Evening star., 1920-03-31

Margaret K. Beilman. seventeen-year-
old student at Notre Dame Academy,
was selected today as the winner of the
best essay In the District on what Are
| the Benefits of an Enlistment in the
United States Army?" Gladys Belfield
Of Eastern High School and Franc Hall
Schreiner of Business High School were
! awarded second and third honors. re-
spectively. The winning essays were
| selected from 1900 written by Wash
ington school children.
Miss Beilman, who lives at 3S Porter
| street northeast. is an all-around Army
girl. and her essay is based on personal
| knowledge of service life and opportuni-
ties. Her father saw service in the
Spanish-American and the world wars.
and while he was stationed at Camp
! Johnston she was with him.
The winner had the choice Of three
prizes offered by local merchants, in ac-
dition to one of the twenty-five offered
by The Evening Star. She seIected the
( $40 in merchandise offered by Lans-
| burgh & Bro, SIC in merchandise offer
ed by Woodward & Lothrop and $40 in
books donated by Brentano's book store
Winner Of Second Prize.
A gold medal offered by r. Harris
& Co., Tth and D streets; $40 worth
of books donated by S. Kann Sons
Company and two pounds of Mar
tina Washington candy will be award
ed Miss Belfield, writer of the second
best essay. Miss Schreiner, winner Of
the third prize will receive a silver
loving cup by Mayer Brothers & Co.,
937 F street; a garrison cap by the
Speciality Shop. 427 10th street. and a
silver pencil from d. Alpher, 907 G
street.
Remaining prizes will be awarded
the best essay writers in the high
schools, the best assay writer in each
public school division .and the best
writer in each parochial school divi-
sion. These winners will be announced
tomorrow.
1t is estimated that $4,000 essays
were written by the school children
: OF Washington, nearly all of the
school divisions being represented.
Winning Essay.
Following is the complete text of
! the first prize winner:
There has never been a time when
| the benefits Of Army life have been
| as numerous. Since the close Of the
| war there are a great many more ad-
| vantages than formerly.
The educational training is with
out doubt the most invaluable. 1t has
| been shown during the past few years
| that the number of illiterates in this
country is appalling. The United
States Army offers these men every
facility for learning to read and write
English. Not only that, but there are
also courses in other subjects for
| those who wish them.
I'm addition to this educational
| training it offers a young man a
chance to learn a trade. In the diff
| ferent branches Of the Army practi-
| cally every trade is included, and
! every opportunity is given for him to
| ft himself for better position in
| civil life.
| What a wonderful chance for trav-
1 q q OF IN he
Army! The soldier is given a chance
to see not only distant parts of his
own country, but foreign lands as
well, for the United States Army is
! represented in nearly every part of
| the globe.
| During service in the Army a SOL
dier is entitled to the best of medical
| attention, and it is well known that
| in this last war many men who went
| into the Army weak and delicate
| were discharged in the best of health
and physically perfect. Recreation
and healthful sports are encouraged
in the Army. and in many branches are
| compulsory.
Chance for Advancement.
| IAN opportunity for rapid advance
ment is offered the capable man.
| Every year a number of young men
are selected from the ranks to be
sent to West Point. Any soldier is
ChSlDlC 1Ol oCiSStiOIp PIONi0lHS lud L
he has shown his commanding officer
that he has the ability to become an
officer.
while in the service the soldier is
given good pay besides his clothes,
food and lodging. Mechanics, engi-
neers and other highly trained work
men receive extra pay. and the rate
of compensation increases with each
successive enlistment.
Army service has an irresistible ap-
peal for nearly all men. The friend
ships formed among the soldiers while
serving their flag and country are one
| of the pleasantest features of Army
life. In after years many one-time SOL
diers will hold the tenderest memories
Of the time they spent with Uncle SAM
knowing that because of that service
they are better men, better citizens and
better Americans -
The essays were judged by Capt John
Lewis Smith OF the Spanish American
war veterans; Capt John Thomas Tay-
lor Of the national legislative commit
tee of the American Legion and Earl
Goodwin.