The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-06-22
Essay Contest at Denmark.

Essay Contest at Denmark.
d About two months before the clos
ing of the Denmark high school, the
w. G.. T. u. offered to the school two
medals, to be given to the pupils
writing the best essay on "The Evils
of Intemperance." One was to be
given to the high school and one to
the grammar school.
H. They were told about it, and each
one, who cared to try, was furnished
with what literature they needed to
read on the subject. In the high
school the contestants were: Misses
Blonde Barton, Marie Still, Josephine
Faust, and Julia. Goolsby; Messrs.
Stanwix Mayfield and Tindall Califf.
In the grammar school they were:
Euine Mayfeld, Helen Milhous, Jas
per Sojourner, Bernard Faust and
Willie Califf.
On the day of the contest the
above mentioned were put in room
TO themselves under the supervision
of Prof. H. A. G.. Walker and given
two subjects to select from. All
notes and references were destroyed
and the work was done absolutely
alone. They were given one hour
and half in which to write. At the
end of that time bell was rung and
the papers we're handed in. Each
pupil numbered his paper and the
number corresponding to that was
put on the outside of an envelope,
the name of the writer inside and
sealed up.
These papers were given to COM
mittee composed of three men: Rev.
IT. e. Morris, Rev. B. F. Allen and
mr.. J. Wesley Crum, Jr., to be ex-
samined, neither of whom knowing to
whom the papers belonged. On the
might of the closing of school the
envelopes were opened before the
audience.
It was found that the medal for
the high school was won by Miss
Julia L. Goolsby. 1t was presented
by Rev. B. F. Allen in the most
unique manner. The marriage cere-
mony was gone through with, and
the medal was given in the form of
a bridegroom.
q The medal for the grammar school
was presented by Prof. P. L. Geiger
TO Miss Euine Mayfeld.
The medals were of gold with a
raised hemisphere in the center.
The were exceedingly pretty and very
much appreciated by both winners.
Following is the high school prize
essay for medal contest:
1.-THE Evils of Intemperance," by
Miss Julia Goolsby.
Intemperance! is the greatest curse
that can be placed upon a nation.
The distilling of whiskey and selling
of same is the greatest crime that
can be committed, because it causes
thousands to be murdered every
year, homes to be blighted and many
other crimes against the laws of
God.
Would a man without a cause go
out in the world and murder thous-
ands of men, women and children?
No! Yet he will vote for liquor, sell
it and even steal it. Would man
put an innocent child in den with
a hungry lion, knowing that he would
be eaten alive? Yet he will put wine
and strong drink before one, who
knows no better than to drink it and
argue with his conscience that he did
no harm, which is very similar.
Take for instance a child of three
years. He is bright, intelligent and
happy with spotless character and
q clean heart. He is given taste
of wine or whiskey and gradually
learns to like it. At the age of ten
he may be seen slipping in at the
back door of saloon. He thinks a
little will do no harm, but the desire
grows. When he finishes at the high
school it is only by accident that he
gets through at the foot of his class.
Next he is sent to college-he loafs,
CANDLES, drinks, curses and has va
rious other bad habits. BY the time
for his graduation he is a confirmed
drunkard, flunks out and is sent home
in disgrace. Time passes, he is next
seen in a barroom playing cards.
Some dispute is started, and the re-
port of a pistol is heard-a fall and
next thing this once manly youth is
being taken home corpse. He was