The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-12-21
THE 0RATORICAL CONTEST.
High School Building Crowded
to Overlooking by Friends
of Contestants.
MankatO and rIadelia walk Off With
First Places, With Tracy and
New Ulm Second.

The Second District Oratorical con-
test occurred at the High school
building in this city Friday and
it was an occasion of unusual interest.
At an early hour every available space
was occupied, and those who came
little later were obliged to either re-
main standing or occupy seats in the
main hall. A large representation of
friends of outside contestants was
present and the interest manifested
in the outcome far exceeded that
heretofore exhibited. At about Is
minutes to eight o'clock the Mankato
High school orchestra opened the pro-
gram with one of their choice musical
productions, and from that time until
twelve o'clock, the hour at which the
last contestant closed his defamation,
interest was kept up to the highest
pitch.
1t will be impossible to give even a
passing notice of the efforts of these
who took part, as there were twenty
one DISCLAIMERS. 1t is, however, due
the various schools sending represent
atives to say that a finer or more in
telligent lot of young people has never
before been congregated together in
| the district on like occasion, and
each contestant gave ample evidence
that he or she possessed a goodly
amount of talent and demonstrated
| fully that to win in contest where
all were so thoroughly deserving would
be matter for close calculation and
fine discrimination by the judges.
Prof. Crichett, of New Ulm, presid-
ed, and asked that all demonstrations
of approval be suppressed by the
audience. The request was largely
acquiesced in, although the enthusi-
asm of the friends of the various par
Elephants found partial vent in hand
clapping at the close of each declama-
tion. The utmost good feeling pre-
vailed throughout: and the pretty
young ladies charmingly dressed, and
who were hopeful for success
as was plainly evinced through
their lustrous eyes sparkling
under the gas light, caused
the sympathetic sentiment of the
spectators to regret that each could
not be given first place for they were
all deserving. The young men were
no less admired and none the less de-
serving and these young people can
all feel proud that they were pitted
against each other in a friendly con-
test where each possessed such rare
merits.
The judges, Messrs. G. George, J. E.
jerks and A. n. Farmer, with Prof.
J. B. Gray, of Minneapolis, as referee.
adjourned at the conclusion of the
program, to make up and announce
their decision. After an absence of
about thirty minutes they reported as
| follows:
1st Lady-Miss J. May Cooley, of
Madelia.
| End Lady-Miss Grace Newhart. of
| New Ulm.
LIST Gentleman-Mr. Guy E. Mack,
| of Mankato.
End Gentleman-Mr. Eugene Kin
more, of Tracy.
That there should be some criticism
at the verdict of the judges in con-
test where so many participants were
interested, and where the fine points
of distinctive merits were so close is
no matter of wonderment; but it can
be said that the decision was generally
accepted with good grace and all de-
parted with the feeling that a very
enjoyable evening had been spent.
The decision which gave most cause
for adverse criticism was the scoring