The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-10
COMMENCE NENT.

ercises of the Western School of Elocutioi
and Oratory were given Wednesday, even
ing in the auditorium of the Y NJ C. a
building. There were six graduates and
the room was crowded to its utmost capac
lty. The stage was artistically bedutIfiec
with flowers and growing plants and the
wall had the following motto: First.
impression, Then Expression"
Hiss LIMO Creditor opened the program
with the recital OF The Famine" by Long
fellow This was spoken in such fine
and beautiful style that new laurels were
al once gathered about this sweet little
miss, and her capabilities at once estab
lished and her power OF elegant expression
and grace OF manner given acknowledge
ment by the entire audience Then came
Miss Clara Gehring with The Mother
Easter Scarf" by Emma d. Banks. This
is fine selection and with all its pathetic
and touching picture was most delight
July recited. Miss Clara spoke with ease
and her every gesture and pronunciation
showed careful training aud fine concep-
ton of all the the tender aud love inspired
lesson the piece contains.
Next followed the delivery of ''The Con-
sioual," written by w. w. Story. This
was by Miss Minnie Pedigo She
demonstrated her full and thorough
knowledge of all the expression, force, ten
derness and power of emotion the produc-
ton contains. SO complete was her mental
and spiritual absorption of the woman's
! portrayal OF her life, its struggle, its ter
ror, its despair, its repentance, that all
was forgotten but the picture she present.
ed. This was a masterpiece of elocutionary
| power, and Miss Minnie has crowned her.
self with honor and fame in her forcihle,
beautiful rendition of SO difficult a compo-
sition.
THE Angels of Beuna Vista" was given
| by Mrs. L. NJ. Laurance. All are familiar
with this description by Whittier. but few
really appreciate the grand and dramatic
power of the piece till they hear its pre-
sentation by this lady. The seourge and
hell OF battle is brought before you; the
tender, magic sympathy of heart going
out unto heart with the power of feeling
others woe and suffering was all brought
and laid upon the canvas of words, of
expression as given by Mrs. Lawrence.
An grafton, Poverty the Cradle of
Greatness" by Mr.. Charles E. Prather
was highly creditable and mastery pro-
duction. He traced the lives of great men
from the fields of labor and toll, from the
surroundings of poverty and the mis-
fortunes of birth to the glorious standards
| of success and triumph. He claimed
that in many instances poverty was an
incentive to application to work and an
inspiration TO achieve that which in
the common assertion was withheld by
Z ha Of r.,
Prather has fine powers of delivery, and
though time had not permitted him to
fully memorize his address it was deliver
ed in fine and forcble style. The subject
embraced good lesson to all young men
and was full of inspiring thoughts.
Mrs. T. G. Shaffer had for her Grafton
"OratorY." The least that can be said of
this production is that it will rank with
the finest and most eloquent literature of
our day. She classed oratory with the
finest of arts. Music. poetry, paint
ing, and showed by elegant dis
criptive analogy and figure the
inspiration of all true oratory, as coming
from natures vast works. And the invisi-
bic inspiration of feeling as wired in sweet
est language on the magic instruments
and forces God has designed for the men
tai and spiritual delight, and labors of
man. Mrs. Shatfer Was not in physical
condition TO present, according to her
training, this master piece of elo-
quence. rs she had suffered with
severe chill and bodily prostration
the afternoon, but her indomitable energy
of purpose and will would not yield, and
she presented it in earnestness. at times
launching out into the spheres of elo-
quence with startling force and effect
The audience appreciated this struggle
with herself and showed by their interest
knowledge of what a treat they would
have had, had Mrs Shaffer been in good
condition. She received repeated applause
from the vast crowd present.
Dr. Hoss then made an address to the
class, which was OF the highest in thought,
in language, in delivery. Space will not
permit full review of his address, but in
speaking OF eloquence and oratory, the
following original aud beautiful thought
was expressed. He said: The ideal or
perfect orator should, if possible, possess
all the gifts and graces of the race Indeed
be should not be one man only, but many,
and he must be, at least two, namely: Poet
and philosopher. Thus the orator
stands midway between the poet
and philosopher, and oratory mid
way between poetry and philosophy.
One side of oratory addresses the under
standing and seeks TO convince. This is
philosophy; the other side addresses the
imagination and sensibilities aud seeks to
please, 10 move This is poetry. or at least
poetic Hence, high orotory, eloquence is
a composite of poetry and philosophy. Adj
dressing the understanding, the magma
ton and the disabilities, and binding
these three in one, sweeps on to the will,
and compasses the whole man in its pur-
pose, bears him on. right on to the highest
sphere of life; namely, action, noble. heroic
aud at times snblime and all inspiring
action,
such is the orator. Such is eloquence."
The audience at once recognized that the
doctor possess the culture, the broadness
and scholarly attachments to instruct IN
the elegant fine arts of elocution and ora
tory.
He then presented the diplomas, which
was followed by the usual
presentation OF boquets of flowers Surely
this class did not lack in admiring friends
for each had TO accept the kindly prefer
of assistance in earring them home Many
books of poetry, rhetoric and elocution
were presented TO each, as tokens OF re
gard. This was one of the first and mos;
accomplished presentations OF elocution
and oraiorical exercises ever given in our
city. 1t is credit TO all engaged
IN il. and as shown by the
vast aud select audience present,
was appreciated. Wichita people love liz
ersry entertainment. and give their COM