The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-04-27
BEST SPELLER
IN COUNTY Is
JANICE N A N N
Awarded First Prize In The
Contest Held Saturday
Afternoon
RUTH BELL FIRST
In ORATORICAL
Contest Was A Grand Sue
cess From Every Angle;
Many Contestants

A large and enthusiastic crowd was
present in the court room of the court
mouse last Saturday afternoon to wit
ness the spelling and oratoricaI con-
tests. Each contestant had loyal
group supporting him.
The spelling contest took place first
IN the afternoon. Twenty.eight CON
testants took their places at the ta-
bles which had been arranged for
them. Supt. Zemer then pronounced
100 words, taken from Hunts Pro.
gressive Speller which were written
on paper by the contestants. These
papers were then graded by several
teachers and the grades assembled.
IL was discovered that no decision
had been reached for two pupils had
received grade of 96%5 and two had
received a grade of 94%o. Those con-
testants making a grade of Sc per
cent each were Janice Mann of Fred
ericktown and Pauline Merrin of Ber
lin township; those making a grade
OF "a were Ruth Porter of Harrison
township and Dorothy Beckholt of
Morgan township.
A second list of words, more diff.
cult than the first, was then pro.
nounced to these four girls. After
grading, it was found that Janice
Mann had made grade of 100 per
cent and that Pauline Merlin and
Ruth Porter had tied for second place
with grade of 90. Since these two
girls were quite willing to share
equally second honor, no third LIST
was pronounced to them.
Janice Mann was declared the best
elementary speller in Knox county
for the year 1920. A suitable and
worthy banner will be presented to
her for her school during the week
of the county institute. August 16 to
20, 1920.
In the oratorical contest which i'm.
followed the spelling con.
test, eight OF the ten schools were
represented.
Rev. w. II. Shields, Prosecutor p.
M. Ashbangh and County Agent s. l..
Anderson acted as judges.
The following is the program and
the order in which the contestants
appeared:
Danville, Fern Stats, subject:
Rhetorical Contest"
Amity--llelen Motz, subject. mrbe
Down Hill Road"
fredericktown -- Henrietta Beal
subject: "Our American Birthrleht.
howard-Elva Doolittle. subject,
The Village Oracle"
Centerburg-Ruth Bell, subject.
- wv vr cr. .akpr"
r insburg Frances Bliss, sub.
1ect; "Tobe's Monument"
Gambier-Dorothy Stone, subject
Papa and the Boy"
Jelloway-FloTence Sensel. subiect
One Niche the Highest"
The senior classes OF the first grado
high schools. namely, Centerburg
fredericktown, Gambler, Danville
ana Martinsburg, were not permitted
TO participate in this contest.
The judges gave Ruth Bell of Cen.
terburg high school first place, Hen.
rietta Beal OF Fredericktown high
sehool second place, and Dorothy
Stone OF the Gambler high school
third place.
banner similar to the one award.
ed TO the winner of the spelling con.
test VIII be presented to Ruth Rel,
ior her school during the week OF the
county teachers institute.
From every angle, the contest Sat,
urday afternoon was a grand success
ana a fine tribtue to the efforts of
the Schoolmasters' club which start.
ed this work a little more than year
ago. The object was to revive the
interest In spelling like 1t used TO
thrive In the little red schoolbouse
The goal has been reached and the
work viii be continued by the county
schools with increased interest next
year.