Evening journal., 1917-04-18
Nr. George Carter. Editor o
y EVENING JOURNAL:

Nr. George carter EullOI Nl III
~ EVENING JOURNAL:
Ny dear Mr.. Carter-Now that the
contests for the current school year
are over. It occurs to me that because
Of the prominent part you have had
In making them possible, report
would be interesting and certainly due
you.
AS you will remember, you secured
he two cups that were offered as
prizes for our County Spelling Con-
tests two years ago. This contest
greatly stimulated the interest in spell
ing throughout our county and innu'
enced. to some degree. at least the
other counties. for when ii was an
nounced this last fall that there would
be a State Spelling Contest, teachers
and spoilers everywhere in the state
zot busy At the teachers institutes
81 Kent and New Castle Counties con-
tests were held that would determine
contestants for the State contest In
Sussex county preliminary contests
were held later for the purpose or
choice of delegates for the later con-
Test
The State Spelling Contest was held
contestants present from each county.
The words for the contest had been
selected by Professor +. NJ. Noble,
superintendent OF Schools OF Caroline
County. Maryland, and were pro
nounced by Rev. Victor Lightbourne,
OF Dover. In the first contest OF 100
words but three or four OF the fifteen
pupils missed a word. These were eX-
msed and the others were asked TO
spell again. In this second contest but
nftv words, the most dificult Of the
list OF 100 words we're pronounced.
Eight OF the contestants again spelled
correctly every word OF the list, thus
making e impossible TO determine the
winners of the two prizes offered by
l. Scott Townsend, Esq, OF Whining
ton
This failure to determine the win
ners made necessary further contest
which was held recently in each coun-
Nv BY the superintendents in connec-
ton with the teachers examinations.
The list OF words was this time Sc
lected BY DR.. Chas. A. Wagner, and
contained words so difficult that It
was believed a decision must be reach.
ed. A careful study Of the papers
showed that Miss Violet L. Morris. OF
Harrington. had missed fifteen words
from the list OF so words. and Miss
Anna Wagner, OF DUPONT School, six
Teen words These girls. therefore,
won the $50 and $40 gold pieces re-
spectively
The announcement in the fall Of the
public speaking contests for which
kn
cellent service. OF your paper, soon
showed signs of responsive interest,
and this interest grew constantly un'
iii. when the preliminary contests
we're held. a real spirit of enthusiasm
was clearly in evidence. The writer
had the pleasure and honor OF heinl
one of the judges in the contests o.
the Wilmington High School, anJ
Kent and New Castle Counties. Il
these contests the young people diI
themselves and their schools ant
leachers great credit.
~ The State Public Speaking Comics
was held In the Opera House in Dove
on March s. The first contest wa
one between eight High School cor
festants. two from each county. AM
Two from Wilmington. In this contes
lhe Wilmington High School wol
FIRST and second places, thus winning
the silver trophy cup presented b.
Nathan Miller, The High School con
tst was followed by a contest between
six grammar school pupils, two from
Wilmington and two each from Ken
and New Castle Counties. This con
test was won by a pupil from thu
Newport School
School men from other States whit
we're present at these contests. weri
deeply impressed with the excellenc,
OF the work done and spoke in thu
highest terms of praise of the skill
shown by the speakers.
AS one interested with you in on
efforts 10 secure the prizes tina
should be the stimuli for the con
tests, we wish to say that the success