San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-13

subject individual Power" and be-
gan at once upon an outline of the
Grafton with which / hoped to realize
my long-cherished ambition, viz, the
honor Of representing my college in
the intercollegiate contest.
CONTINUAL PRACTICE.
This contest was held in May near
the close of my junior year (1SS0)
1t was SO important an event in my
college life that l spent considerable
time in practicing Oh the delivery of
this Grafton.
To illustrate my determination to
improve every opportunity for prac-
ticc, / digress long enough TO relate
an episode to which have frequent
ly referred. Mrs. Jones arranged a
May Day picnic at DIR. Jones' farm
about n mile south of town. He had
formerly been superintendent of the
insane asylum at Jacksonville and
had, / suppose, secured ut that time
a piece of timbcrland adjoining the
asylum grounds. Here ke kept q few
COWS which furnished milk for the
family.
There was shade here. and We oc-
casionally went out to this grove on
pleasant days. 1t was here that the
May Day picnic was held. Mrs.
Jones was very friendly with Miss
Mary Baird, an academy student of
whom l shall speak frequently here
after.
1t was to forward the match in
which she felt an increasing interest
that this May Day party was plan
ned. She and two sisters, Mrs. kcl-
logg and Mrs. South, and Miss Baird
were to so out together late in the
forenoon while /. by pre-arrange-
ment, was to walk out in advance
and spend an hour or more reciting
my grafton, with the trees as silent
auditors.
WINS THE PRIZE.
When Mrs. Jones arrived with her
sisters and Miss Baird, they had
joke on me which was often repeated
afterward. AS they approached the
grove of farmer who lived nearby,
and who had formerly been in DIR.
Jones employ, ran out to the road
and excitcdly warned them not to go
into the grove. He informed them
tHdl Ollt vi VI INV oSJ
had escaped and was frantlcally
shouting and waving his arms.
Immediately suspcctins that L was
the disturber of the peace described,
they hurried on to report the impress
sion my oratory was making on the
only person who heard me. :,
The prize was awarded to me, and
l was duly chosen TO represent III,
nois College in the contest TO be held
the following October at Galesburg,
Ill. These intercollegiate contests
were events of great interest TO the
students. and delegations generally &C,
companied the college orator.. L had
gone as a booster for Richard Yates,
who represented our college the year
before when the contest was held at
Champaign, III. A special car car
ricd n bunch Of cheering students to
Galesburg. and I had, therefore, the
support which the representative oil a
college so much appreciates.
GUEST AT BANQUET.
The night before the contest we
were entertained ut banquet given
nv the local oratorical association,
our lady companions being selected
for us BY those in charge. was
quite fortunate, 1 thought, in the Sc
lection made for me. She was n very
pretty and vivncious school girl.
She deepencd. on the night of the
contest. the impression she had made
ut the dinner, by sending TO the stage
little box of celery with the hope
that il would strengthen by nertes for
the ordeal through which was about
10 pass.
Ny subject was Justice" and my