The Prize Speaking.

Competitors for the Boylston prizes for declamation spoke last evening in the following order:

1. - Livingston Boyd Stedman, "The Coercion of Ireland." - Sir W. Vernon Harcourt (1887).

2.- Nathan Oppenheim, "The Sisters." - Tennyson.

3. - Francis Wallace Knowles, "The Pilot's Story."- W. D. Howells.

4. - Wilton Lincoln Currier, "The Minute Man of '75." - G. W. Curtis (1875).

5. - Robert Treadwell Osgood, "Conservative Progress." - Edward Everett (1852).

INTERMISSION OF FIVE MINUTES.6. - Winthrop Tisdale Talbot, "John Harvard." - Edward Everett (1828).

7. - John Daniel Barry, "The Lament of OEdipus." - Sophocles.

8. - Herman Page, "The Slave Rebellion of San Domingo." - Wendell Phillips.

9. - Rowland Blennerhassett Mahany, "A Message from the New South." - Henry W. Grady (1886).

10. - James Houghton Woods, "The Irish Question." - W. E. Gladstone (1886).

The competition for the prizes was of such a nature that intense interest was manifested by the audience in the award. The gentlemen who acted as judges were Editor Hooper, Col. C. R. Codman, Mr. Roger Wolcott, Mr. Geo. Putnam, Prof. J. W. White, Rev. G. H. Hall, Rev. W. Lawrence, Prof. J. B. Thayer. The award, which was made as stated above, was, while somewhat of a surprise to the admirers of the more finished style of declamation, certainly to have been expected by those who watched the effect made by the speakers upon their audience. It has now certainly been demonstrated that a certain type of declamation while deemed excellent will never here receive the highest award of merit, and that type is the exquisitely finished. The writer, recalling memories of five contests, can remember that each year the same stress has been laid by the judges upon natural delivery and intelligent interpretation.

Mr. Page and Mr. Knowles spoke in a manner worthy of high admiration, their attention to their pieces as a whole overruling their desire to offer more highly polished work. Mr. Currier stood pre-eminently for careful delivery and appropriate gesticulation.

Mr. Barry was certainly dramatic, and thoroughly felt the passion of his work. Mr. Mahany was one of the most natural speakers on the program, and his ease of delivery captivated not a few.

Upon the whole the contest shows the wisdom of reducing the number of speakers and we trust that the custom will be continued. It is to be noticed, so the writer is informed, that four of the five prizes felt to graduates of the Boston Latin School. This is certainly a remarkably result and points to the work which must be encouraged in that school. There was a large audience present and they remained until the award of prizes was made.