THE NEBRASKAN
59
Tlw Local Contest
some from the .studies they nre presiding over.
Those who have hud practical experience
.. While wonts of learned length and thundering sound, wi" "S1"00' ""Wever, thiU the apent P
Annual the Kni"K rustic rnngM around; nn oration worth more to them than many
And still they Kar.'d, and still the wonder grew, a three-hour study carried on in the class
That one small head could cam-all he knew." room. The student must have practice.
Another local contest is a thing of the This is why experience in newspaper writing,
past, and the multitudes are satisfied, dissat- in public speaking as well as in the sciences,
isfied, or indifferent as to the outcome. Seven gives the student what he can never get in
orators have again sacrificed themselves upon the class room, nor from years of theoretical
the public hearth, and six of them will plod study of rhetoric. If there are any instruc
through lite with ambition unsaled in this tors in the institution that would crush out
direction. The handful of contests this year oratory because it might tend to detract some
only strengthen the oft-repeated assertion, from class interest, they should not be allowed
What a lottery it is." One judge is moved to continue their work in this institution
by one thing, another judge picks out a man "whose crowning glory is its democratic char
iot another reason. The audience as the acter, that it exists for all alike, and that its
most practical judge, often decide that nei- opportunities are freely offered to all." Last
ther are right and select the popular speaker, year onlT t,n'ee aspirants raised their voices
whose oniy reward is the praise received in thunderous appeal ; this year seven were
from a host of appreciative friends. But it is willing to shoulder the responsibility of rep
rver thus. While one conquers a score or resenting the University in the state contest
more must be satisfied with " it might have ad win laurels in far Ohio at the next inter
been so." Ambition withers, only "to bios- state contest. The interest manifested drew
som again in another place, and most likely out a ful1 house lhe University contingent
in another pursuit. Each successive disap- being ""Y wel1 augmented by the other col
pointment onl v presses forward more strongly leges. The stage was neatly decorated with
the arguments of predestination. A remedy naSs- University colors, and palms. Col.
is offered. Defeat grasps for it. Alwavs Owen's electric light plant was very sulky
look on the dark side of life and disappoint- anti finall.v struck. It is said that it had been
mentswill not produce such a dark cloud, laid ofl' for a week or two for economy's sake,
while, if the fates are generous enough to and objected to being pressed into duty on
place victory within reach, the recipient may t'us occasion.
then enjoy the treat." On every side the Alter a few introductory remarks by Pres-
whispers of discouraged orators who have ident Bently, the program was opened by
braved the doubtful storm repeat the simple Veda V. Sheppard with a piano solo, " Valse
saying, I told you so ! " The world moves le Bal." E. M. Pollard delivered the first
on, and the past is soon forgotten. The win- oration of the evening, The Indetermniate
ner of to-day is burdened with the thought of Sentence." It was the oration that only gave
to-morrow. He may then run up against a him fourth place in the recent Chase and
stumbling-block, and the glass-like crown Wheeler contest, but a new shake of the box
falls to the ground and is shattered into a brought him lot No. 2. Mr. Pollard's deliv-
thousand pieces, never to be repaired. ery was better than at his last appearance, but
But to return to the contest. More enlhu- his manuscript did not show much improve-
siasm has been taken in oratory this year ment. Mr. T. G. Ryan spoke upon "A So-
than ever before, despite the fact that the fac- cial Revolution." His matter was well col-
ulty as a whole are accused by some of being lected, but he did not speak in a very ani
opposed to contests for fear they may detract mated tone. H. T. Ricketts' oration was
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