Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-04-29
EVER EXPERIENCED IN THE CAPITAL THEATER AT LITTLE ROCK, PRE- VAILED THERE
 FRIDAY
 NIGHT
On the Occasion of the Fifth Annual Contest of the Arkansas Intercollegiate
 0ratorical As-
 sociatiOn.
Special to the GRApn1c

Special to the GRAPnc:
 LITTLE ROCK, April 25.-Special trains were arriving throughout the entire day yesterday. and every regular train was crowded to it's fullest capacity with admiring and enthusiastic friends of the contestants in last nights oratorical contest. Of all these. the special from Favett- vile, the site of the State University, bore the largest and most enthusias- tie delegation. 1t arrived at the Union depot ut $50 and the party, headed by the \. L U. brass band, was suon on their march to the Hotel Riehelien.
 At : o'clock the Capital Theater was packed 10 it's utmost capacity and an hour later the Association was called to order by it's President, George W. Garrett, of Ouachita College.
 After the announcement of Presi- dent Garrett, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Junius Jordan. in his usual eloquent style, stepped forward and delivered the welcome address
 Then came the orations in the following order: Thos. L. Helm, Hendrix College; Geo. Vaughn, University of Arkansas; Oscar J. Wade, Arkansas Baptist College; K. ". Dodson, Arkansas College.
 Each champion had q large fol- towing of collegiates who went wild with enthusiasm at every lull in the program.
 Umbrellas, fans, handkerehieis, hats and college colors waved wildly throughout the audience and loud cheers and college yells pierced the ear at the beginning and ending of every oration.
 Not even in a national political convention did there ever reign such pandemonium as was witnessed on that loDg-to.be remembered occasion.
 At the conclusion of the program the judges retired for the purpose Of making their decision, and during the hour they were absent, it seemed as if the crowd wonld shake the Opera-house from it's foundation. But at last Prof Jordan stepped | forward, and in an instant the house was still as death. After few preliminary remarks he said: ''I am instructed to deliver this medal to--," and at this pause every pulse and heart seemeed stiller than [ he tomb of Solomon-"Thos E. Helm" then rang out full and clear over the audience, and the wild shouts that went up in answer was enough to burst the ear-drum of an elephant.
 Mir. Helm may well be proud of his victory, for in the person of Mir. l Vaughn, of the State University, he had an unconquerable foe, they hay ing tied on the first method employed | lOE OtltGIiilniliS tllC " lltuGts
 It is with extreme reluctance that we are forced to chronicle one of the most dis3raeeful acts that a rep resentative college delegation could be guilty of.
 When the decision was announced, the Hendrix boys rushed madly forward to honor their hero near them. Lieutenant Chandler, of the State University, was seated in private box with a number of lady and gentlemen friends moving the Hendrix boys reached from the rostrum as if to tahe the banner, whereupon Il lady reqnestd Lieu tenant Chandler to give it to them that they wanted to unfurl it in honor of Mir. Vaughn, who came so near winning the prize. The banner was passed into the supposed friendly hands, but instead of being unfurIed in the name of the A. l. U. and in honor of her proud, but de- feated orator, ir was hurled viciously to the floor and trampled upon by unclean and cowardly feet.
 A crowd of A. l. U. boys rushed excitedly forward to defend their banner, and trouble would have been inst antaneous had not the escape of the guilty parties and the counsel of wiser heads prevailed.
 With the exception of this coward ly and vicious insult to the fair name of the University of the State, the contest was by far the most successful in the past history nf the Association, and is likely to re- : main the glorious zenith of her ex- istance.
 l A Munificent Donation.