, 1922-12-06
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VfX& school upil OF the nation
have been won by Stanley
49, Newcomb, eighth grade.
Lincoln school. San Diego. Cal,
who has written the best paper
in a national essay contest. according
to announcement now made here by
the Highway Education board. The
subject is: "How ! Can Make the
Highways More Safe"
Competing with him for this honor
were more thar 100000 elementary
school children from every state, ter
ritory and possession, said to be the
largest number ever to participate In a
national essay contest. AS a reward
he is entitled to a gold watch and a
trip to Washington, where he will be
the guest of officials of the Highway
Education board, the National Autonso-
bile Chamber of Commerce. which Of
fered the prizes in the contest, and
dignitaries and officials of the nation.
Miss Merlene Beck, a pupil in the
Draper (Utah) public schools. won sec
ond honors. a gold loving cup, and
James Edward Gillenwaters. Knox
vile, Tenn, was awarded third honors,
a silver loving cup In addition to
these national prizes, AIS state prizes
were given for essays. including "a
gold medals and checks for $15.
The San Diego boys essay was
chosen by a process of elimination.
The best state and territorial essays
we're finally submitted to a national
committee named by DR.. John ].
Tigert. United States commissioner of
education and chairman of the High
way Education board.
Mrs. Warren G.. Harding was hon
orary chairman of the national essay
committee. Other members were
Senate Coleman du Pont, Delaware;
Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, Estes
Park. Colo, chairman applied edu-
cation department of the General Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs, and Dr.
William I. Bawden, Washington, as
sistant to the commissioner of educa-
ton.
At the time the essay was written
the national winner was thirteen years
old. He Ia the only son of q wild
owed mother, and says his ambition
is to be an editor. His watch will
be presented to him by DR.. Henry
o. Johnson, city superintendent of
schools, San Diego. and he probably
will come East with Superintendent
johnson in February, stopping In Chi
cago to attend the national convention
of superintendent OF schools. STAN
ley Newcomb is a boy scout, and is
said by Superintendent johnson to
be me of the brightest students In
San Diego schools.
"The general quality OF the essays
was good" said Mrs. Sherman. "They
also showed that the children had Zone
their wi thinking. Some contribu-
lions that contained excellent &
tons were not In essay form. The
judging by the committee was con-
scientious and the contest was so close
that at the end It was necessary to
enforce the regulation limiting the
number of words. l am delighted to
see how widespread is the interest In
these contests, not only among the
children but also among the parents.
The thought the children are giving
this subject cannot fail to lessen the
accidents among them and Indirectly
among their parents"
Following is the text of the win
ming essay:
MARS. the mythical god of war,
has until recently been regarded as
the foremost aid to the grim reaper,
Death II is generally conceded that
the results Of his activities are now
surpassed by the increasing and alarm
ing toll of life caused by automobile
accidents.
PEOPLE throughout the land are
nwaking to the fact hat we are fac