The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-15
MANKATO ON TOP.
Miss kittie Meagher and Mr.. Harry
Carney Take off First Hon.
Ors at the DeClamatOry
Contest.
Nine High Schools Represented in the
Gratest CONTEXT of Oratory
Ever Held i'm rlankatO.

niue nIRQ SCHOOlS Ol IDe seCOuu COu-
greSsional district to select represen
tat1ves to the state contest to be hello
at Minneapolis, Dec. 9th, was the
hottest battle ever fought on the de-
clamatory stage in Mankato. The
other cities of the district were deter.
mined to wrest the honor OF supplying
the representatives from Mankato,
and they sent better material than a
year ago, but Mankato was equal to
the occasion again, and was even
more successful than year ago. A
Mankato audience has never listened
TO more stirring and stubbOrnly CON
tested fight for honors, and the result
created the greatest enthusiasm.
The high school assembly room was
completely filled, many Of those pre-
sent being strangers who had come
from the different towns represented.
Supt. Kenaston announced the ap-
pOintment of the judges, and stated
that they were from outside OF the
district and would be kept in igno-
rance of the places which the various
speakers represented, in order that no
partiality might be shown in the de-
ciSion.
The Judge were Supt. G. B. Alton.
of Minneapolis, Supt. L. III. Lord, of
Owatonna, and Rev. j. A Cham ber-
lain, of Owatonna. The referee was
Prof. W. W. Macarthur, of Sherburne.
Among the visitors present were Prof.
Gilman, of Winnebago City, Mr.. Cook,
of Tracy, Prof. George, Of ST. Peter,
Prof. Webster of Mapleton, Prof
Robinson, of Madelia, and Miss
Bonwell, of Blue Earth City.
A delegation of sIXty-tve was pre-
sent from Mapleton, and large num-
bers came from ST. Peter, Madelia
and Redwood Falls.
Supt. Torrens, of Redwood Falls,
presided.
The program opened with "Cradle
SOng"by an eXcellenGly drilled chorus
from the high school.
Edward G. Sherman, of Mapleton,
was the first speaker, and his decla-
nation was entitled Extract from
Emmet's Speech" He possessed
fine voice, had a good infection and
appeared to be well trained. He was
one of the best.
Miss Dolly Sullivan, of Granite
Falls, recited Jamie" She suffered
by comparison with the previous
speaker as her voice seemed weak as
compared with his. But her gestures
were good ana her infection was eX-
cellent.
Guy w. Ross, of Blue Earth City,
gave the famous speech of Patrick
Henry. He is mere boy, but he was
one Of the stars on the program. His
bearing, gestures and infection were
line, and he has good future before
him IN this line. He deserved the
ample applause that followed.
Miss Lena Winter, of Redwood
Falls, recited "Mona's Waters" put
ting plenty life in it and exhibited a
fine voice.
Eugene Kinmon, of Tracy, gave
~Spartacus to the Gladiators" with
force and activity. 1t was difficnlt
selection, but was we'll spoken.
A male trio composed of Messrs.
Pinney, Helmer and Walz rendered
"A Little Farm Well Titled" and re-
ceived an ovation.
Miss Katherine f. Meagher, of this
city, recited 81 he First Settlers
Story" in a manner SO easy, so self
possessed and SO natural and uncOn-
strained that she received round after
round of applause. She surprised
even her friends and surpassed her eff
fort of week ago. She possesses a
voice sufficiently stTong and her ges-
lures are very effective,
10y Pugh, of Redwood Falls, spoke
Terrific Scene at the Natural
Bridge" This was one of the best eff
forts of the, evening. He proved that
he had good conception of the piece,
and his well cultivated voice and eX-
cellent emphasis showed to good adj
vantage.
Then followed the defamation,
The Volunteer" by Geo. s. Hage of
Madelia, whose only weak point was
his gestures. He appeared Somewhat
abashed, but spoke his SELECTION in a
very admirable manner. He has a
fine voice and put force into his de
livery. With very little training he
will make his mark on the stage.
Miss Mabel 'Mereness, of Winnie
bago City, recited ''Brier Rose" She
made good appearance on the stage
and her delivery was pleasing but
hardly forcible enough for the size OF
the room.
Miss j. May Cooley, of Madelia, re-
cited "The Polish Boy" This was
also one of the very best numbers on
the program. Miss Cooley possesses a
hpo vn,oa Of a M Mo xo1,,n,o - x.xo1