Evening journal., 1916-04-15
SATURDAY, APRIL IS, 1916.
SIX TROPHIES For SCHOOL ORAroRY.


SIX TROPHIES FOR SCHOOL ORATORY.
NNJHEN made yesterday an appeal for a trophy
w for oratory to be competed for by school children
in the city Of Wilmington, confident that it
would be forthcoming. It is pleasure today to
that David snellenburg. one OF our most
publc-spirted citizens has donated the trophy. In
our mail this morning found the following letter
from him. commencing the movement looking to a
restoration Of the teaching of public speaking in the
schools and giving sterling silver loving cup valued
at $50, prize for oratory to be competed for by
the school children in this city:
Wilmington, Del. April IA, 1916.
Mr.. George Carter
Editor EVENING JOURNAL,
My Dear Mr.. Carter:
The action Of superintendent Cross. aided by your
splendid editorials to revive the art OF public speak
ing in schools ought to have the hearty sympathy
ol every right minded citizen.
don't know of anything that will cultivate self
reliance in boy or girl to greater degree than
public school training in the science of oraory.
Permit me, them the privilege OF offering silver
loving cup to be contested for by Wilmington
schools the cup to be of the value the rest
of the cups to be contested for by the several counties
Very truly yours,
DAVID sNELLBNBURG
Following the arrival OF Mr. sneenburg's letter we
received telephone call from j. Ernest Smith one OF
Wilmngton's foremost lawyers and pubc-spirted
men. offering to give the prize. We thanked him. in
formed him it already had been donated by Mr.. Smell
lcnburg advanced the thought that Wilmington was
big enough for two cups instead Of one cup and sug-
sested that the sneenburg cup the first received be
made the High School trophy. and that the Smith cup
the second received be made the Grammar School
trophy Mr. Smith said that arrangement would be
perfectly agreeable him It it were approved by Mr.
snelenburg, We Immediately called up Mr.. snellen-
burg. lie said he would be only too glad to make
such adjustment ard expressed pleasure that in
teres in the welfare Of Wilmington school children
lad impeled Mr.. Smith to make such tender
We thank Mr.. Snelenburg and Mr.. Smith for their
action and the sentiment accompanying IT, Their cups
complete the list OF trophies needed to interest all
sections Of State in the movement. That list of
The gvers OF trophies for efficiency in public speaking
or oratory is follows
state Trophy-Nathan Miller OF Wilmington.
Wilmington High School rrophy-David snellen-
burg Of Wilmington
Wilmington Grammar School TROPHY Ernest
smith
Rural New Castle Trophy-Mrs seden S. Deemer,
OF New Castle.
Kent County Trophy-General A. r. Benson, of
Dover -
SUSSEX County Trophy-Former Governor Simeon S.
pennewih, OF Greenwood.
IT. may be said that never before in the history OF
Delaware has there such offering Of handsome
silver prizes for the encouragement Of any line Of
educational effort We also may add that never be-
appeal for handsome prizes. That the gifts have
been made shows two things conclusiyely. One is
that the interest in educational advancement is ACUTE
the other an appreciation of the fact that public
schools and ought teach the boys and girls to
think their feet to talk on their feet and to be
graceful and unembawassed when they stand before
audience TO express their views upon any ques-
tion.
The trophies are the outward and visible sign Of an
inward and spiritual determination in certain quarters
to take practical steps relieve boys and girls and
later men and women, Of that distractng self-con-
seriousness which prevents them talking logically CO.
herenty Interestingly and freely in public places In
o'her words to teach them, as children to EXPRESS
themselves as freely when their feet as thew nov,
express themselves when sitting down and to ad-
aress am audience With the same confidence that they
now nave when addressing an individual
The key to the whole situation is the elimination h
oay-to7aay practice, of the dstractine selfcopscs
ness which clogs the mind, prevents the proper mar
shainng OF information and ideas and paravzes th,
tongue IL is TO bring that about that the mover,on,
has been started and the silver trophies have besr
given