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The University Courier.
Reflections.
COMMUNICATED.
The fundamental idea of an oratorical contest is a battle between speakers and not between writers. Our present system of marking has for its aim the subversion rather than the carrying out of this predominant idea. That the Darwinian theory does not obtain in these intellectual struggles is not the fault of the judges but of the system. Of course the frailty of man and his susceptibility to outside influence is a very potent factor in the formation of a just judgment. This force is always present and it is one that it is impossible to eliminate, so at this time we need not take it into consideration.
The great fault with our present system of markings is that we have two sets of judges upon two different branches of the subject, when in truth there is only one branch and a call for but one set of judges. This one branch is the art of oratory. A person who would not be able to repeat the alphabet intelligently before an audience, may, by the happy selection of his subject and choice of material, be given three firsts by the judges on thought and composition; while the true orator, the man who, by his eloquence can sweep all before him, would very likely receive the last place by the same judges. This has often happened. Now when it comes to the contest see what an advantage one has and how useless it is for the other to try at all. In the summing up of ranks who is it that wins, the true orator? No; it is the writer, or perhaps the fellow who excels in nothing, but, owing to the force of circumstances he slides through with passable mediocrity.
To obviate all this let us have but one set of six judges. These judges should attend the contest, and mark upon the delivery, upon the oratory. Then the oration should be handed to the judges and passed upon as to thought and composition. It is impossible to judge an oration until you have heard it delivered. This plan is bound to give satisfaction, or at least come nearer to it than the present one. I have attended seven local, five state and one interstate contest, and in each and every instance dissatisfaction was expressed with the decision and it could all be traced back to the blind guess work way we have of marking.
Now as to the judges. It is painful in the extreme to see men of supposed ability lacking the courage of their convictions, that is if they have any. It is absurd, childish, to suppose that in six or eight men there will be two or three who are the exact counterpart of each other in ability. A judge is not appointed in order that he may enlarge his circle of friends by marking all the orators as tied for the first and second places. If he is afraid of hurting any one's feelings let him resign and give his place to one not so considerate. A judge's duty is to see and determine to a certainty who deserves the first, who the last and to whom the intermediate positions belong. There is nothing quite so ridiculous as a judge placing any two men as tied in his own individual markings. There are as many places to be awarded as there are speakers, consequently a tie is entirely out of the question.
Now as to the speakers. Rome on her seven hills and the tawny colored king of beasts walking the deserted streets of Carthage surely were never so badly overworked as political parties, freedom, equality, civilization, progress, government and reform. Is it possible that in the whole realm of human thought there is but one subject for an oration? I am just as loyal as any one and think that representative government is about the proper thing, but when I hear the fact iterated and reiterated from 8 p. m. to 1:20 a. m. I almost wish I lived in "Russia, where the curse of absolute government must inevitably work its own ruin." It must be a pleasure indeed to live in Turkey, where you hear nothing of the "Mayflower," "Marston Moor," or "Bunker Hill." In the onward march of the car of progress if some one would load it full of orations of this character and then let it go on, on, triumphantly on, clear out of sight, they would hand a name down to posterity and at the same time work the emancipation and receive the benisons of a long suffering people. Then let us tear up the track to prevent the car's return, and exclaim, in our new found freedom, "Peace on earth, good will toward man."
CUP.
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