Daily camera., 1897-01-16

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At s O'Clock promptly, the presiding
officer, Mr. Wilson Shafer, announced
that "the hour had arrived when the con
test must be begun" and introduced the
preparatory school orchestra. This or.
ganization, in its sweet Installations,
paved the way for the heavy thoughts to
come. Its work was very creditable.
The first Speaker was Wilson Turman
with the subject. "Victores of the Hero. P"
The speaker rehearsed in the history of
the ages, the heroes and their works. OF
course the development traced the
change from physical force to mental.
and the power of kindly love in settling
the differences of humanity His voice
was full and pleasant and his manner
easy, but his gestures were somewhat
mechanical. Mr.. Turman will be very
strong candidate for next year, and ex-
perience will prove large factor in his
future work.
Mr.. John Lewis presented the subject
of "Amerlcan Citizenship" The Grafton
presented the idea that the bulwark of
our national strength is our constitution.
| The interviewer organization of town,
city, county, STATE and nation, permits
unity of effort In improving conditions
politically and economically, and the
speaker prophecied the dawn of better
day. The thought and composition were
| splendid, and was we'll rounded and com.
plete and, evidently, had had considerable
attention since the preliminary. The
speaker has good voice. but spoke a
little too rapidly and had too many ges-
! lures.
Chauncey F. Bell, the winner of first
place, presented biographical Grafton
on Alexander Hamilton, entitled States
man and Nation" A biographical sub
ject allows great fields for development
and Mr.. Bell used the advantage to the
utmost. The thought and composition
of the Grafton ranked high, but in de-
livery the speaker was handicapped
somewhat by an illness from which he
has been suffering and rendered the work
difficult tor him. Mr.. Bell will enter the
state contest as one of the strongest rep
resentatlves the state university has ever
had.
The Hernandez Mandolin club had
some difficulty in getting arranged, but
performed very pleasantly when they
were finally seated on the stage.
"The True Source of Power" BYE r.
Jones followed The keynote of the or
alton was "mind" and in it. Mr.. Jones
found the power of mankind. The Grafton
presented strength in thought which
found favor in the minds of all, but
somewhat ministerial manner ,detracted
from the speakers delivery. Mr.. Jones
was selfposeessed and very earnest in
his work.
VIM. B. Ogden traced the relations be-
tween "The Individual and the State"
The speaker was rather nervous and ex-
hibited it in rather jerky delivery, CIV
ing nervous ,hrusts with his arm when
gesturing. His oration presented evil
dences of painsaking care and study.
Carl H. Paddock presented the most
powerful Grafton of the evening under
the title Of "The Great Experiment y
The pith of the Grafton was the ingenu-
ity exhibited IN the constitution and or
ganization of a nation and the ingenuity
displayed by congress in evading the
substance of the laws. Some of the great
mistakes of our legislative bodies pre-.
sents justification for changes in their
power. Being hampered bv Ill health,
speaking was rendered an effort for Mr.
Paddock, and a mannerisn was made
more noticeable thereby.
The orchestra then gave another Sc
lection and was followed by the only
lady speaker of the evening, Miss Mary
Stewart. In presenting her Grafton or
Public Opinion" Miss Stewart showed
up the lack of individual thinking ex
hibited by the average man, and relied
on larger education and broadening
of entranchisement to remedy the evll
) of the past resulting from this menta
inactivity. The earnest, graceful deliv
cry of the speaker won much deserved
praise.
MIR. John M Downen chose very
much hackneyed subject in Lincoln tn
American" but presented it in an able
forcbIe manner and won his audience
by his sincerity and natural earnestness
: Mr.. Downen as winner of the secon'
prize, has the confidence of all that b
will represent the school creditaby il
the coming state contest.
The Glee club, by its first appearance
of the year. closed the program, witt
/. two or three selections. The Glee clu
is always welcome performer.