The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-03-30
ALL WERE EXCELLENT
Much Tntere.t Shown in Local Ora
torical and Musical Test Among
High School Pupils
of City.

Noi" ouI VIII represent Ilym-
outh High School at the Oratorical
Contest to lie held in Bourbon, April
Z. This was decided by Preliminary
Contest held at the Webster School
Auditorium last night and witnessed
by a capaciy house of enthusiastic
| listeners.
The program was of high merit
throughout and entirely free from
such crudities as one might expect
from boys and girls of thatage. Judg-
ing our schools by their fruits, they
must be nearly up to the college of a
generation age. These young people
showed the skill and east of those
who had experience on the Platform
and training in thinking and will not
furnish the green Freshman" which
the High School is supposed 10 hand
over to the College.
The music of the evening was finish
ed and artistic. In connection with
lie Oratorical contest it has beer de-
cided to have vocal musical contest
IN which quartet from each High
School will compete.
The High School Orchestra, which
furnished four excellent numbers dur
ing the evening was composed of
Rose Holtzbauer, Pianist, Arno Gull
lison, Roland Metsker, Chester Cast.
Gerald Overmyer, Delpha Zumbaugh,
Ford Cressner, Roscoe Lee, and
Ralph Ball.
Supt. Randall, in introducing the
program, said that it took great cour-
age to enter the Oratorical Contest
this year, since the three contests so
far have been won by Plymouth AMI
il remains for the winner in this pre-
iiminary contest tho maintain that
high standard.
Earl Stoneburner, has chosen for
his subject, Saratoga" He had.
perhaps, the best orotund voice of any
speaker, being larger and more heavy
weight in build than the rest, who
were more slender with voices Of the
same quality. His manner was calm
and he possessed many of the attri-
butes which go to make a good pub
lie speaker He was unfortunate In
his subject, which being so far back
IN history and a settled one, did not
make the appeal to his audience that
more live one would have made.
Mr.. Stoncburner said that centuries
had led up to Saratoga. Time was
VIXEN peoples IN many climes bowed
to the yoke of Tyranny. Little by
little emotions of freedom began to
stir in mems breasts. There arose
from the north a nation of Anglo
Saxons who refused to submit. They
voiced their sentiments in the Magma
Charta and in many such documents
down to the Declaration of Independ-
ence England thought to quell hel
disorderly subjects with one fell blow
Then followed the story of Saratoga
and of the foiling of English domin-
alton.
Maud Marks entered into her ora
ton with voice and manner strong
and free, in keeping with her subject
"The Pioneer Of the Northwest. /"
She said that the men who crossed
the plains, Idian fighters, explorers
and first settlers, were more typical
Americans than those of the East
where foreign influence held greater
sway. The wi le prairies which hid
mountains, dense forests, which hid
not only wild beasts but hostile In
dams, fertile valleys, ard treasures
stored beneath the soil appealed to
their romance, stimulated their fame
les. and called for the exercise of
their indomitable courage and diff
cult labors. They knew the hardships
and cared them. They developed here
that pre-eminei.tlv American trait,
"inventiveness.' It was their re-
.sourcefullness which kept them
alive in the new country. They were
brave men such. as the earth had
never seen She closed with special
tribute to Daniel Boone and an appeal
that when we remember our nation s
heroes we do not forget the Pioneers
of the great Northwest.
Henry Humrichouser, in an ora
ton on "The Public Conscience"
showed great Knowledge of politics
and history. He was handicapped by
voice which was not strong but In
spite of this awarded d close
second place showing the excellence
of his thought and manner.
he began with the quotation from
Winston Churchill, that public