The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-03
SPEAKING CONTEST
VERY SUCCESSFUL
Largely Attended Event Won by
Ralph E. Thayer
BEST OF EIGHT CONTESTANTS
Miss Ermina B. Dunte. second and
Arthur L. Brown Third-Winner
awarded Handsome Silver Cup
Audience Filled Centre Church.

A representative audience filed the
Centre church auditorium Monday evening
TO listen to the prize speaking contest by
the pupils of Professor and Mrs. l.. A,
Butteriield in the department OF voice and
expression of the GENERALIZATION Bust.
ness college for the benefit OF the Brattle.
boro Civic Improvement league. Practi.
cally all OF the seats ON the main floor
were filled and there were many in the
galleries. The announcement that the
first prize, silver cup, was awarded TO
Ralph Ernest Thayer was received with
an outburst of. applause indicating that the
judges, Rev. Il. q. 5. Osgood, f. w, Glib.
son and Mrs. G. II. Thompson, had selected
the favorite. Liberal applause was also
bestowed upon Miss Ermina Blanche Dun
ton rs winner OF the gold medal and second
honor and upon Arthur Leonard Brown
who was given the silver medal and third
honor. There were eight contestants.
The winner of the first prize, Ralph L.
Thayer, rendered a prose selection, No. D
Collect Street, which called for more than
ordinary talent in the execution OF French
and English as used in the story which
told OF a Frenchman in New York who
suddenly discovers that he has forgotten
the number of the street where his hotel
stands. When the young man had finished
il was predicted that he would receive the
first prize though there were three speak
ers to follow him. Mr.. Thayer showed not
only careful training but a natural apti.
tude for mimicry and versatility IN dia-
lect
Miss Dunton's selection was also prose,
The Boy That Was Scarf oDyin'. 1t was
humorous and yet there was a touch of
pathos running through the narrative that
gave the speaker an opportunity TO appeal
to the audience. That old favorite, How
the LaRue Stakes Were Lost, was told by
Arthur l.. Brown and his description of
the field of running horses approaching
a bewildered baby which had strayed upon
the track was realistically done
Rev j.. q. 5. Osgood in announcing the
names of the winners and presenting the
prizes said that if fourth prize had been
awarded it would have gone to Miss Helen
Leone Hopkins. There were many in the |
audience who are inclined to place Miss
Hopkins in the third place. The program
was as follows:
March, Spirit of Freedom, Bagley |
Orchestra
How the LaRue Stakes Were Lost Hood |
Arthur Leonard Brown.
The Peril OF the Mines, Anon.
Miss Agnes Augusta Cam,
Flying Jim's Last Leap, Banks |
Marguerite Katherine kCmpf.
Tales Of Holman, 0ffenbach
Orchestra.
Little Tommy Tucker, Phelps
Helen Leone Hopkins
A True Incident of Boston Fire,
Conwcll
Ernest Edgar Ray.
40. ; Collect Street, Anon.
Ralph Ernest Thaycr
3olero, Spanish Gaety, Paul Emo
Orchestra
The Boy That Was Scarf o'Dyin', Slosson
Ermina Blanche Dunton.
The Painter of Seville, Wilson
Marguerite Nettleton Clark
ntermezzo Firefies, Lncke
Orchestra.
The orchestra was C. NJ. Dugan, violin,
nd Mrs. G. NJ. Brazer piano. Miss Dorothea
'rasor escorted hespeakers to the platform.
Ibove the platform hung the colors of the
chool in the shape of banners interviewer
nth evergreen. The choir balcony was
lso adorned with evergreen. At the close
{ the speaking DR.. Henry Holton, presi.
lague, in thanking the audience for its
atronage and the speakers and the Claw
)n-Hamilton school, spoke briefly of the |
imposes of the league He said it was the
i'm of the organization to inspire public
ntment for the identifying of the waste
nd desolate spots in the village. Among
lie things that the league is working for
cross walks on Main street DIR. Holton {
i'd that the present road commissioner G
Id promised to lay such walks another a
mmer if elected. Instead of the old n
yle drinking fountain such as stands at d
lie corner of High and Main streets the .
ague hopes to have "bubbling fountain"
hich does away with a common drinking h
p. The league hopes to do away with +
alter for laying the dust of the streets +
lother summer and to have oil used in :
cad. 1t is also interested in the matter
Fairgrounds.