The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-09
MISS NELLIE WOOD
A LADY WINS THE STATE ORATOR.
IcAL ASSOCIATION HONORS.
Athletic Association Refuses to Expel
Butler and DePauw Withdrnws
I'm HUFF.


Indiana State Oratorical Association the
honors haze been won by young woman.
Miss Nellie z. Wood. Eariham's repre-
sentative, won first place last evening in
the annual contest at English's. one was
the only young woman orator and she APP
peared on the programme with six young
men competitors. The subject of her ora
ton was, ssThe Nations Perpetuity.' Upon
liz she scored three first grades on thought
and two delivery. Miss Woods produce
ton was SO full of patriotism earnestnesS
and hopefulness, and her manner was so
pleasing that when she concluded she re-
tired from the stage amid the widest APP
plause. to which everybody contributed.
Miss Wood, by her triumph gains the
proud honor of representing the State in the
interstate contest
The ground floor and the balcony were
we'll filled with the friends of the differ
ent colleges when the programme for the
evening was commenced. 1t was more
civilized crowd, so far as actions were
concerned, than is usually found at col
lege gathering. Previous to the rise of the
curtain there was little noise with the ex-
ception of an occasional college yell. The
boxes on either side of the house were oc-
eupied by the friends of the Butler Uni
versity, guests of the Sigma Chi frater-
VI.
with the colors Of the university-blue and
white-and the colors of the fraternity
blue and gold. President Dunn, of the as
ISOLATION, acted master of ceremonies
and the first announcement to be made by
him was a song by the DePauw quartet,
which is composed of Messrs. Starr, Gill
bert, Paris and Burlingame.
After they completed an entertaining Sc
lection the large audience settled itself to
hear the orations and 70 judge of their re-
spective merits The judges upon delivery
which had been selected by the executive
committee, were w. j.. Fishback, John L.
Griffiths and Rev. DIR. Coultas. Shortly be-
fore the speaking was TO begin Franklin
College entered protest to DR.. Coultas
serving, for the reason that he is the pas
tor of Methodist church, and some
DePauw orator. An effort was made to get
either General Harrison. Judge Elliott, w.
III. III. Miller or Rev. DR.. Haines, but each
of these gentlemen declined to serve. A
delegation of students waited upon Charles
w. Fairbanks and induced him to serve in
the place of DR.. Coultas.
The first orator was John s. Butler. Of
Butler University, who had for a subject
Dante, His Mission to the World" Mr..
Butler had an easy manner, and his clear
enunciation brought forth the good Ian
guage of his production. The severest crit
icism that could be offered to his delivery
was that it lacked force Mr.. Butler said
Dante first proclaimed that mans birth
right is freedom and that conscience is his
souls guide. Dante sounded Freedoms
call for France England and America, and
his words still appeal to the people Of
M. j. Bowman, Hanover's representative,
and the orator who won second place, pre-
scented a strong Grafton in a forcible man
ner Mr.. Bowman possesses wonderful
voice, which he used in his delivery to
good effect. He had for a subject the dire
prophecy made by Macauley regarding the
future of the United States, and he set
forth reasons to prove its fallacy. MIR.
Bowmans GRAFTON abounded in patriotism
and faith in the stability of the government.
Maynard Daggy, of DePauw, discussed
conditions. His manner made UP in earn
estneSs what it lacked in true oratorical
qualifications. He deplored the, estrange-
ment between the church and the people,
and said people have tired of ministers who
preach for money, and cry out for such
men as Abbott and Parkhurst, who, he
said, preached Christ's teachings
For the first time in the history of the
association a co!ored man appeared ON the
of Indiana University, who delivered an
eulogistic Grafton upon the life of Abra-
received, and he held the undivided atten-
ton of his audience. He has rich. mellow
voice, and possesses many of the true quail
fications of an orator. His language was
pure and simple, and many thought he
might have been given higher grade
following the eoiored orator came Frank
the Reign of Terror Mr.. Martin is 6.
pleasing speaker, and he pleaded earnestly
for the enforcement of laws, which, ne said,
were the foundation of the government.
Miss Wood, the Quaker orator, was the
Beng
young lady upon the programme she was
greeted with heartier applause than that
which greeted the others, Her manner was
during the twenty-five minutes she spoke
everybody in the house all attention.
voice was strong and soft, and not in the
least harsh She spoke with feeling and
life. showing that she was interested in her
subject Her introduction was so hopeful,
so unlike many college orations OF the past,
that everybody was taken by s .nIn,is.,
her Grafton ran a lofty strain. of pat
riotism. The struggles for civil liberty, she
age. In the Constitution was proclaimed "a
new doctrine, one for equality and freedom.
untried theory. 1t was not in a pessimistic
manner that she reviewed some OF the evils
of the hour, for she regarded them as mere
questions to be solved. She did not dwell
upon these evils at great length, nor did
she at any time picture this government ON
the verge of destruction. She said the prin-
ciple upon which the government was COM
menced was a guarantee that It would en-
dure For two minutes AFTER MSS Woo 3d
not all come from that part OF the house
where the Earlham delegation sat. The
audience had already decided who was en-
titled to the honors
Charles H. Leach, the Wabash orator, was
the last on the list. and 1T was with some
applause for Miss Wood had hardly died
away and the audience was becoming rest
less. Nevertheless he earnestly spoke upon
..The Cost of Progress and expressed the
thought that the present obstacles which
confront the people cannot be overcome
without sacrifices.
The orations completed the audience be-
gan to cheer for the different candidates
for l1onors DePauw s lusty yell arose above
all others. Butler made herself heard. and
Franklin was also well represented by
lungs Wabash and Hanover were not so
nlrnerousiy represented, but those present
endeavored to make it known that their
respective colleges were represented. Above
the din and confusion arose the Thee,
thou yell of the Quaker school, full of hope
and confidence.
While the judges We're making out the
averages the Meridian-street serenadng
club composed of Messrs Rogers. Bryan,
Hutchins Brand, Roat, Johnson, Hail, Bur-
ford and Jose rendered several selections.
The DePauw Quartet also appeared and
heued pass the time. The result OF the
Judges on delivery was as follows:
Griffith--Wo God. 30; Daggy, SO: Bowman, %;
Eagleston, 80; Martin. as; Butler. s.; Leach.
Fishback-w God. 100; Eagleston. 80: But
ler a5; Daggy, 90; Bowman, s.; Martin, so;
Fairbanks-Bowman eS: Dagcy, s7tk:
Wood. ee; Martin, 50; Eagleston. 81; Leach.
The Judges on thought were Lorenzo
Sears of Brown University; T. y. Defnmon
OF Ann Arbor, and William Hand Brown,
of Johns Hopkins. Their grades on thought
were as follows:
Sears1Nood. 50, Bowman. 50; Butler, 10:
Martin, IS; Daggy. -: Leach, 20; Eagles