Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-07
TALK OF TOWN
AND COUNTRY.

The divergence in the estimates wlich
different judges viii place on the same
oration and its delivery is we'll illustrated
by comparing the markings in the recent
intercollegiate oratorical contest. The most
marked discrepancy was in the case of the
representative of Drury college. Judge
Black graded his Grafton at 80 per cent,
while Professor Davis gave him SS3s a
difference Of 2S5s points. the same differ
ence in the estimate of his delivery is
noticed. Major Bittinger gave him 81,
while Mr. ChappelI gave him only TO- diff
ference Of q points. There were % points
between the highest and lowest grading
on delivery in the case of the Tarkio Or
ator; % in the delivery of the Missouri Val
ley representative; q in the delivery OF
Central colleges champion; % in tho
thought Of the state university orator: q
in the delivery of the William Jewell cham
pion; 20 in the delivery OF the Westminster
orator.
On the other hand the judges on thought
were only p. points apart in the case of
the Park college winner, and only l point
separated the judges on delivery; only
points difference on the thought of the
Tarkio orator: % on the thought of Will
lam Jewells representative; points on the
thought of the Missouri Valley representa-
tive. Yet whita the judges on thought so
nearly agreed in the latter case, the judges
on delivery were . points apart While
the JUDGES on thought came within points
of agreeing in the case of Tarkio the
judges on delivery were p points apart
All three judges on delivery marked Park
college first and two judges on though,
marked Central college first One Judge
on thought marked the seventh man s.
points higher than the lowest grade given
the winner Of the contest by the judges on
thought.
William Jewell got last place but the
highest grade on thought was II points
fgrF0E han
of the winner. The lowest grade on thought
of the very last contestant was l point
higher than the winners lowest grade on
thought and the highest thought erade. OF
the lowest man was 5 points higher than
the lowest thought grade OF the winner.
Railway depots in country towns are us-
ually the most uninviting and unattractive
places in the towns. The walls are hare
or defaced with the scribbline of loafers,
the big stoves show little or no attention
and the depots are generally cherries, re-
sembhng places where men stay a few
hours from necessity. Very seldom is il
found that even in the offices the agents
have even an easy chair, a picture, a sin
gle piece of decoration or ANYTHING else 10
break the dull monotony or tone down the
blealIness of the surroundings. There is
one place not far from Kansas City where
the exact reverse is found. The agent of
cultured and esthetc tastes that he car
rieS into all of his business and SURROUND
ings. HIS depot shows that at the first
glance. There are two waiting rooms, one
for men, the other for ladies. The mems
is cheerful, and on the walls are found
several pretty pictures and some we'll choSs-
en- pieces of colored advertising that serve
a valuable purpose in covering the walls
The ladies' waiting room is beautified and
frightened with a large number of bloom
ing plants that lend fragrance and fresh
ness to the surroundings and make
cosy and inviting place that otherwise
would be dull and barren. Visitors to the
depot find a short wait for trains anything
but dull, and a glance at the window full
of pretty, bright colored blooms as one
rides by IS quite refreshing. The care of
the plants is trifing compared with the
pleasure they afford not alone to the depot
employees, but to travellers.
One of the funniest thi1rs in connection
with he int io+a oo..az.