Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-03-29
DEFAMATION CONTEST.

The defamation contest held at the
high school last Friday evening proved
to be very enjoyable entertainment.
This local contest is but preliminary
to series of defamation contests in
volving larger and larger districts until
the state contest at Madison is reached,
where fourteen declamers contest for
state honorS. An enthusiastic audience
greeted the first number on the pro-
gram, which was a piano solo by Miss
lmogene Harger, whose appearance is
always hailed with pleasure by music
lovers.
The contest was opened by Gladys
Johnson, who gave Rileys Bear
Story" Her gestures and interpreta-
ton were very good. She entered into
the spirit of the little story teller with
complete abandon for the most part.
though at one or two iunctures the in
terpretation was trife uneven.
''The Curse of Regulus" followed. 1t
was given by Karl Kraatz, freshman,
who has good appearance and a fiex-
iblc voice with sincerity of purpose, all
OF which give promise of future excel
lence in public speaking.
When Mary Mcneil finished her
selection, "How the La Ru stakes were
lost" it was evident to nearly all that
she would be ranked with the best, for
it was hard to see how her work could
be improved very much Miss McNeill
shows early training and stands as a
living argument for adding to our fac
ulty a teacher who could give much of
her time to the preparation Of pupils
for declaming, debating and public
speaking.
The "Storming of Mission Ridge,
one of the standard selections that
makes such critical demands upon a
contestant, was given by Walter Heine-
mann, who is blessed with big voice
and a fine presence, both excellent
advantages in the Interpretation of the
heroic and patriotic
Miss Mitchell followed with an alto
solo, beautiful lullaby, which she sang
by request of some of her musical
friends. Miss Mitehell's voice is express
sive, true and full of the real spirit
of music. Her Interpretation is always
good, as she subordinates herself to the
demand of the composition.
Nate Douglas Virgins 'Vi!age Cos
SIP" was the next defamation. 1t was
the choice of Rowena Arthur, and GER
tainly it fitted her capitally. Her inter
probation was perfect and although she
was not always heard distinctly it was
clear that she, too, was looked upon as
among the best
Then followed the popular selection,
The Death-bed of Benedict Arnold, y
the defamation that has won more
contests than any other during the last
fifty years. 1t was given by Mamie
Miller in pleasing way, though it
was evident that it demanded greater
speaker could as yet give it.
The closing defamation was a COM
paratively new one: "The Reform of
Emmeine" Had Rubee Wilson put
the same cIoseness of Interpretation and
vocal energy into the first half of it that
she did into the latter half it would
have improved it very much. She has
the capacity for success in defamation.
While the decision of the six judges,
Misses Bohrer and Conley, Mrs. Van
Vechten, and Messrs Jones, Bird and
Mathie were being computed Prof.
Reuter- entertained the audience in his
usual masterful way with the Faust
Fantasia.
Mrs Speer and Mrs. Smith were the
accompanies for the evening and alto
gether the five musicians gave the
audience rare treat.
The contest was won by Mary
Mcneil, who received first place;
Rowena Arthur second, and Gladys
johnson third
The first two will represent Wausau
in league contest to be held at Grand
Rapids, and to be participated in by
Wausau, Stevens Point and Grand Rap
ids The winners of that league CON
test will then meet at Stevens Point the
winners of other league contests in
district contest, and the district victors
will go to the state contest in Madison
in May