The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-07
THE oRA7oRIcAL CONTEST.
Ais5 Mary F. Randall wias ths First Pre-
Mrs Shzr.r WINS the second Priza

The Y. N C. a auditorium was a scene
of interest and pleasure last night. The
oratorical CONCERT contest, as noticed in
the..EAGLE, given by Professor Hoss and 10
which several counties were invited TO
participate, came off While some OF the
counties mad e arrangements to be present
circumstances prevented and the contes-
tants were Of our own city and county.
Mrs P Z ShafTer Was the first to appear.
She was dressed richly n black and pre-
sented a fEe appearance On tie platform.
Her subject WAS Revelation, Human and
Divine" She handled the subject in
mastery manner and her reasoning was
strong She asserted some strong truths
and asked the question Does truth exist
beyond the linjt OF our reasons" When
our reason cznno: account for truth il is
because OF The medium through which it
I Is received, etc, and the truth exists never
sheless, even If not brought before this
medium. Truth which IS not involved
primarily cannot De evaded finally" She
closed her address in the foregoing terse
ana logical language, Mrs. Skaters
thought was Of the highest order and her
delivery forcib!e aud graceful
the first prize winner. one was dressed in
white. with elaborate boquet Of roses
Miss Randall IS easy in gessnre. forcibie
yet musical in voice, and very expressive
in manner and gesture. She had her sub
iect thoroughly in hand" and was quite
eloquent in its delivery.
Her subject was "Shackles."
She began by asserting that scriptural
quotation, to-wit: 'tSubdue the earth and
have dominion over the sea, the fowls OF
the air, and every living thing" was Gods
first great command to the race. This
command was not "subdUe thy fellow man
and have dom inion over him" she went
on TO show that man had violated this
first command, and was perversely acting
on the latter. She showed how the strong
had oppressed the weak from the begin
ming of his career, anu followed this course
throughout the ages past, and down TO the
epoch of American independence. With
food OF illustration she brought her
thoughts to climax IN the following
beautiful words: Even the last shackle
which can bind man, the icy shaCkle of
death, is melted by the warm voice OF
love penetrating the darkness of the tomb. !
II am the Resurrection and the Life' out /
from the shades of Gethsemena, out from
the riven tomb. He OF the thorn crowned
he Id is walking down the troubled ages.
lifting from the staggering man his bur
den Of woes and setting the captive free. I
When the song of freedom OF Bethlahem |
star shall peal forth until the melody |
touches every troubled spirit, and when !
conscience shall be the law, then will the |
Ill. h.,
shall be fulfilled the prophesy OF that
gle song which promised Peace on /
2 I'll and Good VIII 70 Man"
Sext came Charles Lease, his subject !
The Jewish Race" Mr. Lease is fne |
fluent speaker. has a rich clear voice ana !
has perfect controls of himself. He han /
died his subject with reason AMI fne de- !
scriptiye power. la conclusion he saidi |
Selected By God from among the nations
of the earth. subjects OF a special covenant /
guided through long successive years by /
supernatural revelations; their history set
with maricles, their bar3s inspired pro-
phe,s, their kings annointed By Omnipo- /
tence; their literature the most extraordi- |
nary OF the human race; their character Of
their law inscribed upon tables of stone By |
the finger OF God and delivered from
Sinai's cloud-enveloped sunset amid light
nings aud thunderings OF supernatural
storm, what wonder that the mind yields
instructive homage to this hoary race.
Then came Bardin r Sisson with his
subject a Plea for Mercy" Mr.. SissOn
i easy and has natural oratorical power
He WAS foEcible in gestures. pleasant and
clear in enunciation, and did himself
honor in his delivery. He recounted the
history of the early days OF the republic
and how the hearts aud minds of the early I
patriots were fired with. patriotism, and |
attributed the most of this 10 that great
genius and uncompromising patriot, /
Thomas Paine. He gave vivid descrip- /
ton Of Paine's part in the revolution and /
thinks be was disloyally treated by Wash /
ington and others, and ali because OF his /
Age OF Reason" Mr.. Sisson closed in I
following words: Now, in the name OF /!
consistency and honor, 1 call upon you to /
vindicate the memory Of Thomas Paine 4
by reading the record he has left behind /
him. Then, If you are loyal to 1
the flag, which remember, he helped 70 1
give you; if you love liberty better than |
you do creeds and dogmas, your heart will !
20 out IN sympathy TO the noble. heroic |
soul. whose life stands as q monument /
testifyiug 70 his sincerity when he wrote. 1
The world is my country and to do good 4
is my religion" While the judges were
out Miss Anna Boyd recited The Flower
Girl" and did it in admirable style and
with her accustomed force and excellence.
Dr. Hoss returned thanks 70 the audience
for their sympathy and appreciation Of his
efforts, and made some PERTINENT remarks
showing the high order Of contests in our
day 20 the brutal and degrading contests
OF the ancients, with arena OF gladiators
and bull fights. The judges awarded the
prizes: First. Miss Mary f Randall
Second. Mrs. 2 E Shaffsr. There on GIT
&c have been crowded house
/