Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-02-05
KERWIN WINS,
DECLARATION OF EVERY AMERT- CAN CITIZEN FROM THE.
 CRADLE TO THE GRAVE.
The Triumph of the Pine Bluff Ora
 torical Association.

dulOuS uGHtOCiS OL blo iio 1'ASN Oratorica! Association for the J. Y. Saunders gold medal took place at the Opera House last (Tuesday) night. For some weeks past the eight boys who were to contest for this medal have been practicing their several pieces. Several of the boys have been drilled by prominent attorneys and elocutionists in town Each contestant had entertained high hopes of being the fortunate winner of the medal, and each one deserved a prize for his effort. Several of the boys have won honors in other contests, making the winning of this contest the greater honor.
 Promptly at 7:15 the doors of the Opera House opened, and from that time till 8.15, when the doors were closed, the crowd poured in, until the house was packed both upstairs and down. Promptly at 8:20 the curtain rose and showed the eight young gentlemen who were to con test for the medal with MT. J, Y. Saunders, the generous donor of the medal, and MT. B. J. Altheimer, Chairman of the Association, in the center.
 MT. Altheimer, speaking in be- half of the Association, welcomed the audience. In a short speech he set forth the merits of the Associa- tion, thanked Mir. Saunders for the donation of the medal, and then introduced Mr. T. M. Atkinson, whose masterful effort was Robert Emmet's Defense" MT. Atkinson's delivery was excellent and the audience listened with rapt attention to it's close and eheered him to the echo.
 Mir. Milton Blum was then intro duced and rendered the Supposed Speech of John Adams" Mir. BIum's enunciation was very dis tinct, his gestures good and on tbe whole his effort was deserving of much commendation.
 "One Niche the Highest" by Mir. Alexander Fl. Rowell was the next on the program. MT. Rowell, al- though State champion, was not as good as usual, although his rendi- tion was very good.
 Mr. John c. Alexander's decla- nation. "The Black Horse and His rider" was beautifully delivered and second choice should have fallen to him.
 "The Law and the Gospel" by MT. H. Marlborough Toney, was good. Though MT. Toney showed some stage fright, his delivery was excel lent, and his effort was very much appreciated.
 'The Death-bed of Benedict Ar nold," by Percy Meyer, was splen- did, but MT. Meyer also showed his fright and spoke.so tow that the au- dience could not hear him well.
 MT. Altheimer then introduced MT. E. J. Kerwin in his "Declama- tion of every American citizen from the cradle to the grave" A curtain rose and showed large crayon DOT trait of Gen. Washington draped with bunting and having "A mean descent lights surrounding 1t, and also the national coat of arms. MT. Kerwin' s speech won the medal, and we'll he deserved it.
 MT. Beno Altheimers declama- nation, Eugene Aram's Dream, was last but not least on the pro gram. Mr. Altheimer spoke well and his gestures were the most per feet of all.
 At the conclusion of MT. Altheim- CTS speech the judges, Rabbi F. Becker, Rev. G. Gordon Smeade and Rev. 0. ". Jennings, were asked to retire. They returned in afew min utes and announced that they had decided MT. E. J. Kerwin as the winner of the medal, and this was loudly cheered. MT. Saunders then made a presentation speech and Mr. Kerwin was presented with the medal. Mr. Kerwin made a reply and in the end said that the Pine Bluff Oratorical Association was prepared to receive any one who wished to meet them in joint debate.
 The affair was 9 grand success and all present expressed themselves | as very much pleased with the en, l tertainment.