St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-02
THE PIlLSBURY PRIZES
STRUGGLED FOB or STATE UHivERS-
HY STUDENTS.
THE ORAToRICAL CONTEST.

seven Students Deliver Orations
and Win Applause-The First
Prize Carried OFF by john G.
Briggs, and the second Was
Won by a Young Lady-An
Interesting Contest.
The Pillsbury oratOrical contest &C.
cured last night In the state univ eIsity
building. 1t was an interesting event.
especially to the students. and Is the
first number of the commencement
programme. There was a large a:ten l.
ance. Frank NJ. Anderson of1iciated as
chairman of the meeting. There were
three prizes. all of them cash. given by
ex-Gov. Pillsbury, and these were
struggled for by seven students. John
g.. Briggs carried off first honors, Miss
Laura Frankentield secured the second
prize and William A. Simonten the
third. Several vocal selections were
rendered during the evening by Miss
Sample and Mrs. Cherry. The judges
OIL thought and composition were, Mrs.
Judge Elliot, Rev. Pleasant Hunter
oiiO . ,. ~ -
N. Greer, Norton NJ. Cross and Rev.
Wells,
William A. Simonton was the first to
step forward in the struggle for the
prize. His was an Grafton, with William
sessed OF a deep, manly voice. Mr..
S:monton gave a pleasing address.
though his delivery was a trife too
rapid. He told of the plots and endeav-
oIs of Phillip Ii. of Spain to plant his
forces in Holland. and thereby secure
possession OF the sturdy little country
and destroy the religion of Luther. The
splendid genius of William of Orange
in his patriotic struggle for Holland
against the Spanish invaders. his states
manship and subtle, polite wisdom were
all recounted clearly. Mr.. Simonton's
audience became fully acquainted with
the characteristics Of the famous warri-
or'S heroic nature and noble mind. He
was warmly applauded when he con
cluded.
r. j. McDermott spoke on "A Won
derfuI People" referring to tine He
brews. He took Jeremiah's prophecy
as the foundation for bis effort, which
was directed toward showing how the
Jews had been prosecuted from time
immemorial. He pleaded for a change
VA IA atti6 . Lhth hoo
nation. In spite Of being downirodden.
despised aud driven from country to
country, the Jews, however, had gone
OH and Oh. There was no hiding the
magnificent genius and light of their
Intelligence, and Mr.. McDermott held
that they would solne time stand as
conQuerors OF the world. AS a speaker
Mr.. McDermott is dramatic. but his
enunciation is not good. He meIges his
words together.
John u. Briggs, when he concluded
his Grafton Oh the subject of the famous :
patriot "Patrick Henry" was accorded
a hearty ovation. lie handled himself
after the manner of ali old-time public
speaker, and 1t was agreed on all hands
that he carried off the palm. He has a
deep bass voice. and uses it remarkably
well. In the state contest at Mortified
he won first place in delivery.
j. F. Smaliidge, a slender, light
haired youth, took for his subject 1.-The
Political EXiles of Russia" The exiles
were by no means al ignorant and de-
PRAYED set. as some believed, said the
speaker, but were. in fact, men of in
te%lligence. education and intellectually
rising almost TO greatness. He gave
the audience the impression that he was
very much i'll earnest, and in sympathy
with his subject.
1.-The jury System, Its Uses n
abuses" gaveEdinund Harschlet an OPP
p%ortunity to speak his views on the
subject of the adjustment of the time
honored system. Mr.. Harschlet demon
Strated that he knew a thug or two of
how a jury ought to be addressed. He
is a young MAI who believes with
Delsarte that rhythmic motion of the
body enhances speech, and he did not
forget to make his gestures.
Miss Laura F~rankenield. the only
member of the dear sex entered in the
contest, bespoke her claims to the
prize in a manner that caught the
audience. The subject OF her Grafton
was pirate or Patriot" Paul Jones,
that picturesque character M deeds
are sung in verse and opera. was the
figure around which the young lady
built a very dramatic aud clever dis
course. 1t was the opinion of those who
had the felicity Of hearing her effort
that Miss Frankenfield has a future
before her in the declamatory line.
Robert E. P. Kline. whose Dame was
the last on the programme, spoke Oh
"Mothers, Not Polllicians," a title sug-
gestive of woInan'S suffrage. lie main-
tanned that politics WAS not the place
for woman, lear WOman 1t was settled
when Eve was created a helpmeet to
Adam that she wOuld never have any
business around the polls. There was
nothing frivolous about MIR. kline's
dissertation, however. He was in ear
nest; there was no doubt of that.