Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-02-18
HINSDALE, N. H.
The OratOrical Contest.

place at the town hall on Monday even.
ing and called out large and appreciative
audience. 1t will be remembered that in
the prein mary contest the whole class,
numbering II, participated and from these
seven were selected as most worthy to rep
resent the class in the final exhibition.
Such an interest and effort on the part of
the entire class is worthy of special men.
ton and the favored few who listened to
the various speakers in the preliminary
trial speak in terms of commentator of
the oratory of many members who were of
necessity left on. in the final selection, so
it would seem as II the present Junior
class was more than usually fortunate in
having so many good speakers in its
ranks.
The evening was not pleasant one in
point of weather, but very few STAYED at
home ON this account and the hall was
packed with attentive and interested lis
teners, and the applause was frequent and
well merited. Following is the program
March, Bride Elect, Sousa
Letsingers Orchestra
Overture. Half King, Highlander
Orchestra.
Shamus o Brien, Lover
Elizabeth Augusta Hancock.
Intermezzo Russo, FRANKIE
Death of Eva, From Uncle Toms Cabin, II. b.
Harriet Belle Knapp. Stowe
The Rivals, Act V, Sceue 3 Sheridan
tIntrU duciDg Bob Acres and Sir Lucius 'Trigger)
Thomas McCaughern.
Potpourri Pleasant Evening, Boyer
Orchestra.
Henry VIII, Act II Scene l. Shakspere
Introducing the King, Cardinals Wolsey and
Campeius Grifith, Crier, aud Queen
Katherine
Florence Viola Goddard.
The Pied Piper Of hamelln, Robert Browning
Henry Lawrence Welch.
Fantasia, Southern Melodies, Catln
Orchestra.
Henry VIII, Act III, Scene2, Shakespeare
Introducing Norfolk, Cromwell and Card-
nal Wolsey)
Charles Hosea Temple.
The Pickwick Club, Chapter XXXv, Dcken
William Park Lyman.
Selections by the II. II. s. Mixed Chorus com
posed Of the seven contestants.
Announcement of the judges decision, co.,,
Judges: Rev H. D. Maxwell Principal H. k.
Whitaker, Rev, d. L Fisher.
Miss Hancock's rendering of "Shamus
O'Brien" was spirited and with an evidently
true conception of the Irish character, and
she gives promise of much proficiency in
oratory in the future
In the Death of Eva" Miss Knapp gave
this beautiful and touching selection
with a clearness of intonation and a
quiet grace and pathos that touched all
hearts. Though she spoke in modulated
tones, every word was distinctly beard in
all parts of the audience room.
Thomas Met aughern, who personased
alternately "Bob Acres" and "Sir Lucius
O. Trigger in 1.-THE Rivals" gave very
vivid representation Of the fear and tremb-
ing of the one and the stately arrogance of
the other, and his gestures and conception
of the characters showed careful prepare
ton and study.
THE Pied Piper of Hameln" seemed to
be a selection exactly suited to Henry l..
WEIGH, and was done in an easy and natural
manner.
In the scene from Henry VIII. Charles
II. Temple won much praise for his fine
voice and his perfect conception of Cardi-
nal Wolsey. In another scene from the
same play Miss Goddard, as Queen Kath-
crime, made the scene very realistic by her
delineation of the character she imperson-
ated.
William p. Lyman as Sergeant Buz.
fuz" out of Pickwick literally drought
down the house." His articulation was
nearly perfect, his manner that of the blus-
tering, INSCRIPTIONS advocate, and it is
rare that High school pupil enters so
into the spirit and genius of
this delightful travesty.
Among so many excellencies the judges
found it no easy matter TO award the prizes,
and while they were comforting together
the audience were entertained for a half
hour with music by Leitsinger's orchestra
and singing by the High school mixed
chorus made up of the seven contestants.
The Glee club and High school quartet
most people had heard with pleasure on
former occasions, but they were not ex-
pecting the treat that was in waiting for
them from the speakers themselves, who
gave some vocal selections with fine effect
and thus added another excellence to the
evenings entertainment.
In due time Principal Whitaker for the
judges announced their decision as follows:
First prize, William p. Lyman; second
prize, Florence V. Goddard; honorable
Charles II. Temple. AS it was
stated that the selection
was taken into account as well as the man
ner of delivery" it is proper to say that the
judges in point of fact did not consider the
difference in difficulty of selection in arriv-
ing at decision. 1t was not for them to
say which was the most difficult number
on the program, but TO note the degree of
and appreciation of each
speaker in the selection given and mastery
of the character.
At the graduating exercises last summer
President Tucker of Dartmouth paid the
principal of the pupils high compliment
when he said "that in the exercises of the
evening he had listened to good English"
In one of the older grammars now gone
out of use Professor Greene commences
his "PTeface" with these words, "We
learn to speak good English by speaking
good English" 1t goes without saying
that the pupils have learned to speak the
English language in its purity only by the
assiduous training and we'll directed efforts
Of the present principal, who is to be con-
graduated upon his success in this import
ant direction.
The oratorical contest of Monday even
ing was a great success in all ways, and
while it is manifestly unjust to make com
parsons, it is safe to say that the ninth an
nual contest in oratory was fully equal in
point of excellence, if not in advance, of
any in former years.