The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-30

Columbia. April 25.--Last night I'm
the chapel OF the University of South
Carolina new epoch was begun in
the history OF the development of the
high schools of the State and a
movement was set on foot that must
inevitably result In untold good when
the first annual State high school or
atorical contest was held to select
the best orator OF the high schools.
Twenty-four high schools were en-
tered for the contest, each school
sending one contestant. Yesterday aft
ernoon the preliminary contests were
held to select the eight who should
compete for the honors. The "a were
divided into groups OF skies and from
each group two men were selected to
enter the contest at night and one
man was given honorable mention.
Furman Herbert of the Sumter high
school was awarded first place. Mr..
Herbert, whose subject was Our Re-
united Country" spoke with great fire
and aggressiveness.
Harlan Wood OF the Spartanburg
city high school was awarded second
place. Mr.. Wood. although only a boy
In knee trousers. bested many of his
older opponents. delivering in excel
lent style and with a marked degree
of oratory his speech. "Eulogy on
Henry woodson Grady"
j, c. Watkins. who received honor.
able mention for his speech on PRO
'eetion OF Suffrage" was decidedly one
OF the-b speakers OF the night. be-
Ing perhaps the most at ease on the
foos OF any of the speakers.
The eight young men who survived
the ordeal OF the afternoon prelimi-
naries marched into the chapel
promptly on time. headed by X. c..
Burts, head master OF the Furman
fitting school. who has taken such
prominent part in the development of
high school athletics and oratory.
Those who say that oratory is dead
I'm the South-that no longer Is the
South mother OF orators-men OF the
calibre of Calhoun. Finckney. Preston
and Hayne. should have been present
To hear the contest of the high school
boys last night The manner i'm which
each speech wa delivered and the Sc
lection reflected sreat credit both
upon the individual and his teacher.
Each man went through his speech
without stumble. something that
even a set of trained college orators
often fail at.
Prof. III C. Davis OF the University
OF South Carolina welcomed the high
school orators to the university and
In few appropriate remarks intro
duced the presiding officer of the oc-
casion. II. c. Burts. Mr.. Burts told
In few words OF the first high school
athletic contest which was held In
Columbia I'm 1910 ~ the invitation of
the University o. South Carolina and
how II was repeated In 1911 and 1912.
He told OF the decision of the commit
tee To add oratory to the athletic fea-
lures OF the meet i'm 1913 i'm order
that the hoy Who does not get to go
To school may avail himself OF the
chance To learn how to speak and i'm
thn phase at least taste Of college
life.
The judges Of the contest at night
~ere DIR. .. A. steel w. T.. Gonzales.
w. @. Belscr. August Kohn and ]. ].
McMahan. DIR. steel delivered the
medals to the winners. following an
appropriate talk.
Following is the list of the speakers.
their subjects given in the order in
which they spoke:
Tanning Weldon, Hastoc. The Last
Charge OF the old Guard"
III. T. Weaver. Dillon, From the
Start - the Goal"
Marion O'Neal Furman Fitting
school The March of the Flag"
James Poag. Greenville. "Eulogy on
Henry M'oodson Grady"
Harlan wood. Spartanburg. "Eu-
logy on Henry w. Grady.
Bruce stribling. Richland. Defense
OF an ex-Slavc."
j. c. Watkins. Anderson Fitting
school. Protection of Suffrage"
Furman Herbert. Sumter. our Re
united Country"
The judges Of the preliminary con
test In the afternoon were: Prof. Pat
terson wsrdlaw. ~. G. Davis. H. a.
Wise. Il. W. Crair. Rev. j. %. Rcavis,
X. e.. Burts. a. u. McFaddin. Hunter