Emporia State University - Sunflower Yearbook (Emporia, KS)

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The Oratorioal Association. HE Oratorical Association, as a feature of the intellectual and combative training of the in- stitution, has no parallel. Originally organ- 'zed to further the interests of higher literary work, o create an interest in oratory, and to take part in the contests for the Interstate League of Normal Schools, its purpose has been most faithfully fulfilled. Higher literary work has never received more atten- tion than from the members of the various classes of the past few years. Poets, orators, embryo novel- ists, future journalists, essayists and philosophers have sprung up among us. Their pens have won them much local fame, and who shall say but that in future years the Kansas Normal shall provide a new galaxy for the literary firmament. At present they still thrive prosper, the wonder and admiration of friends schoolmates. the Interstate League Kansas has taken no dis- 'able place. She may well review her record with t pride. At the first contest, held in Warrens- bu-,,, Mo., May 7, 1897, Mr. Ira J. Bradford represented Kansas and won second place. With characteristic modesty Kansas was unwilling to render herself con- spicuous in the beginning. The next year the con- test was held in Albert Taylor Hall and Kansas, in courtesy, took for herself the lowest .place that the visiting States might not return home unhappy. In '98, convinced that modesty and extreme courtesy had held hier long from revealing her real power, Kansas sent forth the winning orato-r, who triumphantly won first place, and returned amid a chorus of yells and songs that caused Illinois and Missouri to rub their eyes and stare. Ah, in those days were great rejoic- ings! The name of Allen TL St. Clair shall be pre- served in song and story through many generations of students. He is the man who shall head a list of glori- ous victories. In '98 Miss Anna Patterson was sent to Iowa., winning third place, and in '99 Miss Mary B. Martin to Wisconsin, but Kansas fortune was at low ebb, and the sunflower came home with drooping head. Fifth place wasn't so bad, perhaps. It was only a case of mistaken judges. Thisyear Miss Iva E. Pur- dum, the most gifted of the student poets, won first place in the local oratorical contest, and was sent to Warrensburg, Mo., where she took second place. But not alone is our oratorical power exerted among our sister States. Tht Oratorical Association, in its local meetings, gives its members a training which should fit them for future debates in Congress. The people who have yelled themselves hoarse in shouting