The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-03-03
Prize SPEAKING.
The Juniors of the Seminary Held the
Contest Thursday Evening

Contest Thursday Evening.
| One of the principal events in the
school, in Montpelier Seminary is the
junior prize speaking contest. Ever
since the cash prizes were established
a high standard of excellence has been
maintained in the competition for
these prizes.
The contest this year, was held in
the Seminary chapel on Thursday even.
ing The statement made by Principal
E. G. Ham, in announcing the deci-
sion of judges, merely oorroborated
the audience in its opinion that the
contest of 1904 was in every way the
equal in point of merit, and in many
respects the superior of those previous
ly held. During the evening excel.
lent musical selections we're delight
fully rendered by students from the
musical department. of the school.
"Aelof, the Martyr was the first
selection given in the prize contest.
James g. Howard Of PlattsbCrg, N.
Y, gave this word picture of tender
ness and passion, Of bravery and
death, in such a realistic manner that
the scene. to the audience, was al
most enacted over again there in the
chapel, before their eyes
The next contestant, to appear, was
Harold Dewey, of Montpelier, who
rendered the piece "The Sentinel
Alarm. " Mr.. Dewey's voice was es
pecially we'll adapted to the descrip-
tive nature of the selection and with
his easy gestures and stage presence
his recitation was admirable.
The Swan Song story of a
musical victory won, in spite of a
friends treachery only to be lost by
the victory of the death angel as
told by Miss M. Idella Prouty, of
Pennsylvania, won the sympathy and
hearts Of the audience. Miss Prouty S
manner of delivery was so easy and
natural, yet so expressive, that one
could not easily criticise her perform
ance. The tale of an honest old
darkey, who gets the ages of the sub
iects of conversation mixed with his
counting eggs, - that was recited by
Earle Rogers, of Cabot, required quite
bit of acting that was cleverly done
by the reciter.
Miss Nellie Kimball, of Cabot, re-
cited the lie story of Engineer
Counor's Son. in vivid and pleas
ing way. Lawrence Kelly, of Waits
field, chose as his piece a part of
James g Blaine's eulogy on Garfield.
His delivery of the selection could
not but please.
The last of the speakers was Miss
Mary E. Chayer, of Lyndon, who
gave IAN Easter with Pareps y
The story of the funeral of the
daughter of the poor sea'nstress that
was made beautiful by the singing of
the famous prima donna was dramati-
cally told by Miss Chayer.
The many friends of Miss Edna NJ
Dickinson greatly regretted that che
was unable to compete. Her selection
would have been Convict B., sos. -
The judges were as follows: Prin-
cipal e. G. Ham, w. A. Lord, and
E. A. Mutt. They retired to room
adjoining the chapel ana in very
few minutes they returned and Mr..
Ham, in announcing the decision OF
the judges. said they considered that
the work Of all the contestants was
exceedingly creditable, to themselves
aud to the teacher who had trained
them. The task of the judges had
been by no means easy, but the fol-
wing was the list agreed upon by them
as the winners of the prizes: The
first and second prizes for the ladies
were awarded to Miss NJ. Idella Prouty
and to Miss Mary E. Ohayer, respect
lively; the first and second prizes for
gentlemen, to James G. Howard and
Harold Dewey respectively. These
decisions We're received with quite
general satisfaction.
Music was furnished by Misses
Lawson and Mason, who rendered a
piano duet, Miss Barnes, who gave a
piano solo, and Mr. Williams, who
rendered an organ solo. All these
selections were we'll played and
received with approval