REPORT OF THE OREAD-OROPHILIAN CONTEST.
C. D. Dean-Orophilian, President of the evening Invocation, D. Howland.
ESSAYS.
P. R. Bennett, Oread-The College Ideal Mary Gilmore, Orophilian-The Humanity To Be.
MUSIC.
DEBATE.
Question: Resolved, that party fealty should outweigh considerations of character.
N. A. Swickard, Oread, affirmative.
W. T. Findley, Orophilian, negative.
MUSIC.
DECLAMATIONS.
Dot Mead, Orophilian—How they saved St. Michael.
Gertie Russ, Oread—The Kentucky Bell.
MUSIC.
ORATIONS.
W. Y. Morgan, Oread — The Color Line in America.
G. B. Watson, Orophilian—Labor.
"The owl, with all his feathers, was acold" Wednesday evening, but the annual society drew the usual large audience—not of owls by any means, but of the gayest possible birds.
Safely unknown, the reporter will make this notice entirely fair and unprejudiced. Mr. Bennett made an earnest and intelligible plea for a round and perfect education, in which he claims a high place for the classics. He uses words with remarkable insight. He utterly despises the man to whom "there is but one God—usefulness and science is its prophet." Mr. B. has done much in putting off his mannerisms, but still speaks too rapidly by fifty per cent. Mr. Bennett made a fine impression.
Miss Mary Gilmore is an ardent young Democrat, who can defend her position better than many a man who thinks her incapable of handling such things as politics. Miss Gilmore's clear voice and complete freedom from affection make it a pleasure to listen to her. Miss Gilmore made a fine impression.
In the debate, Mr. Swickard upheld party fealty against considerations of character, in as good a speech as one often hears all the good arguments, and, it must be feared, some sophistry. Mr. Swickard's self-possession makes one feel comfortable, but he is more melo-dramatic than necessary in a debate.
Miss Field sings truly, but her higher notes sadly lack firmness and clearness.
Mr. Findley went just far enough to show that he had the best argument, and broke down.
Miss Meade, of Council Grove, subjected that originally quite good poem, "How They Saved St. Michael's,' to one more worrying in the usual style of the professional reader. Miss Meade is not to blame for this style; she did it as well as the best. Miss Meade was very lovely. Miss Russ brought a like retribution on "Kentucky Belle," though somewhat more of naturalness came to the surface. Miss R. made one or two slips on words. Miss Russ was very lovely. Dr. Patterson's songs and Miss Davis' piano playing were enjoyable as the work of artists.
The orations by W. Y. Morgan and G. B. Watson are explained by their subjects: "The Color Line in the United States."— "Labor." The reporter is a veteran contest-goer, and he honestly and gladly witnesses that these were throughout the two best orations he ever heard on such an occasion. There was noticeable in both two great an emphasis on unimportant words. Mr. Morgan was admired by every one. Mr. Watson was admired by every one.
Tne revised Amphion Quartette did itself proud.
The decision of the judges was :
OREAD — Ninety and fifty-one-sixtieths per cent.
OROPHILIAN-Ninety and eleven-sixtieths per cent.