River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-05-16
River Falls High To The Front (!
District Contest Comes Our Way
Robert Reed an Easy Winner
Hudson Second by a Scratch. League
Contest Decision Reversed.


listeners filed the Methodist church
to 0YeTiiowing last Friday evening in
attendance upon the District Declam-
atOry contest, and enjoyed as fine
program as is likely TO be given in
this town for some time. 1t was es-
pecially pleasing to our people because
River Falls swept the board, winning,
as 1t were, in walk.
Interest in the contest had been
aroused TO fever heat because many of
those who attended the league con-
test at Hudson thought the decision
there should have been reversed. and
many more, while not going quite so
far as that, were confident that the
decision would be reversed at this
contest especially as between the two
repreSen tatives OF this league. Hud-
son was present at the district con-
test $50 strong, confident OF winning.
They had published that they had
more than an even chance of win
ming" 1t may safely be said that
large number of those present lost
sight Of the real contest, and were
only interested in the ranking Of the
two representatives Of this league.
The decision Of the judges gave the
first two places to this league, result
very acceptable to this portion of the
district, and reversed the decision of
the league contest, result most
acceptable to this city.
1t was 500 p. m. when the first
mum Der of the program was present.
ed, the program as published 10 these
columns last week being followed
throughout. The musical NUM- ers
were four, two instrumental and two
vocal, and all were of high degree Of
merit. The contest throughout was
exceptionally fine, as il ought TO be
when the contestants were the pick
Of their leagues. Every number
showed careful training and consider
able ability. Not all could win first
place, but all could and did win hearty
applause and good words for work
we'll done.
Miss Olive Mckay, of Chippewa
Falls, in The Gypsy Flower Grip
was realistic and strong in her render
ing Of the selection. The tragic parts
were especially we'll taken. Her voice
was clear and of good quality, we'll
modulated to show The varying moods
in the piece, but her enunciation was
not at all times perfect, so that many
words we're lost TO the audience. Still
the consensus of opinion was that her
work entitled her TO high rank, and
many would have placed her higher
than did the judges.
Miss Kate Kelley, Of Eau Claire, in
"Brier Rose, won the plaudits and
good wishes of very many in the audi
ence by her natural, unaffected deliv-
cry of a rather old selection. Her in
depreciation was excellent, her voice
well trained, her action appropriate
and graceful. The pathetic and finer
parts of the selection were we'll
brought out, and Miss Kelley just
missed being second in the markings
Of The judges. Very many in the audi
ence would have given her second
place.
Miss ,Mida Lawson, of Hudson, gave
THE Soul OF the Violin" with much
of feeling and naturalness. This was
one of the most difficult selections Of
the evening, depicting depth Of pa
thos that none Of the Others called
for. Miss Lawson carried the part
we'll. Her voice was clear, and audible
in nearly every part Of the room. Her
enunciation was almost perfect. In
her Interpretation Of the piece she
kept up TO the requirements of the
selection for the most part excellent
ly, though some thought that she
failed to bring out the whole depth Of
feeling la some of the more vital
parts. Nevertheless, the audience
gave her high rank, and SO did the
judges; high enough to give her sec
ond place.
Miss Verna Howard, of Rice Lake,
gave a selection from Quo Vadis,
showing in its delivery much talent
and careful preparation, Miss How
ard was lahoring under the disadyan-
tage of having had her selection spok-
en- before her by one Of the other con-
testants. Though both selections
we're taken from the same scene ia
Quo Vadis, they differed very materi-
ally in arrangement, and the one CIV
en- by Miss Howard was the less i'm
pressiye of the two. Still she spoke
it with much spirit and with good
voice and clear enunciation.
THE Two Sisters" by Miss Lucy
Rosenquist, OF Barron, was delivered
in a manner highly pleasing to a large
part OF the audience. Miss Rosen-
quist's Interpretation and manner
we're almost perfect, but her voice was
not strong enough and could not be
heard in some parts Of the room, a
fact which undoubtedly gave her
lower rank than she would otherwise
have received.
1t is an old saying that "the first
shall be last" but that did not have
application in this contest, as the first
speaker won first place in the minds
Of the audience and also Of the judges
Robert Reed, Of our high school,
carried himself to first honors by his
mastery description Of 'The Fight
with the Aurochs," from Quo Vadis.
Mr. Reeds manner was easy, natural,
and effective. His enunciation and
pronunciation were nearly perfect.
10 the purely narrative portions he
caught and held the attention OF his
audience. In the descriptive parts he
vas thrilling. His voice was we'll
modulated, and carried TO the farthest
parts Of the building, but it broke
badly in one or Two Of the stronger
parts. Il was evident that In reach
ing some Of the climaxes in the piece
In fba vo{oa and had mt