River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-30
LEAGUE DECLAMATORY
CONTEST.

auditorium was that which greeted
the eight contestants in the League
Declamatory contest last Friday
evening. There were representa-
tives from all of the eight schools
oontesting and the hall rang with
class songs and school yells both
before and at the conclusion of the
excellent program. Nearly a hun
dred had come down from Hudson
to cheer their speaker and Ellsworth
was in the field with over fifty, and
there must have been at least fifty
from the other schools, so it was
representative High school gather
ing and a very enthusiastic one.
Before the program opened Prof.
Ames made a few well-chosen re-
marks on the question of applause
which every one present received in
good part and followed out, thus
adding much to the evenings enjoy
ment.
The program was opened by
Charlene Flower who rendered a
beautiful piano selection in most
artistic and finished manner for
which she received a hearty encore.
Then the Ellsworth speaker, Elida
Bundle opened the declarations
with her selection, Pauline Paw
lovna." Miss Bundle has a fine
voice and an ease and grace of bear
ing found in few amateur speakers,
and she held the audience from be-
ginning to end Of the dramatic
dialogue which she delivered. Lucille
Hawkins of Hammond followed with
the old favorite, The Chariot
Race" from ben Hur," and she
spoke with fire and Yividness
possessed by few. Her efforts were
crowned by the judges giving her
the third place in the contest. River
Falls speaker was the next one 10
contest and we may we'll be proud
of the excellent work done by Ethel
Chapman. Miss Chapman was at
her best and every tone of voice,
every gesture, every piece of inter
probation revealed the hard and
painstaking work which she had
put upon "The Mystery of the Dale
land" selection from that book
beloved of all admirers of the dog,
Bob, Son of Battle" The audi
ence was held in suspense while
Miss Chapman was speaking and it
was evident to all that she would be
we'll up in the list of speakers.
When the decision Of the judges was
announced and it was found that
she had received the first honors,
the hall went wild with cheers and
applause and it was evident that
the decision was favored by all.
Mabel Burghardt of Spring Valley
delivered a very fine selection en-
titled, "How the Church was built
at Kehoes' Bar" Miss Burghardt
is the possessor of good voice and
is very clever in her interpretations
and changes of character. At the
conclusion of her defamation
Thomas Snodgrass sang two fine
bass solos which were well received
and loudly applauded. Then the
representative of the Hudson High,
Elsie Goldberg, gave very beauti-
full and dramatic reading entitled,
"Annunciata." Miss Goldberg has
a fine presence on the platform, a
good voice and an enviable ease of
manner and her work showed fine
training and diligent study. Lottie
Calkins, Glenwood's contestant had
chosen as her selection, THE
Prisoners Plea" and she rendered
it in a most excellent manner. Her
voice changes were the best of the
evening and she showed versatility
in character sketches which held the
audience spell-bound and hanging
on every word. Miss Calkins has
charm of manner and confidence
which would gain hearing for her
anywhere on the platform and the
Judges did we'll to award to her the
second position. Louise Holdinga
represented the New Richmond
school and her rendition of THE
Soul of the Violin" was done with a
pathos and tenderness suited to the
selection. The last speaker was
Florence Stewart of Baldwin and her
defamation was entitled, Sergeant
Prentiss First Plea" Miss Stewart
acquitted herself with honor and
her efforts were an especially good
conclusion of contest thoroughly
good in every way. In fact so close
were the contestants and SO varied
the character of their selections that
It was rather difficult to select the