The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-22
UNJUST CRITICISMS.

The papers in some of the towns
represented in the recent High school
declamatory contest have criticisms
regarding the contest. The Mapleton
Enterprise says, among other things:
ut is patent to all that Mankato
relies on skilled elOcutiOniStS, not
teachers in her high school, to train
her delegates. For two years this has
been SC: and it now remains for other
schools to send their delegates also to
elocutionistS, or to demand that dele
gates Shall represent the school and
not elocutonists, if they would be on
fair footing against their most
powerful opponent While we shall
take pride, as residents of this district,
is being so ably represented at
Minneapolis yet it does not seem just
that money should rule in these
contests as in most other things"
The Redwood Falls Gazette says:
1.-THE only unsatisfactory feature
was the lack of courtesy during the
contest shown the visiting contestants
bv the high school pupils of MankatO.
To not only cheer ones own contest
ants and keep perfectly still while
they are speaking, but also to laugh,
talk aloud. make faces and create con-
fusion generally while visiting con-
testants are speaking. is to say the
least, decidedly rude and illmaDnered
If contending against such odds, IN
Guiding the size of the town, profess
sional training, ETC., we succeeded IN
getting so near the goal this year,
shall we not next year by little extra
effort. be able to carry off both 1r L
honors as Mankato has done this year?
And if we sP Ould secure the district
contest for Redwood Falls next year
as it seems very probable that we
shall, we shall have an opportunity
for SETTING them an example of court
eous treatment"
We do not believe that either Of
these criticisms are just. So far as
the local speakers receiving training
by professional elocutionists,if it is so,
it simply puts the district on better
footing at the state contest. Manka-
to is but one of dozen cities in the
state where elocutiOn is taught, and
to debar those who may have had this
benefit would be placing the district
at a disadvantage at the state contest,
where delegates from ST. Paul, Min
neapolis, Duluth and Winona are to
be met. Lessons in elocution simply
serve to give polish to the talent OF
he pupil, and cannot give an advant-
age to any but those already possessing
great deal of natural ability. A few
lessons are sufficient and are easily
within reach of all contestants.
We do not believe that there was
any intentional discourtesy toward
visiting contestants by high school,
pupils. Each speaker was well
applauded, but it was natural that
the ones who were adjudged The best
should be trifle more warmly receiv-
ed, especially in their own home. The
audience as whole was very quiet.
and what little whispering was IN
dulged in was confined to half dozen
persons, who by no means represented
the high school pupils, who are as
orderly and courteous as can be found
anywhere. Their treatment of the
visitors seemed to 'be eminently.s fair
ard no complaint was.heard on oul
streets. The meeting was presided
over by Redwood Falls gentleman
and had there been any noticeable dis
order it was his privilege and duty tC
silence it,