Marius sees the decline in participants assymptomatic of a general decline in the quality ofpublic speaking at Harvard. "If I had it my way,we'd have a speech clinic here," he said.
The contest's rules do not specify whichlanguage the participants must speak. Matthew A.Carter '99, who is also a Crimson editor andresident of Dunster House, recited a selectionfrom Virgil's "Aeneid" in Latin, although heprovided a translation to the judges.
Carter said he chose this selection because"Dido and Aeneas sells."
The contest is traditionally black-tie. Carter,however, showed up with a red and blue stripedrugby shirt under his tuxedo jacket.
Hennessey-Fiske won $300, and Gibbs won $150.The Boylston bequest also provides funds for acomplimentary dinner for the judges before thecontest.
Other finalists included Katherine M. Brown '98of Adams House, Lesley L. Chen '98 of LeverettHouse and Adam D. Green '99 of Winthrop House