Evening star., 1915-11-27
YOUNG ESSAY|STS
WITH BRIGHT IDEAS
Writers on "EIectricity in Ev-
eryday Life' Actively Conn.,
peting for Prizes.
BOYS AND GIRLS URGED
TO SUBMIT THEIR VIEWS
Rules of Contest Confne Productions
to $50 Words-Electric Prosperity
Week Soon Here.

Use your eyes" is the best advice
that can possibly be given to those
schoolboys, schoolgirls and grown peo-
pie of the District who are competing
for one of the prizes in the essay con-
test on Electricity in Everyday Life
This contest has been arranged in con-
nection with Electrical Prosperity week,
which opens here, as it opens through
out the country. Monday, and is being
conducted by The Star in conjunction
with the Electrical Prosperity week
committee.
No doubt good ideas will come from
your own home. where some special ap-
plication of electricity. such as an IN
terphone system, a vacuum cleaner or
an electric radiator for that cold cor
ner in the nursery or bathroom, not to
mention such usual. everyday matters
as the telephone. the doorbell and the
electric light-things you take for
granted-can be described as regards
the steps and worries they save
New Ways to Utilize Electricity.
But remember that the big and lat
tie wizards who work along electrical
lines are constantly finding new and
unheard of ways to utilize what once
was regarded as just "lightnins, and
that these new wrinkles are always to
be seen in business establishments,
hotels, and most especially in the
stores, sooner than they are in houses
and apartments. After they are IN
vented they must be offered for sale,
and 1t is in the stores and al this time
Of wear. shortly before Christmas, more
than in any other that they may be
seen in their greatest variety.
One Washington man last year con-
nected his wife's sewing machine with
an electric light socket SO that 1t ran
beautifully without any footWork on
the part of the seamstress. Perhaps the
father of some girl or boy eligible TO
enter the contest has done the same
thing. Never mind, says the Contest
Editor, about the technical SIDE OF
electricity, but be keen for aspects of
its practical application.
Essays Arrive in Large Numbers.
Already essays are arriving in the
contest editors mail in large numbers.
and a lot more are expected early next
week Remember that the contest
closes at midnight December 2, and
get your essays in early. If you are
a prize winner you may receive hand
some electric lamp. useful eiectric
grill, a teakettle. curling iron, a
shaving mug, heating pad, an IRON or
one of a number of other valuable
prizes, handy household articles OF
standard quality. which can be op-
Grated with electricity.
There will be four classes in the con-
test. with eight prizes in each, SO that
there will be thirty-two prizes in all,
and each person who competes by
writing an essay will have a good
1f oh Univ
Classes and Prizes.
The classes in the competition and
the prizes offered are as follows:
General public-Any one allowed to
contest-First prize. an electric lamp;
second prize, an electric percolator;
third prize, an electric grill; fourth,
nth. sixth, seventh and eighth prizes,
electric candles.
washington high school pupils-First
prize, electric chafing dish: second prize.
tourists combination iron outfit; third
prize, electric curling iron or electric
shaving mug; fourth, fifth. sixth, sew
enth and eighth prizes, electric candles.
Pupils in Washington public school
grades from the fifth to the eighth, in
cIusive-F'irst prize. electric teakettle;
second prize. electric heating pad; third
prize, travellers electric iron; fourth,
Nftn, Slxtn, seventh anu eiSHtH prizes,
electric candles.
Pupils in Washington public school
grades from first to fourth, Inclusive
First prize, childrens electric range;
second prize, tourists electric iron out
fit; third prize, electric toaster; fourth,
dfth, sixth, seventh and eighth prizes,
electric candles.
Good Way to Earn Christmas Gifts.
This contest is an excellent oppor-
tunity, point out those in charge of
1t, to earn Christmas present for
some member of your family or for
some one to whom you are under obli-
cations.
The judges Will grade your essays
| in pretty much the same way a teacher
| in school would. The papers will all
| be marked on a basis of 100 per cent
| in this fashion:
| Subject matter. 40 points; spelling.
| IL; grammar. 20; general neatness. 20;
handwriting, 5.
This will be good practice for the
regular work of pupils in school.
The judges will be John C. Nc
| Laughlin, chief clerk, Potomac Electric
Power Company; h. C. Graham, presi-
dent National Electric supply Com