The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-18
Was Prize Speaking Contest
in the Opera House
Last Evening
FLORENCE RUSSELL
AND GEO. MCLEAN FIRST
Second Prizes Awarded to
Miss Margaret Brown and
Frank A. Macdonald

In a prize speaking contest of gen.
erai excellence, heard by an appreciatiye
audience OF 900 people gathered in the
opera house, the Goth commencement OK
ercises of Spaulding high school were
opened last evening. The prize win
ners were announced to be as follows.
First among the girls, Miss Florence
Ellen Russell; second among the Girls
MISS Margaret Il. r. Brown; first among
the boys, George Mclean; second among
the boys, Frank Allan Macdonald.
The Judges of the contest were Supt.
George J. Seager of the Barre Town
schools, Supt. s. C. Hutchinson of the
Montpelier public schools and Principal
}. ". Hatch of Montpelier seminary.
There were ten contestants for the
prizes. and the program was interspersed
with music, Miss Ida NJ. Carusi rendering
two violin selections, Weighs Air yarie"
and III Trovatore" arranged from Ver-
dl, and the high school girls chorus
and the high school boys chorus giving
one number each The girls chorus
sang 20 That We Two Were Mayinp"
and the boys. Comrades in Arms" The
aceompanist in each instance was Miss
Josephine +. Hovey, supervisor of mu-
SIC, The numbers added greatly to the
pleasure OF the evenings program.
All the selections OF the five boys who
spoke were from well known addresses.
while the numbers given bv the girls
were mainly impersonations.
Of the former John Leblanc Jordan
gave Thurstons "The Union Soldier
the speaker being very effective, having
good control of his clear voice and in
Producing gestures in manner worthy
OF an older orator. Frank Allan Mac
Donald presented Bryan's memorial con
vention speech, called "The Cross OF
Gold He had strong voice and made
ms few gestures in capable manner, his,
work winning for him the judges see.
ond choice.
Neale White Hooker chose Chapin's
American Liberty perhaps the most
difficult of the addresses given during
the evening, and he won for himself no
slight appreciation for easy stage pres
ence and forcefuness. John Charles Sec
tors selection was President Wilson's
address, and in point of ar
presentation it was mer-
given the speaker giving the
address in a convincing way. George
Mclean, who was awarded the first prize
lmong the boys, had Finlevs ~John
Brown" and was markedly strong in
'learness of expression.
Initiating well the querluous voice of
| fussy woman customer, Miss Lillian
Evelyn Flanders depicted scene in
! shoe store in very clever manner
The only purely descriptive piece of
he evening was Miss Dorothy Katherine
nglis story, "Zenobia's Intidelitv.r a
whimsical story OF circus elephant,
n which the speaker carried her audi
nee interestedly through the tale. Miss
florence Ellen Russell's "a Pleasant
Half Hour on the Beach" was selee-
ion much similar in nature to Miss
'landers', and the reader. by easy man.
er and compelling gestures, got great
cal out of the piece. taking the judges
eeision for first place.
Miss Margaret III. r. Brown also had
n impersonation sketch. it being en-
tiled "A Sisterly Scheme" the
peaker's modulated voice and rip
ling laughter attracting the audience
nd doubtless going far to win the
ldges' decision for second place. Miss
liZabeth Skinner had character inter
rotation which was called mis- De-
orah Has a Visitor" which required
acting by the reader as
ell as marked changes in voice, in
9TH OF which the young lady showed
uch proficiency.
While Miss Carusi was rendering the
cond of her violin selections. the Judges
tired for consultation. being together
II short time when Supt. Seager,
eaking for the board, declared the
nners as above stated. mentioning that
@ judges were unanimous in the se-
ctions.
Coming Events of the Week.
To-day was largely set apart as alum
day, lawn party being scheduled
r this afternoon at the residence of
r. and Mrs. Henry II. Jackson on South
ain street and the annual alumni con-
IT and ball for this evening in How.
nd hall. Alumni doings will be con-
lued with the annual banquet in How
I'd hall Thursday evening.
The seniors will begin their public
ercises with class day to be held in
P opera house Thursday afternoon at
30 o'clock, and on Friday evening in
, same hall the graduation exercises
y be held. with address by President
nton OF the University of Vermont,
rts by honor students and the pres
tation of the diplomas.