The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-25
St. Mary's Academy

A zestful interest in oxtempore speak
ing has been growing apace among the
academies since the first attempts In
public were made some months ago by
the graduates. The third academies have
adopted the practice OF a daily two,
minute speech at the English hour, and
Of enthusiastic efforts to reduce theory
and principles to the proof OF actual trial
To this end many OF the recirations IN
other branches are rendered after the
manner OF speeches. correlation that
works out admirable results in both di-
Tections.
good instance in which the art was
put to practical service occurred recent
ly among the graduates, who. through
their chosen spokesman, Miss M. Reno
presented to the superior and faculty an
earnest petition, supported by strong
argument. that some beginning might be
undertaken toward the establishment oil
pupil self government. The plea was Ia
vorably received and further proceedings
by the aeitators OF the movement VIII
soon be forthcoming.
The speaker at the last Monday morn.
ing programme. following the reading OF
the weekly points, was Miss Nelly Smith
who gave an impressive discussion Oh
gestive selection from Kiplins's poems
was rected by Miss Marie Hughes.
Stnr-gazing parties among the students
Of astronomy have been frequent
throughout the year, but those Of the
binary. being held in the morning instead
OF the evening. Halleys comet was tho
wonder worker that took good NUMBER
Of sleepyheads out OF their cosy beds an
hour or two before the rising signal
eager TO get a view OF the object they
have been hearing and reading so much
about all year. The comet was found
by the telescope, OF course, Tuesday
morning. between 1880 and o'clock; and
In addition TO four or five OF the sisters
about a dozen girls had the satisfaction
80 nl,t- Hafr fad n
light of day. Another large party was
on hand at an early hour Wednesday
morning, and again each one was reward
ed for her self sacrificing zeal by clear
view OF the misty little object. After
the reports OF its being visible to the
naked eye there was another ohserVa-
tion party on the roof Friday morning
but scarcely any change was noted In
the appearance of the comet. nor did any
of these succeed in seeing 1t without
glass.
For each and every class in the school
from the primary grades TO the last year
OF the academic course, there is DIS
tinct assignment OF literary selections to
be mcmorized. and the splendid results
attained In this part OF the graded lit
erature course were brought out con-
spicuously in two different classes during
the week. The third academies held a
competition. in which the class was dl-
vided evenly into two, parties set against
each other for trial. and led by the
Misses X. Chipman and l.. Kuvane. BY
means OF question and answer from side
to side, quite the choicest passages from
the best things In English literature.
and sometimes entire poems, were
brought out in recitations. that gave evil
dence not only OF excellent verbal men,
ory. but also of the far more important
intention OF expressive delivery. Points
of interests relating to the selections
were also attached to the questions, so
that the exercise proved not only eXhibi-
tory, but profitable and enjoyable as we'll
The other instance referred to was that
of the first preparatory class, which gave
n pretty entertainment In the study hall
Wednesday afternoon, The feature OF the
programme was an operetta entitled
"The Rose Festival but this was pre-
cluded by a number OF individual and
class recitations OF the pretty little
pieces required in the literary schedule
of this grade, and these were all given
with an air OF serious interest in the
factors Of expression.
Among the individual contributions Ia
the entertainment OF the Mother Tongue
club at its Friday meeting. that of Miss
Ethel Bixby proved both timely and in
terestine, namely. q sketch Of the life
and literary output OF Mark Twain,
whose death occurred the preceding day.
Interest In the academy contestants
who ventured to try their powers In dec
lamation and public address in compc-
tition with representatives from other
secondary schools OF the state, induced q
large number Of their friends to attend
the contests held at the university Fri