The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-12-14
HIGH SCHOOL CONTEST.
Miss May Brett is Awarded First
Place Among the Lady Con-
:" testants, and Guy TACK
Leads His Male COM
petitOrs.
Hiss Grace E. COmStOCk and Ralph
Lunn are Selected for
Second Places.

The assembly room of the High
school building was filled to it's limit
Friday evening" by friends of pupils
who were to take part in the declama-
tory contest. The program was in
teresting from start to finish, and the
participants all acquitted themselves
most creditably. The High school
orchestrasurprised the greater number
of the audience by the excellence of
their music, as many had never before
heard them and had no conception of
their attachments in this line.
The first on the program to declaim
was Miss May Brett, and in rendering
the somewhat difficult selection OF
slack, the Fisherman" she set pace
for those who were to follow that
meant something far above the ordi-
nary. When, therefore, the judges
announced her as entitled to first
place among the lady contestants the
verdict made up by the audience was
clearly indicated, as Miss Mays con-
ception of the characters portrayed
and her easy, graceful mannerisms and
clear enunciations entitled her to the
markings given by the judges.
Miss Marion FELTON, has a sweet
voice and presented graceful appear
ance on the platform, but her delivery
was lacking in range and "Ostler Joe'
suffered therefrOm.
sThe Boat Race" by Miss Grace
Comstock, was very well rendered and
as a reward for her efforts she was
given second place to Miss Brett.
Miss Grace has good voice and plenty
of force and she gained her point by
the life and vigor which she injected
into the lines.
Miss May Stout, quite a young Miss
to enter contest of this kind, show
ed her determination and pluck by
refusing to ''give up" after losing her
lines. After a slight hesitation and
an embarrassing search for her last
warriors she regained herself and sped
through the "Battle of Marathon"
with triumph worthy her fair sex.
The selection was really unadapted to
her youth, albeit she came out with
flying colors and was given hearty
round of applause for the womanly
exhibition of true grit and courage
displayed.
"Toussaint," as delivered by Ralph
Lunn, was excellent. The young man
has wealth of talent, with pleas
ing voice and most excellent delivery.
With the3 proper training, he will
make an orator of no mean degree,
and his mind directed in the right
channel will make for him brilliant
future. He was given second place
for superior work, being close up to
first.
Louis Osborn met with deservedly
warm reception in his oration-
against Whipping in the Navy.
The young mans voice and manners
are good and his.presence before an
audience is easy.
1t was left for Guy Mack, in his
rendition the winning Cup" to
capture first, place among his male
competitors. Guy displayed unusual
talent in his conception of the
characters represented, while his fine
voice, faultless delivery and altogether
becoming gestures held his audience
completely. We look to see the young
man win at the district contest,
Roy Hudson, in his Resistance to
British Aggression" did nicely and his
friends have reason to feel proud of
his efforts. He is quite young to enter
field of contestants the size of that
gathered last night, and he ranked
well up.
Miss Marjorie Patterson sang Sc
lection in her pleasing and winning
way to the delight of the audience,
and Miss Alma Wagon rendered a
piano solo. Mr.. Harry Carney set the
audience aglo with enthusiasm by re-
spending to a call for an Irish dialect
delineation. Harry is dandy on the
Irish brogue-as handy with it in fact
as though he had been brought up in
the county Cork.
The judges were Prof. Brandrup.
Prof L. M. Gentry and Senator Barr,
and their decisions were universally
endorsed by those present.
The district contest, which will occur
in Maakato on Friday evening of next
week, will be represented by Blue
Earth City, Madelia. Jackson, Maple
ton, Redwood Falls, Tracy, New Ulm,
Granite Falls, WinnebagO City and