Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-02-17
COUNTY TEACHER
CHAMPION sPELLER
FAILED TO STUMP HER
Audience That Packed Beverley
From Pit to Gallery Witness
ed the Contest
Il was a grand success.


When the ladies of Emmanuel
church announced that they would
hold spelling bee, it is hardly to be
supposed that even the most ssnguine
among them had any idea that when
the date finally rolled around the
contest would be attended with
display of interest the like Of which
had never tefore been witnessed at any
kind of an entertainments held IN
Staunton. And yet this is exactly
what happened. The Beverley
Theatre was crowded to its capacity
for the event, many having TO occupy
seats on the stage. SO great was th q
crowd.
The champion spelier Of the even
ing was Miss Woodson-principal OF
the high school at Swoope-who was
a member of the team Of Captain
Robertson.
The orchestra from the V. 5. u.
B., under the direction OF Prcf.
Beardsworth rendered several sslec.
tions which ADDED to the pleasure OF
the audience. Capt r. S. Kerr in
troduced the pedagogue. DR.. W. 5.
Cuxreh and annouuced that Mr. 5.
ID Timberlake. Jr. and MI, A 5.
Robertsuny had been ssieeted as cap
5sins, and they with crew and picked
their sides. ~ 49,
While this was being done MI.
Currell made few remarks and to
those who have heard him, it is use
less to say that they were interesting,
for he certainly knows just how to
get anG hold the attention OF any
audience and much of the successR OF
last nights entertainment was due
to Linn. He expressed his pleasure
at seeing such alarge number PRESENT
for it sisnified that the Staunton
people were interested in education.
He proved himself quite ''punstsr'
in using words with a double mean-
ing and this rather scared those who
we're to come before him in the role
of scholars foI they expected to De
trapped" but he was very fair ant
always gave the meaning of wcrd. II
it was one which could be spelled
differently, according to its meaning.
After the captains had chosen their
classes il was seen that about fifty
were to take part, or twenty FIVE In
each class. After all preparations were
completed DR.. Currell came to the
fropt and addressing himself to
those who were about to enter the
contest he said ION ye brave, wEo
rush to glory. or ths-erave land then
proceeded to deal gently with them
until each thought they had an "essy
suap," But when the numbers began
to decrease he became little more
severe and the ranks thinned quickly,
the captains OF both teams going
} down right early in the action.
At 10 O'Clock when it narrowed
down to four ON a side who seemed
; to be equally proficient interest
became intense. On Captain Tim
berlake's side there remained Mrs.
! R. T. Leftwich, Mrs. Alice Keith
, Mr.. r. E. r. Nelson and MI.
! Robert Bissel of the Staunton High
School. while oa Captain Robertson
, side there we're Miss Sarah Wood
son, Miss Matte Bossarman. OF the
Academy High school, MIR. Harry
Gait, ami Nj. J W. H. Pilson and in
short time Miss Woodson was left
alone. Having BEEN the most successful
speller she was presented with a
dictionary though judging from her
Exhibition she does not need one.
Miss Woodson is from Crozet aud is
now the principal of the high school
at Swoope.
The judges were Judge Holt, Prof,
Bowles and Prof. Neff and several
times the pedagogue had to refer to
them to settle question where
iifferent spelling was allowable.