Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-05-31
The E~lOcution Contest.
TIE HARDIN COLLEGE CHAPEL
PACKED FROM PIT TO
D0MF.
Miss Laura jacobson, OF Arkansas, In
"Leah, the F0rsaken,n the Win
ner-Miss Wallace Secures
Second Honors.

The ei0cation contest at Hardin Col
.ege Tuesday evening vas arepetition
Of the former successes of that institu-
ion. The immense Chapel was pack
I'd and, as was the Ease on Monday
many We're turned away dis
There were eleven con-
testants for the honors, the prizes be-
ing two gold medals, to be given to
the two who were adjudged and grad
ed "first' and second"
The greatest interest was manifest
ed in the proceedings by the audience,
which was a model one, and the par
Elephants were not bothered by out
rageous noises, as was the ease Mon
day evening.
The judges of the contest were Miss
Washburn, of Columbia; Miss Belle
Morris and Prof. d. A. Mcmillan, OF
this city.
The contest was very close, and the
judges had to deliberate sometime be-
tore q decision was reached. When
Prof. Mcmillan announced that Miss
Laura Jacobson, of Morrilton, ARK, |
was first, and Miss Maud Wallace, of
this city, was second, a storm of ap-
plause arose which showed that the
audience was in sympathy with the
judges, and that the decision had
given universal satisfaction.
While awaiting the decision of the
judges the audience was entertained
by movements in Swedish Calesthen-
les, executed by a class of the smaller
pupils of Hardin. Some of these
movements were very amusing, and
the audience enjoyed them hugely.
Miss Anna Ewing, who won the
first prize for vocal music in the con-
test last year, is quite a favorite with
the public here. Miss Ewing sang a
solo in her natural and charming man
ner, and her sweet voice Won many
new friends.
Miss Evarene Terrill favored the
audience with a neat little recitation
entitled "Our Baby"
All of the contestants should be
proud of the way they acquitted them
selves last evening, as all the numbers
were splendid and showed careful
training.
Miss Esther Norris gave "Lochiel's
Warning" with fine effect. The in
tense earnestness and solemnity of the
seer and the scorn, courage and inn
petuosity of the Highlander were so
well rendered that we were inclined
to believe that had Lochiel received
his warning from the lips of the fair
impersonator of last night it would
have carried such conviction that he
would have bowed submissive and. a
tragedy would have been averted.
Always bright and entertaining,
now pathetic, Eva Mabry gave the
touching story of "The Lady of sha-
lott" as written by Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps.
The character of 'Leah, the jew
ess," was well chosen by Miss Jacob
son, who came before the audience a
perfect type of her race, giving an in
depreciation of the character with a
power rarely witnessed except in a
professional. The mingled passions
Of love, rage and despair were depict
ed with wonderful comprehension and
were well sustained throughout, and
concentrated in the final bitter curse.
en- rapport with the audience and in
her almost inimitable Characterization
of ''Tradin' Joe" carried the house by
storm. TTadin' bosses, tradin' cows
and tradin' farms are every day opera
tions, but a new field for the constitu-
tional trader has been opened up by
]. W. Riley, and Miss Wallace for the
nonce convinced the audience that
tradin' sweethearts was as legitimate
and sweet as "Love's Young Dream"
Miss Minnie Bast has won the hearts
of all lovers OF base ball, by her
rendering of"The Hilton Came" The
triumph of the ball players was nc
doubt echoed in the hearts that beat
under blue cloth and brass buttons, and
tie staidest of the staid must have fell
a little jerky i'm the muscles, and even
a serene Quaker would have felt NOV.
ed to say, Friend Bast, 1 will join thy
game if thee will let me-"
We do not know ON what waters
Miss Frances Howe has piled the oar,
but she has proved herself to be a
good stroke, and We predict for hel
many a triumph "by waters cool and
fair" She carried the audience with
her in her rendering of slack Halls
Boat Race" and we could almost heal
the impatient dip of the oar though
the shouts of encouragement by
either party.
ga Soldier ofthe Empire" was given
by Miss Ethel DeShong. Her voice
was clear and soft, yet showing the
determination of the brave old soldier
and his scorn of the coward hiss.
Miss Mabel Patton gave 1.-THE Com.
bat Scene," from 1.-THE Lady of the
Lake." finely.
Miss Lola Brixey gave "The Echo
and the Ferry" She led the little
eleven and seven through wood and
field with loving hand, and the echo
of the language followed them in of.
ten times to the church, moss-grown
and old, where they were wed.
Miss Eva Arnold gave 'tThe Falcon
of FEDERICO in a soft, sweet voice,
and Lillian Atkinson stirred our hearts
with the fate of Marguerite of France,
giving it in her usual earnest style.