Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-05-26
Miss White The Winner.
AWARDED THE GRAND PIANO In
THE VOCAL CONTEST AT
HARDIN COLLEGE.
Miss Anna Legate Won Second Honors
and Miss Brooks Thlrd-All the
Contestants Fine Vocalists and
Each One Was Deserving
of Recognition.

1
Thursday night occurred the event
which music loving people of this city
have been anticipating with the Keen
est pleasure for weeks-the vocal con-
test between the pupils of Miss Gray
at Hardin College for the elegant prize
piano.
There were eight contestants for the
prize and certainly they all are an
honor to the college.
1t is not the purpose of the writer to
attempt to review last nights enter
tainment from the standpoint of a
musical critic; that was done by one
far better qualified to judge of the fine
points in vocal art displayed by each
young lady. 1t is our intent simply
to give the Impressions produced upon
one not member of the musicians
guild, as he sat and sslet the sounds
of music, sweet touches of harmony,
creep into his ears"
The first impression given was the
universal excellence of the pro-
gramme, the rare taste displayed by
all the young ladies in the chosen
selections and the still rarer talent
manifested in their rendition. Each
vocalist had selection adapted to her
register of tone and of the nature
best suited to display to the greatest
advantage the voice of the young
lady competing. Certainly the ex-
cellent judgment of Miss Gray had
much to do with this. Another fact
which did not fail to impress itself
upon the audience was the unusually
handsome appearance presented by
the young lady contestants. They
were attlred IN white, with few ex-
ceptions, and carnations and Ameri-
can Beauty roses helped to make them
| even more beautiful. Another marked
feature of the evening was the splen-
did self-posessIon and magnificent
evidences of thorough, painstaking
practice and training shown by each
of the contestants. Miss Gray is a
marvel of excellence in her depart
ment and an invaluable acquisition to
any school as vocal teacher.
Mexico had no cause to blush for its
Representatives in the contest last
night. Both Misses Locke and Griffin
acquitted themselves in manner
highly satisfactory. 1t was the opin-
ion of many that Mexico would keep
the prize at home.
Herr Scharwenka, the sole jndge oi
the contest, had indeed difficult task
before him to choose the most compe.
tent when all were SO good. But the
professor performed his duty faithfully
and conscientiously. and when Prof
Million announced that he had award
ed the prize to Miss White the audi.
ence seemed satisfied and none coult
say that Scharwenka had not impair.
TALLY fulfilled his trust.
Miss White is a lovely, winsome
young lady and her beautiful, cultured
voice and artistic rendition are bound
to challenge the admiration of all whc
hear her.
This is the story of how the greatest
vocal contest that ever took place il
Mexico was won.
There were three places of honol
given in the contest. The first wal
the piano, won by Miss Lee White, o.
Seattle, Wash. The second medal
awarded to Miss Anna Legate, o.
Denison, Tex. There was no prize
offered for the third place, but ths
honor was won by Miss MAZE Brooks
of Warren Ark.
Everyone present seemed satisfied
with the decision and it was apparent
that Miss White would win the Iaurels
although there were others highly
deserving, one particularly, Mis-
Locke, of this city, who, indeed
acquitted herself in an admirable man
ner and who won many friends In tht
audience.
| Magnificent flowers, especially fine
roses, were noticed In great abundance
and the young lady contestants were
showered with elegant and costly bou
quets, the tributes of admirers.
All the young ladies participating
were SO very proficient as vocalist
that each deserved Steinway Crane
for her efforts.
Miss Maie Brooks is a daughter o
W. B. Brooks, of Warren, Ark, ant
Is niece of FL. T. Brooks, Mrs. B. G
johnson and Mrs. T. M. Gill, of thi
lefty. Miss Brooks was prime favor
ite with many in the audience and ha
remarkably fine voice. She received
third distinction, which was worthil,
bestowed.
Misses Della Tully and Pearle Dun
can deserve much praise for the abis
assistance rendered the vocalists il
the way of piano accompaniment
Both young ladies are gifted musicians
possessing rare delicacy of touch
remarkable ease of delivery, togethe
with much harmony.