the people on thi subject.
| Any one desiring Information cn thls SUD-
! Iect If they will write TO Rev. .. \. 3onner,
| Due West, :. G. enclosing stamp, he VIII iur-
nish them with the address Of the lady who
! has this work in charge. II.