marks of the Referee. 3. The school aggregating the highest marks shall receive the award as a school.
While the Judges were making their decision the audience was entertained by a duet played by the Misses Jessie Allen and Grace Dyer, followed by a chorus, "Womans' Rights will soon be Here," by Edna White, Emma Airhart and Pearl Child, little girls of less than eight years, members of the second primary department of our public school.
The decision of the Judges was announced by Hon. J. W. Akers, which he prefaced with a few very appropriate remarks. The following are the aggregate marks of the Judges:
Nevada......................2,437.
Marshalltown................2,298.
Nevada having received the greatest number of points, was declared winner in the whole contest, and according to Rule Il, part three, the Nevada High School received the award. The honor of best speaker was closely contended. Miss Alice Henderson, of Marshalltown, received two hundred and eighty-nine points and Frank Burdick, of Nevada, two hundred and eightyeight. Miss Henderson's selection was humorous and Master Frank's oratorical.
The interest manifested by the people in the music was also great. All of the musicians were enthusiastically encored. Miss Grace Dyer, of Nevada, was awarded first honor in vocal music, and Miss Sally McCombs, of Marshall, first in instrumental.
Nevada feels proud of her victory, and well she may, for the Marshalltown school has often been accounted the best in the State; and to have three impartial judges, all superintendents of education, say the Nevada School takes the lead in declamation, by one hundred and thirty-nine points, is honor enough for one time.
Among the more noted visitors in attendance from abroad were Prof. Chevalier and sister, of Ames; Miss Curtiss, Principal of State Center Schools, with a party of twenty; Miss Abbot, Principal of Marshalltown Schools, with Judge H. C. Henderson, Col. B. A. Beeson, Rev. J. B. Casebeer and Byron Webster, also of Marshall; Hon. C. T. Mason and friends, of Boone; Hon. J. D. Gillett, of Ogden; and a number from Jewell Junction, Cambridge, Iowa Center and Eldora; among the latter was J. C. Hisey, Principal of Eldora Schools.
Wednesday afternoon the barn of H. C. Foster, near Ontario, was struck by lightning and consumed, together with a valuable horse which it contained.—(July 11, 1883.)
Business transacted at the Northwestern depot, at Nevada, for the first eight months of 1883, the only month for which definite information is obtainable, was as follows: received, lumber ninetyfour car loads; other freight, 191; merchandise, 2,170,656 lbs. forwarded, stock 112 car loads; grain 147; other freight, eighty-