The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-01-29
THE =. +. X. I. A. CONTEST IN DECLA-
NATION AND GRAFTON

NATION AND GRAFTON.
1 desire to call the attention of our
pupils and teachers to a few points
which | think will be worth consider
ing in regard to selection of subjects
for defamation and Grafton i'm the
coming contest.
Please bear in mind that this con-
test is to be amongst the pupils of the
public schools of the counties includ-
ed in the :. + X. Il. \. district, and
that as it is to be only amongst the
pupils we have no reason to believe
that the pupils of any other county
are at all superior to the pupils of Al
len county. $50 do not hesitate to en-
ter the contest. desire to urge teach
ers who think that they have pupils
who are fairly good in these matters
to urge such pupils to enter the con-
test. At least the local contest.
In selecting a subject for defamation
bear in mind that this is "a contest
where the individuality of the con-
testants is to bejudged and the selec-
ton should be chosen for its adapta-
bity to the particular qualifications
of the individual speaker. \ comic
selection cannot be rendered by per-
son devoid of powers of mimicry.
Avoid selection beyond the pupils
power of Interpretation, or even that
will compel the pupil to force himself
up to an Interpretation. Such Sc
lection will weaken the power of de-
livery by the exact amount of extra
effort put forth to hold in mind the in
depreciation. For this reason avoid
all selections requiring STACY or
dramatic rendition. Or all that are
fiercely passionate in manner. While
bearing this in mind you must studi-
ously avoid weakening your pupils
ability by Il selection entirely too
simple.
In the matter OF selecting subjects
for Grafton, he very careful to avoid
abstract subjects which require an UNI
limited power of imagination and
reason to handle The most common
error of pupils and the one most diff
cult to avoid, is that of writing from
the standpoint of an instructor, or
rather ministerial style, giving u
moral, or religious, OF educational
harangue closing with little moral
beginning with "Thus yC. see." Such
essays are all right in their place but
their place is not in contest of this
sort. do not mean by this that you
are not to discuss moral, religious or
educational subjects, but if you do,
discuss them from the standpoint of
the orator, and do not presume upon
the intelligence of your audience by
formulating whatever lesson may have
been taught.
Select subject with which you are
already familiar, it matters not fit DO
commonplace, as you are to be judy
ed upon your ability to handle your
subject and not upon your ability to
select large and euphOnious one.
Avoid attempting to climb to the top
of some great heighth of rhetoric and
expand your energies in attempting to
sustain your position at that height
throughout your entire effort. If you
have the ability to so skillfully hand
lie the figure of rhetoric so as to make
a gradual and pleasing ascent to some
of the heights of OratOry and get
yourself down without breaking your
ora torical neck it will be in perfectly
good taste to do so. If you have not
this ability it is well for you to re-
membe- that "unskilled persons
handling sharp tools are liable to suf-
fer personal injury"
/ BY selecting subject with which
you are already familiar your energies
! will not he eXerted i'll acquiring facts
for V our Grafton but may he saved for
the purpose of thought and compost
ton. This will add largely to the
value of your production.
/ have as yet not had time to con-
suit with the parties having charge OF
the local contests but believe L will
be in harmony with them should |
say here that all contestants must be
reported to them not later than Feb.
/ 20, to enable them to arrange pro-
gram for the contest. These contests
are open to any pupil i'll the county.
Contestants may choose the local con-
test which they desire to enter, that
is you may take part in that one near
est to you, or any other one in the
county that you may choose.
| Do not hesitate to write me for in
formation at any time. Let us enter
( this contest with the determination to
win, but with the consciousness that
should we fail the effort we have made
has fully repaid us for the toll. YOurs
very truly, ED. I. BARRIER.
Lack of Exercise
\