University of Wisconsin Superior - Gitche Gumee Yearbook (Superior, WI)

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©ratoricciC Contest The evening of March 20, 1908, will long be a brilliant spot in our annals. The Grand Opera House, gay with innumerable pennants and streamers of the seven Normal School colors, and packed with an excited, cheering, singing, banner-waving crowd, was the scene of the Inter-Normal oratorical contest, in which Miss Jennie Hogan of the Superior Normal won first place. Before the program began, the- adherents of the different schools vented their enthusiasm with good-natured rivalry. River Falls had a lively delegation with a splendid red and white banner and flaunting pennants. They held their own valiantly, altho the Stevens Point crowd, in two purple and gold trimmed boxes, cheered vigorously on one side. Oshkosh evidently thot that music hath charms, as she had sent a delegation armed with yellow banners and a good song. Whitewater and Plattevillc made themselves heard in an effective manner. Both schools had good bands, which took turns in adding to the enthusiasm. Milwaukee was represented by a small but spirited party of three, who did their best to show their loyalty. Miss Fitzgerald of our own school was loyal as well as courteous, as she wore a big yellow chrysanthemum in her hair for us, and green and white for Milwaukee, in whose box she sat, being a graduate of that school. The program was opened by a short and pleasing address from Otto Winter of River Falls, the president of the Association. Song—“Fleeting Days” (Bailey)....................................Choral Club Oration—“A Type of True Womanly Greatness”.............Jennie Hogan, Superior Oration—“The Rights of Man”.........................John O’Keefe, River Falls Oration—“The Crucible of the Nations”...............Bert N. Wells, Oshkosh Solo—Selected..........................................Miss Bessie Jones, River Falls Oration—“Star of the Orient”.......................James R. Wallin, Plattevillc Oration—“The Menace of Corporate Monopoly”... .Guy E. Carlcton, Stevens Point Solo—Selected...............................................Claude Z. Lusc Oration—“The Destiny of Our Republic”...........Henry N. Belguin, Milwaukee Oration—“Egoism vs. Altruism”.....................Easton Johnson, Whitewater Song—“A Spanish Romance” (Sawycr-Lyncs)..........................Choral Club Besides the fact that Miss Hogan won such honors for the school, she achieved great personal distinction, being the only girl in the contest, and winning against able rivals. In addition to the merits of her oration, Miss Hogan added greatly to her chances of victory by her charming poise and case in delivery. In spite of the fact that she spoke first, the interest and pleasing impression produced remained in the minds of her hearers. After the last number the cheering and singing was resumed with almost greater vigor. The schools cheered generously for one another, and a most inspiring feature of the event was the splendid spirit of friendly rivalry, courtesy, and loyal enthusiasm on the part of all. When the president of the Association at last announced the momentous decision, we know what happened, and others will have to stretch their imaginations. Our girl was escorted on to the stage, carrying yellow flowers, and received the triumph she so justly deserved. PACK TWENTY-NINE

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Report of Amendment Committee.—The committee on amendments reported favorably on the following: To amend article V, section 3,'of the constitution, to read as follows: “The several contestants shall send six typewritten copies of their orations to the secretary of the League, at least three weeks before the annual contest. Copies of said orations shall be bound in such a uniform manner, and printed on such uniform paper, as shall be prescribed by the secretary. One copy shall be kept on file by the secretary; one copy shall be sent to each of the judges, as directed in article IV, section 5, of this constitution. Failure to comply with the above conditions shall disqualify the school he represents from participation in the annual contest of the League.” Report accepted, recommendations adopted. Moved and carried that the local associations of the several normal schools be notified of the offices in this League to which they arc entitled for the year 1908-1909. Moved and carried that the treasurer be instructed to send a personal check to Mr. Brier of River Falls, for the amount remitted by him, and that the balance due River Falls be sent to the treasurer of their association. On motion the meeting adjourned. JUDGES. Prof. Rollo L. Lyman, Madison; Dr. Charles M. Jordan, Minneapolis; Hon. L. M. Clausen, Washburn; Hon. John M. True, Baraboo; Supt. R. B. Dudgeon, Madison. officers for 1908-1909. President, Earl Spcrbcck, Oshkosh; vice-president, Ena Sumnicht, Stevens Point; secretary, B. J. Dickson, Superior; treasurer, Dean Smith, River Falls. orations, 1908. “A Type of True Womanly Greatness,” Jennie Hogan, Superior. “The Rights of Man,” John O’Keefe, River Falls. “The Crucible of the Nations,” Bert N. Wells, Oshkosh. ‘‘The Rising Star of the Orient,” James R. Wallin, Plattcville. 'Flic Menace of Corporate Monopoly,” Guy E. Carlcton, Stevens Point. The Destiny of Our Republic,” Henry N. Belgum, Milwaukee. Egoism vs. Altruism,” Easton Johnson, Whitewater. RANKINGS OF JUDGES. Superior ...90 100 100 98 98 3 1-6 1 Oshkosh ...97 98 96 100 100 3 1-12 2 Plattcville ...100 90 94 96 85 19-10 3 Stevens Point .. ...98 84 98 90 80 1 10-21 4 Whitewater ...94 96 97 94 90 1 11-30 5 River Falls . ... ...95 92 95 92 92 1 1-5 6 Milwaukee . ... ...88 84 92 93 77 0 167-210 7 Vive Ii. Young, Secretary. PACE TWENTY-EIGHT

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GITCHE GUM EE THE MACOMB TRIP. Miss Hogan, accompanied by Miss Hinkel, left Superior Wednesday afternoon, May sixth. A medium-sized crowd of the “faithful” braved the wrath of the faculty and gathered at the depot to give her a rousing send-off. Through some misunderstanding, Miss Hinkel’s suit-ease failed to materialize at the psychological moment, and she was forced to leave without it. It was a nerve-trying ordeal for her to watch the gallant Scoon coming to the rescue on his iron steed, to see him foiled in the last fifteen seconds; but she bore up bravely, and with the aid of listcrinc managed to fight off all signs of hysteria. The remainder of the trip was made without incident, and the party arrived at Macomb at eleven-thirty, Thursday morning. Mr. McCaskill, and Mr. Wells of Oshkosh, reached there in the evening. Friday morning the annual business meeting was called to order, the regular committees appointed, and the meeting adjourned until afternoon in order that the delegates might attend the meeting of normal school presidents which was being held in the auditorium of the school. The presidents from most of the normals in the Middle West were in attendance, and were, each one in turn, called on to make a short speech. Mr. McCaskill was held until nearly the end of the session. He must have been reserved for a feature, because he surely “held his audience.” His stories were “good”; and, if you arc wise, you will demand a repetition. One noticeable thing in connection with these speeches was that nearly every one, whatever else he said, did not fail to compliment the people of Macomb on the beautiful school building that they have. All agreed that it is a credit to any city or state. The contest in the evening was very good, but we doubt whether, taken as a whole, it was as good as the inter-normal held in this city. The standard did not seem to be as high as might be expected, after considering the high quality of the work done in the state contest. There was not the difference that one would naturally look for. The first speaker was Camilo Osias,of Macomb, representing Illinois. He is a native of the Philippines, and his oration, “The Aspiration of the Filipinos,” was peculiarly adapted to him. He was a true orator; and, while he spoke with a very slight foreign accent, his voice was so filled with feeling, and his appeal so intense and convincing, that he held his audience spellbound until it burst forth in a thunder of applause at his conclusion. That he deserved first place may be shown by the following: His was oratory in its strictest sense. He was pleading the cause of PAGE THIRTY