Arizona republican., 1898-01-28

title Of a touching DucO-lc Incident by Col. Herring, and John A. Riley ap- ueared in one of his distinguished brothers stories, that of the men dacious little boy and the mu t.tude of bears he slew.
 MT. B. A. Fickas had originally chosen as the subject of his address. "The House That Jack Built" He finally selected something else of a more distinctive literary character; in fact, he chose the foundation of Eng fish literature, the English alphabet. He acclaimed it backward and for ward, and then both ways at once His declamation was accompanied by a wealth of gestures and a peculiar vio- lence of style, showing that what he uttered were not mere unms saning words. The speakers soul was in every statement he made and the crowd knew it. Before he was half done it was evident that his would be the winner and when he was fully done and gasping for breath a delega- tion of ladies presented him a button hole bouquet made of onions as strong" testimonials of their recog- hilton of his skill as an orator and his breadth and profundity as s-u- dent of literature.
 MT. N. A. Morford, the judge. unhes- tatingly and unblushingly declared MT. Fickas to be the winner, and Gov ernor McCcrd, in the following feel ing address, presented to him the prize, a colored primer:
 Benjamin, it affords me great pleasure to be able to say that I most heartily agree with the decision of the learned and upright judges who have so ably and impartially dis charged the thankless tasks as .igned them. Benjamin, your performance tonight judged by its merits and by all the rules of composition or rhes- oric, clearly entitled you to the prize, and the verdict is not only in conso- nance with right and justice, but il is in perfect accord with the opinion of every person in this vast audience Benjamin, your triumph is complete and is one of which any boy might we'll be proud. No one need bs told that such perfect command of Ian guage, such easy and graceful de- meanor upon the rostrum, such fault less accent, such natural and graceful gestures and such elegant diction can only be acquired by long and labori- GUS practice and by intense and cease less application. Nor need any one be told that you must have spent many weary hours and days and months in the study of Plutarch's lives; and es- pecially the lives of Demosthenes and Cicero must have long been your con stant companions. That you have dslved long and deeply into books of logic, of rhetoric and elocution is pat ent to all, and that you have not wearied in burning the midnight oil no one can doubt. All this is sa.f- evident to those who have had the pleasure of listening to your masterly and forceful effort this evening, the wonder is that one small head contains so much
 Benjamin, it has been said the, cay and age of the orator is passed. That as you have clearly demonstrated, can no longer be said with truth, for here in your presence are a thousand liv- ing witnesses willing to testify thai the contrary is true, and that you are fairly and easily entitled to the dis tinction of being classed in the proud category of orators. Dear boy, it now only remains for me to perform a pleasant duty. which is to obey the decision of the judges and respect the wishes of this audience by presenting to you this little book as slight tes-
 timoniaF of their apprec ation ol your great performance and of theil unbounded admiration for your traD- sceldent ability as an orator and as an elocutionist. Between it's covers it is hoped and believed, you will fin6 many literary gem, by the recitation of which you may delight many ar other audience as you have delighted this. Take it, my dear boy; peruse il and prize it, if not for it's intrinsic I value, then as a memento of the greai effort it cost you to obtain it, an6 for the honor and the glory of that achievement. And remember that tht lesson is to emphasize that splendid axiom with which you have showr yourself so familitr, There can be nc excellence without labor'"
 There is no doubt that the awari was properly made, but threats have been made to contest it on the grouni that incontrovertible proof has beer obtained that both Mr. Fickas and MT. Jobs were around yesterday af.er-