Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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VidtoFy at IntEF-BtatE. V OISE ' ? Well, yes, there was a little more racket than is usual in the streets o£ Monmouth, at i o ' clock in the morning. I F Those of the citizens who had forgotten that a Monmouth man was away that night trying his skill in oratory, wondered what had struck the town. But those who were posted on college doings, simply rubbed their eyes and muttered, Well, those college students have broken loose again; reckon Wishart has won Inter-State! ' Yes, Wishart did win! No wonder his fellow students were jubilant No wonder that the telegram from Indianapolis caused exuberant hilarity. No wonder if the boys forgot to sleep that night in their efforts to inform the good people of Monmouth that our College has the best orator in ten states. The honor won by Mr. Wishart is as great as a college student can attain The Inter-State Association comprises the ten states — Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska Kansas and Colorado Each of these states sends the orator whD raik? first in the State contest. So these ten men represent about seventy of the best colleges in these states. By the following clipping from an Ohio college paper, it is seen that Mr. Wishart won not only the approval of the judges but also of the audience. ' That the Illinois man deserved the position given him is generally conceded. Mr. Wishart was a favorite with the audience from the very moment he stepped upon the stage, and the loud applause following the de- livery of his oration was an evidence that the hearts of all his hearers had been deeply stirred. He appeared to be a natural orator. His earnest manner, easy gestures, and clear enunciation, combined to make his delivery at once inspiring and mag- netic In working up the several climaxes of his production, which gave it its decidedly oratorical character, he showed admirable judgment. His peroration was a strong plea for good citizenship Monmouth College has been greatly honored by her orator, and the hearty reception which he received on his arrival home showed that his effort was appreciated by all. The college trustees, faculty, students and citizens joined in doing him honor,

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left the chairman ' s lips. He made the mistake of announcing the award of first place before he did the second, and it was with difficulty this was made known Fortunately a convenient side door lent aid to the impatient exit of the happy students, eager to get hands on the triumphant orator. They soon found him at the Union, and seating him on strong shoulders, they filed back past the Auditorium, which wa; emptying itself of its large audience. How strong and clear came the old College yell from many throats. Many felt it their duty to keep the town awake for the rest of the night, if not by vocal noise, at least by all manner of wind and stringed instruments But tired nature would assert herself, and besides we realized that we had a day ' s work before us in the Athletic Contests of the to-morrow. It seemed policy to go to bed. Enthusiasm did not end with the night however. Througho t the next day, as we scored this and that point fn athletics and made a successful issue for 2nd place, as we proudly marched to the depot, made our noisy leave-taking, obtained the privileges of a car by ourselves where we spent the time telling the best jokes on one another, and everybody grew jubilant as we made our triumphal passage from the Monmouth depot to the College where our girls had prepared an elegant reception. It was one increasing tide of enthusiasm and let us hope that it was an enthusiasm which had in it a strong undercurrent of genuine loyalty — loyalty to our Faculty our Piesident and to our Inst ' tution, loyalty to the best interests of Monmouth College. i . 4

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GliARLGS FI eOeRIGH WIS IAI T. .-lu;ir, eJ Firs! Prize in tlu liilt-r- Sl.tl,: Ornloriaii Ci ' iilrsl at [tidiaiinpolis May o, iSq4. CHARLES F WISHART was born in Ontario, Ohio, Sept. 3d, 1S70 His father, the Rev. Dr VVm Wishart, now of this city, was for many years President of Frankhn College in that state Charles entered the prep iratory d pirt 11 :nt of iVI j,Tm juth College in the fall of ' SS, and very soon gave evidence of marked ability both in the class room and the literary soci- ety. This being re ognized by his fellow students, he was often called upon to represent them in their frequent contests. Twice, however, he failed to win the laurels .from his competitors But having in him the stuff of which successful men are made. Centaur like, he gathered strength every time he touched the earth Among his successful contests may be named: Philo-Oratorical, Inter-Collegiate, Prohibition at Decatur, Home Preliminary — in which he qualified to represent his college in the Inter-Colle- giate Contest at Galesburg, Oct. 6th, 1893, and in which he qualified to represent the colleges of the State in the Inter-State Contest at Indianapolis, May loth, 1894, when his last oratorical victory was achieved. Mr. Wishart is not only a speaker, but a student and a scholar, ranking always among the very first of his class, and thus verifying the fact that it is the man who is built from the ground up who has in him the elements of success in a long sustained line of work. The voice alone, however rich in tone and cultured in e. pression, does not make the orator — there must be a man behind, or who has something to say. In the face of what we are accustomed to call difficulties, but which in reality are stepping.stones to success when overcome. Mr. Wishart reached his distinction. He was a poor boy and without the ready means to prosecute his college course; these, howex ' er, he secured in whole, or in part, at different times— by clerking in a book store, teaching students behind in their work, leading the church choir, and editing a prohibitory paper. Withall he is an active christian, and during the present year was president of the College Christian Union.