The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-02-26

a career as successful public speaker. |
A piano duet charmingly rendered by |
Miss Hazel Laub and Miss Grace Van
Ness formed a pleasing interlnde to
the declamatory contest which was the
main event of the evening. 1t is hard.
ly fair to judge humorous, pathetic or
oratorical subjects in the same class
Such different qualities are required
that comparison is almost impossible
and decision must of necessity be
based not only upon the excellence of
the speaker but upon the mood with |
which the judge receives the selection,
1t is also to be regretted that through
out the program the first sentences Of
each speaker were spoiled by the noise
and confusion in the galleries.
Mr.. Fred Soehl was the first of the
contestants in the declamatory class.
Fred fairly eXcelled himself, His Sc
lection "a Scene at a Railway Station
in Northern England" was most diff
ficult one. Character after character
crowded the canvass and to each Fred
gave distinct personality. L e
changes OF voice, attitude and manner
we're instantaneous and one could al
most see the querulous old lady, the
lusty-lunged news-boy, the obsequious
porter-after the tip had been given
the nervous bride with her numerous
bundles and the pompous officials.
With the reservation that it is palp-
ably impossible to make comparisons,
much less decisions between humorous
aud pathetic selections, we would say
that Fred received no more than his
due when the first prize was awarded
him. We congratulate him and pre-
dict that he will take high rank in the
state contest.
Flash, or the Fireman's Story was
a pretty and affecting tale, we'll told by
Miss Ethel Orr. The selection itself
afforded the speaker too little scope.
Miss Orr should not be discouraged
for with more suitable selection we
believe she has first-class declamatory
powers.
Richard Harding Davis story of the
"Orator of Zepata City" under the IL
tie of The Trial of Abner Barrow
was the powerful and dramatic selec-
ton splendidly rendered by Miss Hilda
Brodersen. Miss Brodersen Was the
unanimous second choice OF the judges
and in their markings there was but q
shade of difference between first anG
second place Miss Brodersen showed
talant OF high order. The quiet o
the court room. the oratory of the
4 prosecuting attorney, the simple. pitt
!, full plea of the prisoner at the bar wer,
faithfully portrayed. Miss Brodersel
won many compliments and her recita
4 ton was Of a very superior order.
Marian SERVER gave delightful Sc
i lection, "Sally AIMS Experience" Tn
>, quaint Yankee dialect, was rendere
4 perfectly and Miss SERVER prov ed hel
self very dangerous opponent for frs
!, or second place Her humor was il
= resistihle. her poses graceful and chal
acterlstic and it is no wonder that he
= markings were very high. Miss Scriy
!, er has talent along this particula
line of defamation and she will devel
a ope into as good a'speaker as Denise
ever had.
"a The best thing about the evenin
.. was its average excellence. There wer
is no dull numbers. no tiukes, 40 hesita
. lions, We sincerely congratulate bot
n students and teachers
=. We believe the decision of the judge
was fair, imparJial and above criticism
~ The winner of the declamatory COZ
Il test will represent Denison at til
.. Northern iowa contestto be held Ut NJ;
AZ quoketa provided the humorous elias
h in which he is entered is not alread
70 filed Should it be Miss Broderse
viii represent Denison in the paJheb
i class
D. Sapt Savage informs us that d
error was made in announcing the d
40 cision OF the judges il the essay co
Az test, and that the first place was awar
o. ed to Leora Luney with Mary Burch
as second place
or Not the least to be said in favor
r. Miss Burch was the cheecfulness wit
st which she Welded up the coveted pri
We when the error was discovered on ye
TT. terday. The victories over self a
se just as important and deserving
,ul credit as victorie: over others. Mi
e" Luney had received the highest mar
mt ings on thought and style and tt
q gave her first place in the final man
ut ings
OF Disconraging FOR sud.
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