Evening star., 1924-05-09
GIRL ORATOR MAKES
HISTORY LIVE ANEW
Judges In Stars Contest Hear
Miss Edith Miley, Senior at
Business High.
OTHERS SPEAK NEXT WEEK
Five Contestants to Be Heard Be.
fore Winner Chosen.

Memories Of great Americans of the
past who gave their lives devotion to
the Constitution lowered over the
Business High School yesterday aft
ernoon, when Miss Edith Miley, popu-
lar senior presented her Grafton be-
fore the judges in The Stars orator.
cal contest.
1t was as il the long line of con-
stitutionalists - Washington, Frank
lin, Madison, Hamilton, Lincoln and
the rest-stood within hearing as the
modern girl outlined her conception
of the immortal document upon which
this country rests.
The high school auditorium was
crowded with the pupils of the late
afternoon classes when Miss Miley,
chosen as the winner in her school, in
The Stars zone of the national con-
test, was escorted to the platform by
Principal Allan Davis
Outlined against maroon curtains,
the slender girl launched at once into
the delivery of her Grafton, The Con-
stitution." In the audience, half way
judges, Justices Siddons and Mccoy
of the District Supreme Court and
Justice Robb of the Court of Appeals
Judges Leave Tasks.
The judges had left their impor-
tant tasks at the courthouse a few
minutes before, and, in an automobile
of The Star, been taken swiftly to the
Business High School.
From the days of the constitutional
convention to May s, 1924, the years
unrolled before the judges, the teach
ers and the pupils as the girl orator
presented her case" to the judges.
She is one of the eight local con-
tenders for The Stars grand prize of
$500. The justices are hearing the
eight contenders one by one. When
the last is heard next Tuesday they
will select the winner and the alter
nate.
President to Preside.
President Coolidge will preside at
the final national contest, to be
staged at the Memorial Continental
Hall, scene of the great conference
on the limitation of arms, on June s,
when the six other zone winners will
compete with the winner in this zone.
Perhaps 1T was owing to the fact
that Miss Miley was the only con-
testant heard yesterday that the SIM
pie grandeur of the Constitution of
InlS country seemed 10 lInpeI every
one in the audience to the deepest
silence as she recited her Grafton.
In the past two contestants have
been heard each day and next week
three will be heard on one day. But
yesterday there was but one con-
testant to be listened to and her
theme epitomized the contest: The
Constitution"
Heroes Of Past Live Again.
She stood alone, telling of the his
tory and clauses of the great docu-
ment, on which nation is founded
and as she did 50, history rolled back
ward, and the heroes of past decades
moved in their busy lives again.
Z. At the conclusion of the address
the audience vigorously applauded
the girl orator, who represented the
hopes of her school-that she may be
winner in this city, and then winner
in the national contest.
Being the only orator of the day,
as stated, she stood as the symbol
Of the efforts and hopes of the other
seven local contestants, who are be-
ing judged silently day by day. Those
close to this contest declare. that
never, before IN the history of the
Continued on Page S, Column q