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the morning proceeding. The Sophomores and Seniors
were advertised to appear first hut the Seniors lost their nerve
at the critical moment and refused to play. The Freshmen
gained the advantage at the word for the start, which the
Juniors were unable to recover. Freshmen won by an advan
tage of 2 ft. 9 in. Following arc the names of the partici
pants: Freshmen, Hall, Almy, Shcdd, Williams, Langdon,
ami Marsh. Juniors, J. Smith, Wagner, Anderson, Pound,
Klcinc Polk, and Schoficld.
At 2:40 p. m., the long run was called. Entries, Newcom
er, Bryan, M. I. Bigelow, F. Woods. The circular space in
front of the University was selected as the course, eight times
round this course making the required two-thirds of a mile.
A fair start was made but the boys went off at too great speed
to warrant their keeping it up long. Bryan led in the first
three rounds after which Woods forged ahead and kept the
lead to the finish, winning the race in- 3-50, Bryan second,
the others distanced. Prize, Pongee silk coat and vest, given
by llurlbul.
The throwing match was won by D. 1). Reavis, distance
29S feet. C. W. Bigelow second, distance 267 feet. Prize,
Shakespeare, Leather bound, given by Fawell.
An interesting feature of the day not clown on the list was
the Senior egg jump. Entries, Pcrrin, Paul Clark, Kathan,
and Howe. Pcrrin jumped farthest without breaking an egg,
wbcrupon Mr. Ilodgman, in a few well chosen words, pre',
scnted the happy and expectant victor with a pair of slip
pers baby slippers. (Great applause from the spectators.)
There were four entries for the sack race, the next number
announced, Newcomer, F. II. Woods. A. F. Woods and L.
Itrynn; Bryan won easily with F. H. Woods second.
In the potato race there were ten participants and the race
was won by A. M. Troyer, who consumed the least time in
housing his potatoes, ten in number, three yards apart. Prize
was a pair of slippers, given by Wright & Briscoe.
The base ball match between the University nine and Lin
coln Juniors closed the days festivities, the Juniors winning
by a score of 9 to 4. Five innings only wefl played, there
not being time for the other four.
During the game the judges retired and prepared an official'
report tor the executive committee of the athletic association.
UNION EXIUIUTION. ORATORICAL CONTEST.
Before the time set for the eleventh annual exhibition of
the University Union had come, the clouds had cleared away
and, as if to make up for last year's misfortune, a beautifuj
evening added to the joyousness of the occasion. The Unions
had determined upon varying the exhibition program by sub
stituting the oratorical contest, organized during the past year
upon propositions made by Mcsdames Pound and Cheney.
Miss Nellie Young opened the exercises by a violin solo
from "La Stranierc," which was executed with wonderful
precision and sweetness. With a bright little selection she
tcspondcd to the enthusiastic applause.
JERoscoe Pound, the first oi the contestants, portrayed the
'modern spirit of the Latin poet Lucretius, and his relation to
the modern scientific thought and teaching. The champion
of nature, he sought to overthrow superstition and teach the
importance of a knowledge of nature. Mr. Pound was rath
er stiff and formal in his delivery and was entirely devoid of
enthusiasm.
Herbert J. Webber illustrated "Change and Progress" by a
glanc? at the history of the world, and clearly demonstrated
the law of change, growth from decay.. In delivery Mr. Web
her was more finished than any on the class, but his subject
proved too broad for him to hamile with effect. Miss Lillian
F. Chamberlain, whose rich, pure and clear voice has been
heard before from the Union platform, sweetly sang"L'Estasi
d'Amorc," and as an encore, a selection from "Erminie."
"The Huguenots," their trials and persecutions, was pre
sented by Miss Fannie A. Baker. The influence of Calvin
and of French political policy upon the Huguenots was shown
and the effect of that policy upon France. Easy and well-ap-pearing.
Miss Baker lacked variety and enthusiasm.
F. W. Kramer attacked the question, "What will be the Is
sue of the Labor Troubles" with a good deal of strength and
Showing that the establishment of every great principle of re
form was only through forcible means, he asked "how is the
coming revolution to be accomplished without bloodshed?"
Mr. Kramer's clearness and short pithy sentences, as well as
his originality, won the good will of all.
"Fcucr Zaubcr" was then rendered by Miss Minnie D.
Cochran and the expressed appreciation of the audience was
scarcely appeased by an acknowledging bow.
"Percy Bysshe Shelley" was the subject of Miss Cora E.
White's oration, which is here given in full.
Shelley was a poet of nature. His childhood was spent in
dreamy admiration of her beauty; his one great object in
youth was to extort from nature her secrets by magic; and it
is not strange that his after lift was passed at her shrine.From
nature he obtained all his inspiration. The sky and sea, the
birds and flowers, charmed him. He wrote best in open air.
His Revolt of Islam received its best touches while the author
floated in his boat under the groves of Bisham; Italian hills
and woods witnessed the creation of his loveliest lyrics.
Nature to him was a realm peopled with living subjects,
guided and controlled by Divine laws. He believed the uni
verse to be penetrated and made real by a spirit, which was
not life merely, but the embodiment of love and beauty. The
elements never seemed inanimate tohim. The flowers and trees
were his friends. He who could find but few congenial friends
among men opened his heart to all animated nature. His po
ems glow with his adoration of nature. They are pictures of
her forms and moods, as few could mirror and interpret them.
Even the most familiar object is painted as carefully as the gi
gantic figures of his fancy. The skylark and the cloud "were
thought fit subjects for hii most perfect lyrics; his Ode to
Night ranks among his best for intrinsic beauty and exquisite
form. Shelley excelled not in lyrical poetry alone; his digni
fied, classical diction is pervaded with frcadom and fire that
is unsurpassed in our literature. His most perfect work is
Adonais. It is a purely imaginative poem, commemorating
the death of Keats. It is written in the Spenserian stanza and
surpasses all his other works in glowing imagery, delicate lan
guage and exquisite personification. But beneath the form
and touching beauty of this sorrow-song we see Shelley's phi
losophy of life, that awakes our admiratiou, not so much for
the poet as for the man.
Shelley brings to our literature a rapid succession of bril
liant pictures, framed in the most picturesque language. He
chains our thoughts. The flowing stream of perfect sound
has a mechanical power over many, incapable of understand
ing his poetry in any higher sense. His keen perception of
beauty of style and rhythm charms the ear;but his sentiments
please more. His fancy is unwearied; his thoughts come to
us as those of a great mind. His characters stand before us
in mammoth proportions; they seem almost beyond our com
prehension in their colossal grandeur. His poetry affords
greut variety; the strong, impassioned eloquence, and the
exquisite lyrics; the political and satirical, and the pathetic.
He was too swift of flight to be patient of detail; his distrust
of his powers prevented him from giving roundness of form
and finish of appearance. But his intense fervor, delicate
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