The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-02-28
PRESTON v. EAOELsoN.
The First Colored Student To Win
Oratorical Honors

The First Colored Student To Win
Oratoricai Honors
Bloomington, Ind, February 49,
The selection of Preston V. Eagle
son, the young colOred student, TO
represent Indiana Univerity in the |
coming State oratorical contest at
indianapolis, has created much
talk about the university and city,
but there has been little or no OPP
position to the decision. This is
largely accounted for by the fact
that Eagleson was marked first by
four of the six judges and second
by the other two judges, both on
thought and delivery. 1t was also
apparent by the manner in which
the decision was received by the
audience when announced that it
was thought to be just.
Eaglescn is one Of two colored
students who have been attending
the institution, and is the. son of a
barber, who works hard in order
that the son may secure an ,educa-
ton. He is eighteen years old and
took second honors in the high
school after three years course.
By reason of this fact he was given
a scholarship for. Indiana Univer-
sity, which has been great help
in assisting him in financial way
in his college course. When the
time 10 graduate in the high school
came there was some hesitation as
to who should march with him to
the platform on commencement
, NIGH, some of the class objecting on
+ account of his color, when Miss
Spencer, who was awarded first
( hon RS, spoke up and said she
r would gladly walk with him, re-
gardless Of what people might say.
j, In the fall of '92 Eagleson entered
2 the university proper, since which
j, time he has not only kept up with
his classes, but has been regarded
T. as one of the strong students. He
r makes speciality of history and
r philosophy, and by reason of his
h athletic ability was selected as one
I. of eleven out of about fifty candi'
: dates for positions on the l. U. foot
# ball team, and he has playedin the
d left half-back position for the pas
O two seasons.
n EaglesOn il modest and unassum
Y ing and las always been courteous
Q ly treated by his fellow students
j. as was illustrated at Charlottesville
n last fall. The eleven had an en-
gagement to play football will
Il Wabash college and arrangement
IA had been made with one of tn
i hotels for the entertainment of tn
aam. Upaa their arrival, thu
5bter feSdsed 10 quarter the clever
Is because of Eaglson's color. TIT
n captain consulted the team ant
.e they resolved unanimously tina
n unless the colored man could b.
e entertained with them they woul'
IS 60 elsewhere, which they did
e They were again refused admission
for the same reasons when the,
!. welt to a third hotel and foun,
0. accommodations.
k, His Parents Not Slaves.
'e Eagleson has made special
y, study of oratory and his speech OF
le "Abraham Lincoln" SCENE,
u especially adapted to him. He is
II full.blooded African, though hi
W parents were not slaves, as hi
le grandfather bought his father ant
v mothers's freedom and they wer
OF both born in Iowa. Presley Eagel
ie son was born in Mitchell, this State
W 1t Is already evident that Eagle
n son will be treated courteously b.
W his associates In the universit
e and that he will stand an equs
ar chance when the time for the Stat
Is contest comes. His speech
re about twenty minutes long; he ha
ne good delivery and the fact that h
50 had the highest:average on though
II. and composition in the primar
ur contest with three strong opponen
IS, sp' axis well for his production
IS, In speaking of his success to III
,u News correspondent he said ths
Ie- he would do the very best |
SO could to sustain the credit of Il
OF Institution and he had no doul
hg but that he would be fairly an
ye courteously treated by the men
's' bers of the State associatio
ne Eagleson is preparing himself f,
W. lawyer, and hopes to be able
IN graduate from the law departme
when he wants to locate pc
manently in Indianapolis.
He will be the first colo.ed orat