THE ! HESPERIAN
y
reasons for this aro not gonorally understood.
This part of the student body does not seem
to recognize that literary and debating train
ing is what has made these 'fellows' a power
in University affairs. Helow the JIksikiuax
gives the names of the sixteen successful con
testants, in the recent preliminary debates,
and the organizations to which they belong:
Name- and Rank Society Club
1. J. D. Donison Italian Maxwell
2. R. S. Baker Palladian IT. B. D. C.
3. G. E. Kindler 1 B. J). C.
1. E. B. Perry Palladian P. B. J). C.
5. C. W. Taylor
G. G. E. Hager Union U. B. D. C.
7. 0. E. Matson Kappa Sig. P. B. D. C.
8. A. L. Deal U. B. D. C.
J). J. A. Mnguire I'nion
10. O. Meier "
11. F. G. Hawxby
12. H. E. Saekett Delian Maxwell
13. W. L. McNaughton " D. B. J). C.
14. E. F. Warner
15. J. II. Kemp Union Maxwell
10. Bertha Stall
Tt will be noticed that every successful con
testant is a member of a debating club. All
but three are members of literary societies.
Of these three Mr. Deal and Miss Stall both
were literary workers, in other colleges, before
coming to the University; Mr. Matson, who
is the only fraternity man among the sixteen
successful contestants, received nearly three
years training in the Palladian society.
There can bo but one conclusion, (for no
one can deny that there are students of ability
outside of these organizations) that conclusion
is, that the members of literary societies and
debating clubs receive a training which can
not bo gotten elsewhere. It is not to bo won
dered that "these society and debating club
fellows got everything going."
Student. Comment.
UNIVEK8ITY OHATOKY.
It is often stated that "college oratory is
dying out." This is true. The old-time,
sky-scraping, bombastic oratory which has
raised so many roofs from college chapels in
the vain attempt to soar away to the eternal
stars, while- the audience remain bewildered
in their seats with not the slightest idea of
Now is the time to bivy shoes l4
what the "orator' has boon talking about,
has ceased to be attractive or of any practical
use. It is true that even yet in some of the
out-of-the-way, one-horse, denominational
schools tho old stylo of words without thoughts
still exists. Hat there is evolution in schol
astic oratory as in everything else. As "col
lego" oratory is a step in advance from the
high school graduation performances, so uni
versity oratory with its practical use is a
natural advance in the evolution from college
bombast.
There is, and will continue to be, a place in
the University of Nebraska for practical,
common-sense oratory. Instead of a falling
oil in the interest in tho contest this year, a
marked impetus has been given to it by the
far greater number of students who have sig
nified their intention of entering tho oratori
cal arena. Some are already working on
their manuscripts. All have more or less
blood in their eyes. The local contest does
not come till the last of February or the lirst
part of March, and there is plenty of time for
students who have not yet decided to enter
to do so and prepare their productions.
What we want in this University is to have
our oratorical contests closely allied with our
debating contests. There is absolutely no
conflict between debating and oratory. The
one cannot exist successfully without making
use of the arts of the other. They must go
hand in hand in advancing the one common
purpose. To the successful debater the art of
conveying argument in the most convincing
and forcible manner is indispensiblo.. Argu
ment alone is useless unless the audience is
able to catch its full force and effect. As
ovidenco)f tho fact that oratory is of advan
tage to the debater, reference need only be
made to the fact that every debater in the
preliminaries who had taken an active part in
oratory in this University secured a place on
tho finals; and furthermore that lirst place
out of fifty-eight registered debaters was given
to him who has been most active in advancing
the interests of oratory in this university and
other institutions. We cannot have oratory
without thought and argument, nor successful
debating without earnest, persuasive forcible
delivery. It is Mr. Bryan, we believe, who
says that a man is oratorical who knows what
off. Boot Eovm Store. 1218.0 St.