River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-05-24
Value Of Speaking Contests.

chickering's, and jealousy, yet as we
realize that competition, emulation,
is a powerful incentive with young
people, perhaps the contest feature
should rerna ain, for the gain. The
desire 10 succeed must be encour-
aged in order that success may be
attained. Perhaps to some the joy
of victory is greater than the fruits
of success. Ambition may be toll
Grated with some charity if the end
iusti6es the means"
These speaking contests were in
augurated as venture five or six
years ago. Those who have inter-
ested themselves in these speaking
trials notice marked improvement,
those of this year being immeasure-
ably better than those of the earli-
est dates.
Five contests were held here this
spring. In two of these all the
speakers were students of the local
high school, 18 in number, 8 boys
comprising the oratorical section,
and 9 girls, constituting the de-
clamatory division. In the league
oratorical contest held here l l boys
spoke, two of whom were students
of the local school, winners of the
previous contest, while the 9 others
were the best from five other high
schools. 1t was remarked by sew
eral present at this and the boys
local contest that the 9 boys in the
local contest averaged better in
their speaking than the 9 in the
league contest from abroad. In the
two district contests held here II
spoke, 7 boys in the first and 10
girls in the second.
He who made careful observerva-
ton of the speaking in these sever
al contests will be free to admit, we
believe, that in the pronunciation
of words and the enunciation of
sound elements, the River Falls
students showed few errors, while
in these requirements the visitors
made noticeable lapses, and in most
of the other essentials of elocution
the home students exhibited su-
perior proficiency. 1t will be uni
versally conceded that the boys and
girls of our high school honored
themselves and their teachers in
these contests and they are justi-
fed in congratulating themselves
upon their splendid accomplish
ments, for though all did not secure
the impossible and empty honor of
first place in the surmise of judges
they won what was of more sub
stantia1 value.
These speaking contests are TO
be commended and encouraged. 1t
is true that there is hard work con-
nected with them, but the gain is
ample compensation. Perhaps the
highest measure of advantage Sc
cured to the student in these con-
tests is that of confidence in him
self. Although perhaps naturally
timid, he may attain to a state of
self-control where he may confront
an audience with such Indifference
as to allow him to concentrate his
thoughts upon his subject. This
situation must be attained by every
good speaker.
The selections spoken by our res
ident students this year are for the
most part of high order of litera-
ture, masterpieces of the best writ
ers and speakers; great thoughts
expressed in faultless diction. The
student who masters the conception
of these writer's is conscious of an
expansion of his mental vision, a
development of his apprehension,
and these sample productions are
model suggestions for composition.
From his dictionary he learned the
correct sounds of the elements in
the words and the proper pronunc1-
alton of the words. These are not
so difficult to appropriate and the
student who fails here makes an in
excusable blunder. Expression,
meditation, emphasis, appropriate
Observation-Disclosures are more diff
cult phases, that test the capacity
of the speaker and the measure of
his training. And we repeat and
desire to emphasize the assertion:
the Is students who spoke in the
contests this spring may congratu-
late themselves that they have made
compromising gain by their efforts.
Moral: Keep Cash Account.
One of the greatest problems to
man is what became Of the money
he earned six months ago.-Atchibon
Globe.