Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-05-06
The Literary Contest.


A great deal of interest was manifested
last Saturday night in the literary contest
between representatives of Shepherd Col
lege, in this place, and Eastern College,
of Front Royal, Va, and the college audi
forum was filled with large and enthu-
siastic audience. The programme was a
very pleasing one throughout, excellent
music being furnished by the Shepherd
College Orchestra, under the direction OF
Prof. !. D. Muldoon, with several good
songs by the girls chorus. Prof. Ross
Wood, of Eastern College, also pleased
the audience with some fine cornet solos.
After an invocation by Rev. J. David
Miller, the contest began with debate on
the question, Resolved, That the Naval
Programme as set forth in President
Roosevelt's Message of December, 1908,
is Menace to the Peace OF the Nations"
The affirmative was upheld by E. L. Ma
gruder and F. o. Woerner, while Fletcher
Kemp and D. w. Maddox, of Eastern
College, took the negative. The argu-
ments on both sides were exceptionally
good and delivered in almost faultlesS
style, and all OF the contestants were lib
orally applauded The orations were by
E. A. Browne, of Eastern College, whose
subject was "Our Country United" and
Wilmer B. Miller, of Shepherd College,
on "The Open Sesame OF Present Amer
lean Opportunities" The orators did
themselves and their friends credit by
their productions. The declarations
were delivered by young ladies, Miss
Anna Hause, of Shepherd College, rem
dering "The Sign of the Cross, while
Miss Leslie A. Fox, of Eastern College,
gave cole Mistis." Both of the selec-
lions were charmingly read, and each
deserved the applause that they received.
When the several numbers had been
completed, the judges retired to formu-
late their decisions. The judges were
Hon. Geo. M. Beltzhoover, of Shepherds
town, Col. Leedy, of Luray, Va, and
Miss Smith, of Kee-Mar College, Ha-
gerstown. The audience awaited the re-
suit with vast interest, and though enter
tanned with fine music in the interim, were
anxious to hear the decisions, though
quite hopeful that Shepherd College had
won everything. The judges finally APP
peared upon the stage, and Principal J.
g. Knutti introduced Col. Leedy, who
announced the decisions. When he
stated that Shepherd College had won
the debate there was loud and long-con-
tinued applause when he announced
that Eastern College won the Grafton there
was panied surprise; and when this was
followed by the statement that Eastern
College also won in defamation, the au-
dience was shocked into silent disappoint-
ment. The two latter decisions were not
popular at all, and even the most unpreiu-
diced felt that Shepherd College had not
received justice. There was, however,
courteous restraint OF diSapproval, and
the losing contestants took their defeat in
good part-much more so than the people
in general.
Later discussion OF the result leads
many persons to the opinion that Shep-
herd College did not get a square deal.
There seems to have been too much per-
sonal favoritism on the part OF a couple
of the judges-indeed, if as much had
been known before as after the contest,
the Shepherd College participants would
not have been subjected to the certain
sacrifice that awaited them. Mr.. Beltz-
hoover, we understand, strongly diSSented
from the majority report. His decisions
were in favor of all Shepherdstown con-
teStantS.
Each Of the winners received a gold
medal.