The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-26
COUNTRY TALENT DISPLAYED AT
THE MORTAL.
James Watts, of Indian Lake, and
Helen urannis, of Vernon Center,
Win First PriZes-Erna LosSow, of
1CPhersoD. and John Lowell. of
Vernon Center Capture Second
PriZes-Large Audience From the
Country Present-AlI the Contest
ants do Remarkably Well.

The second annual county declama-
tory contest was held at the Normal
hall Friday evening. A number of
sleighs, well loaded down with per-
SONS wishing to hear and cheer on
their favorite speakers, came in from
the country. Vernon Center was re-
presented by several loads who drove
in. About 400 people attended and
enjoyed an excellent program.
The Normal orchestra added largely
to the pleasure of the evening by rem
dering several selections. This Or
chestra has improved greatly and the
school can we'll be proud of it.
spected, and her death will cause
much regret among all who enjoyed
her acquaintance.
| County Supt. Scherer opened the
meeting by thanking the audience for
the interest it took in the contests:
He, said that there had been fourteen
speakers chosen, but owing to sick
ness and colds only eight would speak,
four girls and four boys. No applause
would be allowed until after the
| judges had given their decisions. Mr..
Scherer then put the names OF the
contestants in a hat and drew them
out and they spoke in the following
order:
Everett Lovelett, of Rapidan, "The
Boys Complaint"
George Duemeland, of Mcpherson,
"The Wife-Hunting Deacon"
John Lowell, of Vernon Center,
"The American Flag"
! ErDa LoSSOw, of Mcpherson, "The
Old Surgeons Story"
Helen Grannis, of Vernon Center,
ga Legend of Bragenz."
Alma Miller, of Mankato, "Ride of
Paul VenareZ."
! Lottie Phelps, of Decoria, "The
Smack in School,"
James Watts, of Mankato,, "Gold-
stems Equestrian Joke"
The judges were Misses Crawford
and Holt and Jean A. Flittie. They
retired and compared the merits of
the different contestants. Fifty per
cent was allowed for the general eff
feet, thirty for articulation, pronunci-
alton and tone, and twenty for gest-
ure and carriage. Mr.. Flittie an
) nounced the decision of the judges.
Helen Grannis, of Vernon, took first,
: Erna Lossow second prize for the
: girls; James Watts, of Mankato, and
John Lowell, of Vernon, first and sec
ond prizes for the boys.
, James Watts is from Indian Lake
: and as soon as the result was an
nounced, the Indian Lakers got TO-
gether and the halls resound with the
yell,
'Ra, "a, "a! boom, bang, bah! In
, dian Lake; wide awake! hurrah!"
Vernon Center had two winners,
one first prize and the other a sec.
ond, and gave this yell:
eli, ka; hi, ka boom de a! Vernon
Center, Vernon Center! rah, rah. rah'
Helen Grannis, of Vernon Center,
gave the recitation entitled, ga
: Legend of Bragenz." Her articulation
and gestures were almost perfect, and
the general effect was also good, and
most of the audience gave her the FIRST
prize before the judges announced
their decisions, although several
thought that Erna Lossow was in the
lead.
James Watts is member of the In
dian Lake Literary society, and has
had a great deal of experience in
speaking there. He spoke comical
selection and initiated the broken
, dialect of the character to perfection.
He certainly was entitled to the first
prize.
John Lowell, Of Vernon, is little
fellow about nine years of age, but he
spoke so that he could be distinctly
heard in every part of the hall. His
gestures were excellent.
Erna Lassow made fine appearance
on the stage, and she came very near
getting the first prize for the girls.
The other speakers, though not
winners, all did we'll and deserve praise
for their efforts.
! Supt. Scherer thought that some
people would like to know what was
done with the money taken in. He said
that S2S. SO was taken in at the door;
$40 of this went to pay for the prizes,
the gold prizes being $500 each and
the silver $500 each, and the balance
would not cover the expenses of print
ing, etc.
AS the crowd went out of the build
ing, the calls of the schools were re-
peated. Indian Lake and Vernon
Center were especially jubilant over