History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia: The Oldest Incorporated Methodist College in AmericaIrby, Richard
History
History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia: The Oldest Incorporated Methodist College in America
Irby, Richard
Randolph-Macon College; Randolph-Macon Woman's College
"Upon the arrival of Chancellor Smith, the representatives of the
various schools of the system took their places upon the stage, as well
as those pupils who were to contest for the elocution and declaimer's
medals. After music by the band and prayer by Rev. Oscar Littleton, the
first number was announced, it being a contest for the declaimer's medal
of Randolph-Macon Academy, of Bedford City. Mr. J. K. Holman opened with
a humorous selection entitled 'Uncle Peter and the Trolly Car.' He was
followed by Mr. W. E. Wood, who declaimed an historical poem of the
revolutionary period, 'The Black Horse and His Rider.' Between this
contest and the next the pupils of the Bedford school, accompanied by
the band, rendered with much spirit an 'Academy' song, the words of
which were composed by Wirt Holloway, a pupil.
"A contest for the recitation medal of the Randolph-Macon Institute, of
Danville, followed, the first being Miss Janie Howard, who had chosen a
dialect story, 'Rubaiyat of Doc Sifers.' 'The Set of Turquoise' was
delivered by Miss Sue Bethel. The young ladies of the Danville Institute
then closed their part of the programme with their favorite song, 'The
Lemon and Black,' in the course of which they were assisted by the young
men of the system.
"J. William Kight came forward as a representative of the Academy at
Front Royal, and with a humorous description of a New England debating
society, in which he gave practical illustrations of the different
classes of village oratory.
"Mr. J. L. Humphrey, also of the Front Royal Academy, gave a declamation
entitled 'Laska.'
"The contest for the Woman's College medal was introduced by Miss Nellie
Underwood, whose subject was 'The Courtin' of T'Nowhead's Bell.'
"Miss Underwood was followed by Miss Hathryn P. Acree, whose subject was
'Parnassius and the Captive.'
"The rendition of the Woman's College song, 'Merry Girls of R. M. W.
C.,' was followed by the contest for the Woman's College Medal for best
address. The contestants were Miss Addie Taylor and Miss Sadie Jacobs.
Miss Taylor was the first speaker. Her subject was 'The Supremacy of the
Anglo-Saxon.' Miss Jacobs' subject was 'Demands of Our Civilization.'
"The closing exercise was the contest for the Sutherlin orator's medal
of the Randolph-Macon College, Ashland. The contestants were F. Raymond
Hill, B. A. Wise, E. K. Odell, and S. M. Janney.
"Mr. Hill opened the contest with an oration on 'The Price of Progress.'
"Mr. Janney's subject was 'What For?'
"'The Power of a Noble Example' was the subject of Mr. Wise's oration.
"Mr. Odell followed in an oration entitled, 'De Oratoribus.'
The exercises were closed with the singing of the Commencement Chorus.
"A feature of the morning's programme, which was of a decidedly
interesting character, was the calisthenic drill, under the direction of
Miss Alice Hargrove, of a number of young ladies of the Woman's College.
FIELD-DAY EXERCISES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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