Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-04-13
HIGH SCHOOL NOTES.
(By Ben King H.rned.)

In the fall OF 1904 under the sup
ervision of Miss Mills. then prin.
cipal Of the High Scsool. the Henry
Clay debating society was organized
for the boys. The purpose OF this
society was to perfect the boys in the
art Of speaking Joe McCarroll was
elected first president Of his organi-
zation. A regular debate was held
each week and each meeting was con-
Quoted under strict parliamentary rule.
In the spring Of 1905 a great en-
uragement come to the boys in
the form Of a meet held at Marion.
As a result Of this meeting the prin-
cipals Of the High Schools perfected
the organization for an annual ortor-
ical contest. The first Of these meet
ings known rs the Western Kentucky
Oratorical Contest Was held in Hop
k'rsville. and Caldwell Feland repre-
sented the High School. The annual
contest gave a wonderful impetus
to the work the boys were doing in
the literary society and each year
il was the hight Of every boys am
bition to represent his school in the
contest. There were always many
competitors for the honor and II was
necessary TO hold a preliminary TO
determine the representative. Harry
Cate, Oglesby Soyars, Henry Abbitt
and Edward Moseley were some Of
the representatives who won honor
for themselves and glory for their
school in the Western State Confess.
BESIDES furnishing q speaker for
the orator.csl contest. an annual de-
bate was always held. In these de-
bates the boys never failed TO up
hold the lofty ideal and principles Of
that great Kentucky stateman. Henry
Clay.
When the societies were first or
ganized there were only one hundred
students and when the school roll
grew 70 three hundred it became
necessary to have t. organizations.
In 1914 the boys Of each class were
equally divided into ::le 'iceronian
and Delphian societies. Under thus
system every boy was compelled to be |
a member and each Friday one les
son period was omitted for the week
" program. At length il was dis
covered that the societies we're hand
capped by having Seniors and Fresh
men work together and two years
ater under the direction of Prof.
Hoffman everything was reorganized-
Under the present organization the
Juniors and Seniors compose one so
,iety known as the Henry Clay and
the Freshmen and Sophomore form
the Jenersonian.
The work is held alter school and
is not compulsory but a credit TO /
ward graduation is sVsn for n four
year eou:se. Ur ler this arrangement
the societies are composed Of only
the best material from each Of the
classes and excellent work has been
done. by both organizations, all Of
the year. The meetings are held on
Monday afternoons and there is al |
ways a good program. At the roll
call each member responds with a
quotation from some standard author
and the unexcused absentees are
fined. Recently a special time for
rigid parliamentary practice has been
provided for, which is always enjoyed
by the boys and often forms the
most interesting part Of the work.
Heated discussions are held to inn
peach officers or TO expel members,
on account Of insanity or sometimes
on the charge Of being Pro-German.
All Of the practice is conducted in
a friendly manner and the members
are greatly benefited by II. The Hen
ry Clay Society held mock trial in
the chapel in January and members
from both Of the organizations hope
TO participate In a deelamatory con
test during commencement week.
The societies are assursdly doing .