Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-08
COLLEGE MEN SPEAK.
THE STATE oRAroRIcAL CONTEST
TOOK PLACE LAS I NIGHT.
seven institutions Rapresented-A oood
Audience anh Excellent specehes-fho
judges and Result.

A large audience assembled in the chapel
of Richmond College last night 70 listen
TO the State intercollegiate oratorical con-
test which took place there. Seven insti-
tutions were represented. and each speaker
acquitted himself IN manner which mace
the evening exceedingly interesting. plea
SAINT. and instructive to those present.
MEL. Causey, of Hampton. was mas
ter Of ceremonies, and in brief speeches
introduced each orator. The opening was
with prayer BIZ Rev. j. Calvin stewart
pasfor OF the Church of the Covenant,
after which Rev. j. Y. Fair. DR.. Iupper,
Mr. Wyndham r. Meredith, Mr. James
Lyons. and Mr.. Jackson Guy were an-
nounced as the judges of the contest;
The first speaker was Mr. W. y. Jopn-
son. of William and Mary College VINO
had chosen as his subject the three pasii,,, :,
orc words. Americans for America.
This text was e1cellently handled, the
conposition being replete In its sugges-
tlous and logical as TO it's supposlions;
Ihe oration was frequently intersPerseu
with applause.
pExRF1cENcE MAHEs THE MAN"
Mr. Isaac ". EasOn. of Randolph-Ma-
con deliyered an earnest and impressive
snecch upon the subject, - Benetcence.
Not Genius. Makes the Man" DIR. Easoh
presented an argument which cOnVinceu
his hearers that he was the master Oh ms
theme His GRAFTON was interpolated WIN
humorous illustrations, and yet 1t was also
pOssessed Of those strains OF earneslhees
which impressed it upon the minds OF
those who heard it. This was one OF the
speeches Of the evening".
MIR. ". II. Venable, of IIamden- Sidney
College, followed MIR. Eason, and his SUB
| iect. " t'nrewardcd HerOism was Deauti-
| fully treated. With deep. earnest, as
| tinct delivery Mr.. Nenable obtained tue
ears of his auditors and by the eloquence
| OF bis Grafton ard tho reasoning OF the
thoughts so clearly presented ne main
tanned Il to the close of his speech. nc
| sand be believed If the proper lnvestlga-
| tion were made II would be found tuat
| thero were true heroes IN every vocation
| in life. He paid beautiful tribute 70 ,Ae
| the daughters and widows OF the iallen
heroes OF the Confederacy. When the
speaker had finished ne was ioudly ap-
| plauded. ,..., Dc
- STRIFE tho Prelude to Political Pro.
grass" was the theme of the Grafton OF
Sir. Percey Moir. Of Washington ana Leg
UNIVERSITY. As this speaker approach@su @
| the edge VI the platform he was greeteu pS
applause. HIS paper had been wen Pre- Pre-
| pared and his treatise was compete. lng
prosperity Of this country a. cOnPaisu
| with that Of Others was presented, and the
uncertainty OF the nation OF france "aS
remarked with timely effect.
Mr.. }. L. Woods. representing Roanoke
College. had taken as the nucleus or MS
pap.r, I've Will Live, Not Die" IN MS
remarks no said the drums throbbed no
longer and the Gattle-lag had been iurlea
and men mus; live. He SAID that war was
not the only thing which thrills the Souls
Of men and inspired the spirits OF lnstitu-
tons. There Is something nobler than
a MARTYR The life OF man brutes are
but mortal. but the soul of human beng
must hve,n said the speaker, and contlnu-
ing, were interspersed these lines;
" Oh. time ike this demands
Strong hearts, strong minds, and wiling
hands
Mr.. Woods said America was educating
the world in the principles OF selt-govern-
ment. His speech was well received.
WEALTH AND WANT.
lie was followed by Mr.. n. +. Williams,
of Richmond College. whose subject was
" Wealth and Want" Tne speaker. re-
ferred TO the revelry II splendor OF thou
sands while millions hover IN poverty,
and remarked that only twenty years ago
there wore only three mllliOnaires III TINS
country, while now there were numbers.
Mr.. NllllauS Sdiu oDpiSo9lOu VI bhO PO'i
was antagonistic TO the principles OF our
government, ard drew graphic pictures or
the conditions menaclng the country. Mt.
Williams was the recipient of much appre-
cistion from his hearers.
The last speaker was Louis II. Machin.
of the University of Virginia, and his sub
iect was "A Hero Of Our Own Time This
speaker made an admirable impression
from the start and was frequently inter-
ruptel by applause. He was given an oya-
ton at the finish.
The judges awarded the medal to W. ii.
Venable. of Hampdcn-Sldney College.