The Holbrook news., 1922-12-08
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school pupils of the nation have been won by Stanley
 - 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 than 100000 elementary school children from every state. ter ,ritory and possession, said to be the largest number ever to participate In national essay contest. As a reward The is entitled to a gold watch and trip to Washington, where he will be the guest of officials of the Highway Education board, the National Automo- bile Chamber of Commerce. which of- fered the prizes in the contest, and dignitaries and officials of the nation.
 Miss Merlene Beck. 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 54 gold medals and checks for SIS.
 The San Diego boys essay was chosen by a process of elimination. The best state and territorial essays were finally submitted to a national committee named by Dr. John J. 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 Senator CUeman du Pont, Delaware; Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, Estes Park. Colo, chairman applied edu- cation department of the General Fed eration of Women's Clubs. and Dr. William T. Bawden,, Washington, as sistant to the commissioner of educa. tion-
 At the dime the essay was written the national winner was thirteen years old. He is the only son of a wid- lowed mother, and says his ambition is to be an editor. His watch will be presented to him by Dr. Henry C. 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 superintendents of schools. Stan- ley Newcomb is a boy scout. and is said by Superintendent Johnson to be one 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 lone their own thinking. Some contribu- tions that contained excellent sugges- ,;tions were not in essay form. The Judging by the committee was con- ecientious and the contest was so close that at the end 1t was necessary to enforce the regulation limiting the number of words. l am delighted to see now widespread Is the interest In these contests, not only among the children but also among the parents. The thought the children are givine 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 aeen regarded as the foremost aid to the grim reaper. rDeath.' It 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 awaking to the fact that we are fsc-