Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-03
Easthampton High
Wins LyfOrd Prize
Speaking Contest

Francis Shaw Of Eastampton high
school won the first prize of $50 at
the fifteenth annual Lyford prize
speaking contest held Under the aus
pieces of Colby college at the Colby
chapel last evening. John Floyd Bur-
ton won the second prize of $25 and
Howard D. Fowlie of Hebron academy
and Cornelius James Darcy of Bidde-
ford high school took the third and
fourth prizes Of SIS and $40 respec-
lively. The speaking was all Of a
high order and ii was not until after
long period of elaboration that the
judges were able to reach a decision.
A large audience of nearly 500 people
heard the speakers and their work
was much appreciated.
The Lyford public speaking prizes,
amounting to total of $100., is made
possible by the gift Of Will Hartwell
Lyford. of the class Of 1879. of Chi
cago, III. The contest is held annual
ly and is open to the young men of
the preparatory schools of Maine,
New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
The purpose Of the doner was to en-
courage public speaking and awards
are made for general excellence in de-
Clamation. The prizes were awarded
by the judges on the basis of so
points, Of which Interpretation count
ed IS. appearance Is, and pronouncia-
ton 10.
During the afternoon the prelimi-
nary contests were held in the vari-
Gus lecture rooms of the college.
There were 6S contestants represent
ing IL schools. the largest ever enter
ell in the contest since its Inaugural
ton. According to the rules of the
contest the selections could not be
over six minutes in length and were
excerpts from speeches given by we'll
! known statesmen and public speakers
in comparatively recent years.
From those speaking in the prelim-
inaries In the afternoon, the best
speakers We're chosen to take part in
the finals held in the Colby Chapel in
the evening. In picking the speakers
! for the finals Professor II. c. Libby
who was in charge of the contest, was
assisted by other members of the fac
! ulty and by members of the senior
class who have eXcelled in public
speaking during their college course
| Taken as a whole the speaking was
| of a very excellent grade and many
, Of the subjects We're highly interest
| ing. This made it very difficult for
! the judges of the preliminaries to pick
! the contestants for the finals.
Those chosen to speak in the even
| ing were George Edmund Fletcher
! Strong high school: Howard ID. Fow-
| lie, Hebron academy Cornelius James
Darcy. Biddeford high school ;Johr
Floyd Burton. Wcstbrook high school;
| Harry Glovsky, Bererly high school;
Halcolm Muchmore. Maine Wesleyan
seminary: Reginald r Wilson. Bangor
high school: Arthur Nadeau, MEREDITH
high school: Taylor d. Clough. Gould'
| academy; James p. Ashworth, Oront
high school; Francis Shaw, Eastamp
| ten high school; John Davis, Omar
| Hall, Henry A. Wuestefeld. Coburn
and Coverlie Mfchaud, Watervill'
high school.
The presiding officer for the even
ing was Professor Thomas b. Ash
craft. The judges for the group con
tests held in the afternoon were Fro
| fessors Herbert l.. Newman, Hcnr!
f Thefethen, George T. Parmenter
Winthrop +. Stanley. and Lester F
Weeks: with the following studen
Judges, Manley o. Chase. Russell NJ
! Squire, Percy G.. Beatty, Oscar t
| Bonn and Clarence s. ROddy. Th'
Judges for the final contest were Pro
i fessors Ernest C. Mariner. chairman
Curtis II. Morrow. Clarence ii. White
and Herbert c. Libby.