The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-03-15


evening was marked by all the enthusl-
asm and interest which made the past
contests noteworthy. Long before the
hour of commencement every seat in
the large Belvedere opera house had
been sold, many visitors from nearby
towns were present, and total of three
hundred and sixty-four railroad tickets
sold here to Reynodsville and Punxsu-
tawney delegations sufficiently attests
the interest attached to the contest in
the towns represented.
To those who have attended the
contests since their inception, the i'm
provement in the character of the event
was gratifying, At Brookville good
feeling reigned supreme, there was
almost no yelling or shouting before or
during the program, and all the contest
ants without regard to town were given
generous applause and impartial at
tention. The plea of Superintendent
Teitrick that it be made a contest Of
culture alone came nearer than ever TO
realization. This is the more compl-
mentary TO Brookvile from the fact
that her representatives at Punxsutaw
ney last year believed they were not
given all the consideration due them.
Even the judges decision, dividing the
honors between Punxsutawney and
BroOkville, though new experience to
the Reynoldsvile people, was received
and applauded by all alike. The pro-
gram was marred only by the uuavoid-
able absence OF Miss Laura Bubeck,
Punxsutawney's representative for the
recitations, who was i'll. Otherwise it
tod ,.,,t
arrangement it resembled those of past
years, but was shortened by the omis-
sion of comic recitations, and though
still long the interest of the people re-
mained tense until the last number
after eleven o'clock.
The decision, giving the contest to
Brookville, though Punxsutawney had
taken two of the four events, excited
some curiosity, such a separation of
victory never having occurred before,
and possibly would not have occurred
this time had Punxsutawney had all
four Of her contestants present to take
part. The rules of the contest require
that the judges, besides selecting the
best contestant in each separate division
of the program, shall also give to the
contestant from each town in each
division certain number of points, and
the sum of the points given each towns
contestants for the whole program con-
stitutes the base upon which the award
OF victory in the contest as a whole shall
be made. Thirty points is the maximum
given TO any contestant, but less may be
given, depending upon merit. Thus
PunXsutawney, having but three con
nd
Brookville or Reynoldsville, having
four each present, however excellent
her productions were.
1t was not Reynoldsville's honor to
carry off the victory in the contest this
time, but it was hers to furnish the
most entertaining music of the evening.
The two songs, "Po' Little Lamb"
lullaby, and a comical Donkey Song"
by quartette composed of Leonard
Harris, Percy Parsons, Frank and Craig
King, were received by the audience,
the first with roar of applause, the
mimicry Of the second with shouts of
laughter. Double musical numbers
by a chorus of young folks from Brook
vile and an octette from PunXsutawney
also furnished pleasing relaxation. Be-
fore and after the program the Mozart
orchestra gave several selections.
The contest itself was not inferior to
any of its predecessors and in the
uniform equality Of those engaged
superior. The splendid effects Of long
and diligent training were evident
Reynoldsville was given but one winner,
but If special praise may be given to
any one of the contestants, her one
winner certainly deserves it. In the
eulogy of Admiral Nelson" Percy
Parsons gave a remarkably effective
piece OF word painting. Napoleon"
had been presented as grand villain,
quite unnecessarily, "Gen. Gordon" as
great and noble madman, but Nelson
was portrayed as man among men.
daring as the bravest, beloved and
honored, heroic in life and death.
Instead OF one, three different books
were chosen for review by the three
contestants "The Virginians," Hugh
Wynne" and the Little Shepherd of
Kingdom Come" Each of the contest
ants, Nina Van Ransselear, of Punxsu-
tawney, AIDA Myers, of Reynoldsville,
and Letitia Fell, of Brookville, followed
the same method of portraying the
obOi iCo anu puCll illOi ulo, anu III DdSSluG
it may be remarked that this part of
the program was quite as educational
to the audience as entertaining, for it
gave many who had never read these
books close acquaintance with three
of the best works of modern fiction.
The debate upon the question
(which has exerted the greatest in
iluence upon the history of our country,
oratory, the public press or war? was
thoroughly discussed by three aggres-
sive champions, and the cause of
oratory lost nothing from its handling
by Fred McEntire, OF Reynoldsville.
His claims were clear and position
definite, which was more than could be
said for the Punxsutawney and Brook
vile contestants, the first of whom
made several questionable statements
and the latter attempted to limit the
meaning of oratory and the press to
spheres far too small.
The recitations closed the long pro-
gram and by their more dramatic
character served to sustain interest.
Claire Paddock, of Brookville, gave
"Hagar," piece well known, the
strong and passionate nature of which
was well brought out by the reciter.