'111E 1ESPERiAtt
They are both parasites. Hut evidently the New York
paupers a pauper is one who lives at the expense of otheis
arc smarter than their Indianapolis brothcis. Instead of
living in hollow trees and begging from house to house, they
have elegant mansions, diamonds, and servants; they give
fashionable entertainments and help support chaiity organ
izations. In short they enjoy life almost as much as some
people .who work for a living. As it is safe to say that the
tribe of Astor costs thousands whcic the tribe of Ishmael
costs dollars, it would seem that the caiibcs that produce
this more expensive pauperism should icccivc sonic atten
tion.
If the individuals composing these tribes should suddenly
resolve to no longer live as parasites, but should try to make
an honest living by honest labor, what would be the result?
There arc at the present time in the United States a million
more men than there are available opportunities. If every
pauper should suddenly become n seeker after employment,
would not the supply of labor be still further increased and
would not our woikcrs find it proportionately hauler to
make a living.
This is the social problem. Economists must discover
why it is that those things that aic in themselves good
should seem to cause such evil icsults. If a man obeys the
highest and holiest impulses of his nature and relieves his
footsore and hungiy brother, he docs a gteat wiong to the
needy one and to society.
If the beggar regains some of his self respect and tiies
to live by honest labor, he makes the stiuggle for existence
harder for those who arc already .ovci burdened without
materially betteiing his own condition.
THE INTER-STATE ORATORICAL CON TEST.
The sixteenth annual contest of the Inter-state Oratorical
Association, held May 2, 1889, at Iowa College, Giinnell
Iowa, was an oratorical feast of the highest order. Hcforc
May 2, every scat had been sold; and at 7:30 p.m., the time
set, the church was crowded, not only with the fortunate pos
sessors of seats, but with everybody who owned anything
capable of supporting the human frame.
At 7:50 the noisy audience was silenced by the appearance
of the president and eight orators on the platform and the
sixteenth contest had begun. The ball was opened by the
Iowa Conservatory orchestra with the Concert Polonaise
which, in spite of the miserable gas which left the chinch
almost in semi-darkness, was tendered with exemplary spirit
and excellence. A prayer was then offered by President
Gates, of Iowa College.
At 8:11 Mr. E. II. Hughes, of the Wesleyan Univeisity,
Delaware, Ohio, walked upon the platform to speak on
the "Philosophy of Inequality." His articulation was slow,
clear and distinct. His gestures, of the slow, flowing kind
were finished and graceful but were without life or spon
taneity. As the subject indicates his production was essen
tially an essay. It was too effusive and relied too much on
proof for effect. It contained too many facts, was too deep
and philosophical and contained no direct address. The
thought and composition were the best and the production
would have made an excellent essay or magazine article.
Mr. Hughes appearance was devoid of all personality and he
moved his audience but little.
The second speaker was Mr. II. D. Dickenson, of Uni
versity of Minnesota who spoke on "Hismatkand German
Unity." Mr. Dickinson's aiticulation was rathei poor, hav
ing a tendency to slide his r's and his accent showed con
sidcrablc artificiality. He gave a little idea of reserved force
but stood too far back and did not appeal to the audience.
The style was oratorical in all qualities except direct address.
It was too ciitical and inclined the audience to an examina
tion of both sides of Hismark's character. The facts were
well brought out but their application to the end in view
was not sufficiently evident for a spoken production. The
voice, gcstuic, position and movements wci call artificial and
lacked spontaniety and enthusiasm.
This was followed by Mr. O. R. Patrick, of Paisons Col
lege, Fail field, Iowa, with Luther Before the Diet of
Worms." His delivery was elocutionary, not oratorical and
relied too much on stage efiect. The style ol writing was
forcible, rapid and precise but completely cssayistic. The
fust three-fourths of his oration was pure description and
narrative but if he could have done as he tried to do apply
the highly colored dcsciiption and narrative to the making
of a picture wherein Luther should have appeared in gigantic
pioportions he would have taken high rank. He failed at
the ciitical point; his pencil diopped fiom his hand; the
effect of Luther's grandeur was lost by pathos.
This completed the fust installment ol orations and the
second part was proceeded by a baiitone solo by Professor
II. II. Joy, of Iowa College.
After an cncoic given to Professor Joy, Mr. A. V. House,
of Donne College, Crete, Nebraska, appeared and spoke on
'Home Rule for Ireland." Mr. House was one of the quick
ucivous spcakeis and his delivery was in many respects the
best of the evening. His voice in volume and flexibility was
certainly the best. His production was a true oialion
although too much attention was given to statistics and proof.
He exceeded the previous speakers in emotional foicc and
dnect address. He gave nearly all his attention to the audi
ence and but little to himself.
Home Rule for Ireland" t was followed by Riot and
Revolution," by Mr. J. A. Hlaisdcll, Ueloit College, Hcloit,
Wisconsin. Mr. Itlaisdcll was extremely dramatic in gesture
and position, but was lcmarkable for facial expression and
power of appeal. His voice was unnatural and slow and he
took his eyes from the audience too much. His style lacked
concentration. The production was essayistic, profound and
critical yet all profundity, thought and criticism, fine as they
were, were ill applied and without evident point. There was
much fine writing but it was without object, simply for effect,
lie had much eloquence, rhetorical force and philosophy but
'What of it?" was the involuntary question of the hearer.
Mr. Ulaisdcll's production abounded in expression, like
Canaan-ward," "storms of tears," etc.
The second installment of eloquence was closed with
"Progress and its Agcn:ics," by Mr. A. W. Urcwster, of
Washburn College, Topeka, Kansas. Mr. Hrcwster's appear
ance was the best of all and contained considerable person,
ality. His articulation, though in the main clear and distinct,
was sometimes unintellegiblc. The best thing about him
was that he never took his eyes fiom the audience. His
production was a pure essay. He turned over the pages of
history, gleaning a little here and a little there and binding
the whole together with a superabundance of fine writing.
He failed to move the audience to either physical, intellect
ual or emotional activity. His oration was too much like
Mr. Ulaisdcll's though better written and containing less
claptrap.
After vocal music by the Iowa College ladies quartette the
eloquence was continued by V. W. Wheeler, of the Wesleyan
University, Uloomington, Illinois, who spoke on "The Per-