ELOCUTIONARY COMPETITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1927, Page 4

ELOCUTIONARY COMPETITION.

The following is the set test piece in

die open male class lor the competition n February next in connection with die gala day:— •lE.” Bovs—Open. If you can keep your head when all about you Are. losing theirs and blaming it on you ; If you call trust yourself when all men doubt you. But make allowance for their doubting, too ; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting. Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being bated don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.

If you can dream —and not make dreams your master ; Jf you can think—and not make, thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster. And treat those two imposters just the same ; Jf you can bear to bear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. Or watch the tilings you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools. [f you can make one heap oi all your winnings, And risk it on one turn of pitcli-and-toss. And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss ; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you (Except the will which says to them : “ Hold oil.” If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue. Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you. If all men count with you, but' none too much ; If you can till the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it. And—which is more—you’ll lie a man, my son. The second test piece in the open male section is an own choice from Shakespea re.