Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-05-29
The Result of the Oratorical Contest.


of the Sherwood High School, won the first
prize; Harry Beall, Of the Montgomery
County High School, the second; Halleck
Frye, Of the Kensington Grammar School,
the third.
The importance and beneficial effects of
the stimulation Of oratory among the public
school children Of the county was attested
and emphasized. by the presence and par
ticipation in the exercises of the Treasurer
OF the United States, Hon. Charles II. Treat,
and the Internal Revenue Commissioner
OF the Federal Government, Col. John @.
Capers, both of whom made addresses in
which they commended the cultivation Of
oratory and recitation among the boys and
girls of our county schools. In his address,
delivered after the defamation was con-
cluded, Mr.. Treat took occasion to praise
the participants Tor the creditable showing
which they made, and especially Miss Ellen
G.. Beall, of Damascus, the only girl who
took part. He favored plan whereby sep
arate contests among the girls as well as
the boys should be conducted, and recon
mended joint debates between the older or
High School boys.
The contest was conducted under rules
and regulations prepared by the County
Superintendent, Prof. Earle B. Wood.
Those who participated In the county
contest were the successful contestants
for the silver medals, awarded by Mr..
B. Il. Warner, to the best declaimers in
each election district of the county.
The prizes awarded at this county con-
test by Mr.. Warner were $40 in gold first
prize, $40 in gold second prize, and IS in
gold as the third prize.
When Mr.. George II. Lamar, President
OF the County School Board, called the meet
ing to order, the Court room was packed
with people representing every section of
the county.
The names of Mr.. John H. Gassaway, of
Germantown Mr.. Norman Bouic, OF Rock
vile, and Mr.. Edwin w. Broome, OF OAR
nestown, were announced as the judges.
Col. Capers was then introduced and
made brief address, in which he recalled
pleasantly his temporary residence in the
county several years ago.
The contestants were then called on 10 the
order of their districts and detained as
follows:
Eugene Jarboe, Sugarland; Harry Beall,
Rockville; Medford p. Candy, Coles
vile; Willard Rice, Darnestown; George
Rohrich, Bethesda; Walter Tolson, Sandy
Spring; Ohio Trundle, Gaithersburg; Burch
Brewer, Monocacy; Ellen @. Beall, Damas-
Gus Halleck Frye, Kensington.
The first prize winner, Tolson, acclaimed
a piece entitled "Shall Justice Reign" the
second, Beall, "Grady's New South" and
the third, Frye, Last Shot,"
There is one remarkable point of excel.
lence, common to all of these disclaimers,
they knew their pieces and did not hesitate
for word. The high school boys had the
advantage, due to age and experience in the
contest of last year, and each OF them seemed
TO be determined to carry off the first prize,
and, it is understood, their ratings by the
judges were very close. Both did excel.
lently and had selections adapted to the sen
timents of the audience.
Eugene Jarboe had the disadvantage OF
being called first and, for this reason, seemed
to be little confused and probably did not
come quite up TO the high standard he set
for himself last year but, though he did not
get prize. it is believed that when he gets
into the high school and enjoys the benefit
of the careful training which the high school
boys evidently received, he will measure up
to the predictions made by those who heard
him last year.
The balance OF the contestants were gram
mar or district school children who had
never before taken part in the county con-
test These boys were small and, for the
most part, were in knee trousers; but, al
most without exception, they showed de-
cded talent, and the bravery and ease with
which they faced the large audience OF
strangers demonstrated manliness among
these little fellows which bespeaks ultimate
success.
As the thirteenth district was reached, those
who had heard Allen Peter take the audi
ence by storm and win the first prize last
year were wondering if the reputation
OF that district was going to be sustained.
Little Halleck Frye, in knee trousers, seem
I'd to realize his responsibility, and he met it
like man. He had, perhaps, the most diff
cult selection of all OF the contestants and
| III ;ul,
tors by both age and experience, but he
was undaunted. From the beginning to the
end he held his audience in almost breath
less silence and admiration, and, when he
concluded, there was a storm of applause
second only to that received by Harry Beall,
in whose success the Rockville people we're
particularly interested.
What the late Col. William Kilgour was
to Allen Peter last year, 80 Mr.. Berry Clark
was to Halleck Frye, and such sympathy
and assistance from men of capacity do
much to stimulate ambition and success
among the boys.
1t is believed that there are other boys
who participated In the contest who could
have done as we'll as Halleck Frye II they
had gentlemen friends to take the interest In
them that Mr.. Berry Clark did in Frye.
Let every district in the county take the
pride in their contestants that the thirteenth
district has been taking, and we will have
healthful rivalry in oratory which will be
OF incalculable benefit.
The account of the contest would not be
complete without special reference being
given to the most excellent recitation Of Miss
Ellen G. Beall. By some Misunderstanding
the idea was entertained in Damascus dis
trict that the prizes would be for the girls this
year and 80 Miss Beall was chosen as the