Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-06

n DeDater's Estimate.
The following is by one of the best of
Harvard's debaters, who shows that Bruce
can even now impress man who mas peen
at work In this line for half dozen years:
Though only a freshman, Bruce mas al
ready earned reputation of being one OF
the best of the Harvard speakers. He has
better form in his speaking than any man
in the college He is not emotional, but mas
a convincing way and a grasp on his SUD
ject that carries everything before IT, Inc
beauty of Bruces speaking is that he is
not one of those debaters who prepares
speech and sticks TO il. He always adapts
his ideas to what has been said. mus
when he won the PaSteur medal, though IN
reality building up case for his own side,
he Wove his own case to meet what had
been said SO that it sounded like a pure re-
buttal speech. You always feel that he Is
only saying about half of what ne Knows
and that, if necessary, he could rouse NM
self and carry everything before him. Al
the trial TO choose the team to DEBATE
against the sophOmores, Bruce hrst spoke
before his class. He was then taken on the
team, and proved himself the best man on
1t. ,-.
He debated the question Of the Nicara-
guam canal, and his team won with the al
firmative side of the question, though 1t is
notorious that the affirmative side OF any
question is the most difficult to support
Out of twenty intercollegiate debates only
three have been won by the affirmative
team which is the most important place IN
an affirmative case. The Pasteur medal
contest was also In the form of an inter-
class contest. Three men were selected to
represent the sOphomores and freshmen
classes. They were taken after three trials,
and then worked up the case for final
debate.
1T is a peculiar fact that the few col
ored men who have come to Harvard have
contributed an overwhelming proportion to
r6' { n
was a cOlored man. In the Yale-Harvard
debate two years ago Stewart was a col
ored man, and about the same time N. b.
Marshall was one of Harvard's best speak
ers There is little doubt that Bruce will
make the varsity debates within the next
two years
All of the District.
All the young men above mentioned are
graduates OF the colored public schools of
the District, where each of them made an
excellent record. Mr.. N. B. Marshall holds
the chair of mathematics In the Florida
state normal school, where he is popular
and successful. He recently composed a
war drama, with the title of In the
Ranks" 1t is now on the stage and has
been favorably criticised by competent
dramatic writer's.
Another recent graduate of the colored
high school is Calvin Pinn, now senior
at Exeter. Although not yet nineteen
years old, Mr.. Pinn has already gained sew
eral scholarships at that institution.
Another local graduate is Paul Martin,
who finished his course here about ten
years ago. and who has since graduated
from the University of Paris, France He
Is now engaged in the successful practice
OF law In that city. William Pearson Whit
ticker, who received his preliminary edu-
cation in the co!ored schools of this city,
is now finishing a course Of medical in
strucuon OF Heidelberg Germany Charles
L. Miller. who left the high school In 1892.
enlisted in the British navy and is now a
petty officer of the highest rank. There
ar ore otner cases out the list already given
shows that the colOred high school of this
city has good reason to feel proud Of its
work. VI -"