Smyrna times., 1892-03-30
Contest for the DemOrest Medal

/
PROBABLY the most interesting coz
test ever given in Smyrna, was render
ed IN the Opera House before a good
audience last Monday evening. The
stage was neatly and artistically dec
GRATED with banners, notices, etc, to
SUIT the occasion. A banner made of
gilt letters on red background. ex-
lending the whole length of the stage.
bore the inscription, "Tremble King
Alcohol, We Shall Grow Up" There
were nine contestents-eight girls and
one boy.
Mrs. Eva Riggs had charge of
the exercises, and Miss Rena Williams
presided at the piano. The exercises
| opened by repetition of the Loval
Leglon's Pledge, followed by singing.
We have Heard the CRY Arising y
after which the Rev. c. C. Adams led
the audience in prayer. Then came
the contest for the prize. The contes.
tants were so evenly matched that il is
difficult to judge between item. for
they all did their part admirably. and
received due credit from the audience
as was manifested by the applause
We would like to 90 into detail and
give every one there just praise, but
space Will not permit, so we shall con-
hne ourselves to few of the best con.
testants. Miss Maggie Lank. in her
production of Visions of Prohibition. :"
showed the qualities that were due to
earnest and constant training. Her
voice was clear and distinct and her
gestures were appropOs to her choice
selection. "A Noble Christian WOm-
anhood, rendered by Miss Edith
BECK, deserves the highest Draise
Her grace and ease in which she de-
llvered it, her GOODNESS on the stare
her pleasing gestures were the charac-
terlstlcs OF a genteel woman. Miss
Kate Beckett in her rendition of 1.-The
Boys OF America" presented the Quail
tiles OF an orator. Her notable char.
acterlstics were here clear infections.
her fine delineatiOn, and the impres.
sive manner in which shedeclaimed her
piece. Cool, deliberate and composed.
sne eXpOstulated her selection without
nav: Kichabeli Jones deserves con-
siderable credit for his manly pluck in
being the only male contestant against
eight girls. He should have received
medal for this if fo- nothing else. He
rendered his piece Fast Principle and
Policy" admirably. Miss Cora Van
SAINT, although not so animated on the
stage as some others, presented her
selection in clear, forcible voice.
After the contest the Judges, Rev.
W. w. w. Wilson, C. c. Adams. and
herman Roe were requested to
retire and consider the awarding of
the silver medal given by w. Jennings
Demorest. While they were holding
their conference, a collection was
taken, which amounted to the total
sum of 1854. After about ten min
utes had expired, Rev. W. W. w.
Wilson brought in the verdict. He
said In part that it was the closest con-
test he had ever witnessed, that
In awarding the prize every
quality was taken into consideration.
the voice, gestures, manner, articula-
ton, etc. and he wished that he could
give each a medal, hut to the hest
opinion of the judges the prize would
be awarded to No. 3-Miss Maggie
Lank." From the prolonged and con
tinuOus applause after the recitation
of Miss Katie Beckett, the poDular
opinion naturally seemed to drift to
ward her receiving the prize. The
most noted feature of the evening was
the GOODNESS with which the remaining
eight met their defeat. Not one he !
trayed the least emotion of disaD- !
pOintment. The whole evening from
beginning to end, was interesting. and
1t Is under stood there will be con-
test IN the near future for a gold |
medal by the same participants. Dur |
ing the evening vocal and instrumen.
tai music was furnished by Misses |
Sallie COsgrin, Hettie Richards. Edith |
Beck and Master Howard Jones. 1t
was very interesting feature in the |
exercises of the evening. The follow
ing constitutes the program
Loyal Temperance Legion Pledge National and i
State Notices
Singing" we Have Heard the Cry Arising"
No ]. Freeman's BallOt......W Maggie RobinSon |
NO. The WOmRn's Christian Temperance Union !
No Laura LasSell
~. o. VISIONS OF frOhlDltiOn.........M Maggie Lank
No. 4. A Noble Christian Womanbood Edith BecE
no. D. Ihe Boys Of America......... kate Beckett
no, b. GLORIOUS MOnument........ Nav FAIRIES /
Piano duet. -
Master Howard Jones and Miss Edith Beck
NO T. prohibition Warriors form in Line........
NO. 5. Our Homes and Country III Jeopardy. .....
~ ~ Cora Vansant
NO y Fact, Principle and Policy. .Richabell Jones
Collection Speech ............. -. Anpie Grant
Awarding Medal
singing. Speed il, Speed H."
Music during the taking of collection was rem
deTed by Miss Sallie CosgriR
The grades were made on the scale
Of 10 that number meaning perfection.
The voice articulation, gesture, mem
Dry and general effect of each speaker
were judged separately. The total of
each iudge%epresents the sum of those
reduced by division to the
scale Of ten. Each fnsi grade repre-.
'ents the combined total of all the
Judges. They are as follows: