Evening star., 1925-05-12
YOUTHFUL ORATORS
ARE SPEED|NGH HOME
Triumpha' Return Awaits
Them.-Visit Mount Ver-
non on Naval Yacht.

Six young oratorical champions are
journeying today toward a triumphant
entry in their home towns, in far
flung parts of the United States The
seventh, Miss Asenath Graves, resides
In Washington.
Several of the orators caught trains
for home soon after returning late
yesterday afternoon from their notable
trip down the Potomac River to Mount
Vernon as personal guests Of the Sec
retary of the Navy and Mrs. Wilbur
The remainder were due to check out
today or tonight.
Among the latter was 15-year-old
Robert Sessions of Birmingham, Ala,
who takes back to Phillips High
School the title of national scholastic
oratorical champion. Bob came here
with his whole family, composed Of
his proud parents and two young sis
ters, and they had difficulty in pulling
the honored youth away from the
scene of his glory and back to his
waiting studies in the Junior class At
Birmingham.
Secretary's Interest.
The river trip yesterday came as
grand finale to the round of entertain
ment which had been arranged for the
young visitors by The Star. Secretary
Wii~ur, intensely interested in young
America and thoroughly appreciative
Of the patriotic qualities of the na
tional oratorical contest, generously
turned the L. S. S. Slyph over to the
finalists and their parents and
Furthermore, dropped his work at the
Navy Department to go along also in
company with Mrs. Wilbur and with
his aide, Capt. Gherardi, U. S. n.
With the Secretary's colors flying
above to bring naval stations and
craft en- route TO salute, Capt. Wen
zell started the Sylph out of the Wash
ington Navy Yard at 1:30 pm. and
Immediately thereafter an elaborate
luncheon was served on the quarter
deck. Mess attendants from the presi
| dental Yacht Mayfiower assisted the
| Sylph's crew in serving the meal.
Points Historic Spots.
Secretary and Mrs Wilbur were in
troduced to each of the guests by Col.
| and Mrs. c. Fred Cook. representing
| The Star as host and hostess. respec
lively, and during the trip down the
| river the Secretary personally pointed
| out the places of interest. with the as
| sistance of Capt. Gherardi when his
| memory was faulty.
Unable to work the Sylph inshore
| because of the shallow water at the
| dock in Mount Vernon, Capt. Wenzen
| in command of the ship. anchored in
midstream and conveyed the party
! ashore in Admiral HutchinSon'S barge,
| which had been sent ahead for the
purpose. The group was met at the
! wharf by Supt. Dodge of Mount Yer
non, who conducted Secretary and
| Mrs. Wilbur and their guests on a
| tour of the shrine. starting at the
| tomb of Washington.
| Poses for Photos.
| The Secretary posed several times
with the contestants for the benefit
of two staff photographers of The
Star, who are preparing material for
| a pictorial booklet to be presented to
each orator as a souvenir Of their
visit to the National Capital
| Already late for a social engage
ment in Washington. Secretary and
Mrs Wilbur returned by automobile
after completing an inspection of the
| old manor house and outbuildings.
and, to assist one of the contestants,
Philip Glatfelter of Pennsylvania, to
catch a train home took him and his
mother back with them.
| Capt. Gherardi remained as special
representative of the Secretary, and
took charge of the party for the trip
back to Washington. Because of A
menacing storm cloud the officer sug
gested that the party not lnger too
| long. and at five minutes to the
Sylph again got under way.
| Before going ashore the young
orators and their friends gave a ris
! ing vote of thanks to Secretary and
Mrs. Wilbur and Capt. Gherardi, say
| ing they would never forget their
| first visit to Washington.