Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-03-16
ORATOR|CAL CONTEST
Four Declarations and Six OratlOnS
are Given in High School
MARJORIE DELAVAN WINS FIRST
Bonald Smith Takes First In the Defamation
Contest with selection From Lippard

The annual oratorical and decla-
nation contest of the Alma high
school was held in the high school
auditorium Saturday evening, March
IL, beginning at 1880 o'clock. There
were six contestants in the oratorical
contest, one senior girl, Miss Marjorie
Delavan, a senior and FIVE junior
koys. Miss Delavan carried off the
= first prize with the Grafton entitled,
"The Stranger at Our Gates" There
were four boys in the defamation
contest all but one being sophomores.
Mr.. Donald Smith, sophomore, took
the first place in this contest
The auditorium of the high school
was we'll filled before the contest be-
gan, there being about two ed
admirers of the different contestants
present The senior class under the
Membership of Tom Cooper gave sew
kral spirited yells TO encourage their
only contestant, and the only girl in
the contest, Miss Delavan Promptly
ate7:30 Principal Ward opened the
program He said that it had been
three years, since Alma had been rep
resented in any OF the sub-district or
district oratorical contests, but that
it was the hope of the students and
faculty that it would be represented
in the coming contests. The first
number was a piano solo by Miss
Laura Amsbury, which was we'll re-
ceived
Hollis Clark, the only freshman in
the contest, gave the first defamation.
Evils of War" by Henry Clay. Hol-
lis is little fellow, but he did very
we'll He was calm and controlled,
and his enunciation was most excel
lent. His voice carried we'll and his
defamation had been memorized per-
fectly. However, the selection he
had made did not allow the opportu-
nifty for dramatic expression and
action which some of the other con-
testants were able to give. Donald
Smith, sophomore, gave the win
ming defamation, selection from
George Lippard. Smiths voice and
enunciation were good, and he was
able TO use to the fullest advantage a
natural talent for striking action and
expression He had evidently put a
great deal of work upon his produc-
ton. Dick Rockwell another sopho-
more, gave "Spartacus 10 the Gladi-
ators." by Elijah Kellogg, in excel
lent shape Everything that has been
said OF Mr.. Smith might also be said
Of Mr.. Rockwell He delivered the
defamation with vim and energy and
showed spirit all through it. Had
there been a second prize, Rockwell
stood a very good chance to receive
it, Paul Cash, '13, of Riverdale, gave
Patrick Henry's GIVE Me Liberty or
Give Me Death" speech This was
given with force and expression, but
lacked the vim that had characterized
the two preceding ones. All four
declamations were remarkable for
their perfect memorization and the
self-confdent way in which they were
given Altogether the contest must
be considered of a very high grade
for high school pupils. Marie and
Helgp Doane closed the first part of
the program with a delightful piano
duet.
Opening the oratorical contest. Miss
Marjorie Delavan gave the pration
entitled "The Stranger at Our Gates.
Miss Delevan's enunciation was very
careful and distinct, her expression
calm and dignihed. but forceful, and
her thought excellent. She spoke
upon the immigrant problem in this
country. Since Of our ninety-one mil
lions OF people one million aliens are
being added every year. Thus it ap-
pears that the problem is one of ex-
treme Importance TO the country. In
the early days. our immigrants were
from the hardy northern countries,
and we encouraged immigration, but
now il is mostly from the southern
European countries, whose people
come to this side of the Atlantic be-
cause of the enticing freedom and
many privileges which they think they
shall have here. The congestion OF
the southern countries forces many
to vacate and the alluring statements
OF the steamship companies circulars
completes the enticement. In the
steerage the very laws of our and
foreign countries are violated shame
fully to the destruction OF the moral
ity and health OF the immigrants in
order that the companies operating
the steamships may make more
money Once arrived at Ellis Island,
The big examining station of the har-
Dor OF New York City, many of the
foreigners desiring to immigrate are
lorced to return to Europe because of