Smyrna times., 1897-03-10
Another View Of the CheswOld Contest.

Mr.. EditOr:-I enjoy our Cheswold
correspondence and always read with
pleasure the CheswOld letter in the
TINES. Sometimes he goes astray
however as he did last week in report
ing our DemOrest contest or more par
tlcularly that part of it where he saws
the judges did not consume much time
IN arriving at a decision. And again
that they were absent from the audi
ence seven minutes only in performing
duty, are statements unwarranted bv
the facts. The facts are, after the re.
tlrement of the judges a solo was sung,
then a plate collection was lifted, at the
close of which the audience was vet
waiting and growing impatient when
to entertain them the choir sang a song
al! OF which consumed approximately
twenty minutes. Neither did the
judges find it so easy a task to arrive
at decision, for as we are informed.
on the first vote, No 8 received one.
No. 1 another leaying the third Judge
declining to vote because he, living in
same community and being personally
acquainted with all the contestants. his
views be construed as biased. How
they worked through this difficulty,
broke the tie and reached a decision
the writer has not been informed. It
is conceded however to have been a
close contest though the class was
young, ranging in years from 1S to
possibly II and some not accustomed
to appealing before the public thew
each nevertheless made it hot for the
other.
To have said the prize was handed to
No. Miss Venie Ford (who won
1t fairly) would have been sufficient,
but to have it published abroad that
the jndges decision was easily made
and IN the time of seven minutes. was
not stating facts and furthermore il
would serve to convey to the public
the idea Of an uneven contest and a
much greater share of merit in the
opinion OF the judges was easily vested
IN the one to whom they awarded the
prize, consequently doing a great in
justice to the remaining seven. It
would seem tame affair indeed when
three judges could criticise eight
speakers under the or 10 points laid
down in the rules governing Demorest
oratorical contests, in the space of
seven minutes time. Therefore these
two misleading statements by our cor
respondent do the judges an injustice,
also the instructors, and tend to de-
tract very much from the seven un-
successful contestants. We are forced
to conclude our correspondent was not
enjoying the efforts Of our youth At
oratory as others of the audience.
Perhaps sleep came over him.
1t was without doubt the finest enter
tainment of its nat ure ever given in
this community. These contests are
grand lessons for the young and let
me say for those of the class who were
defeated, we hear nothing but praise
for every member of the class, so don't
accept your failure in the spirit of dis
coursgement but try again at every op-
portunity, you may not win the prize
in life time but the effort will do you
no harm, but good. In these days of
hustling and eager grasping after
higher intellectual attainments your
efforts would help fit you for life's
duties which await you.
We hope after proper lapse Of time
the ladies Of our w. @. T. u. Of Chss-
void will give us another DemoreSt
contest and that Erma will give us
fair and impartial account of it in the
LINES A. 7. H.
ChesaOoid, March Sth, 1897.