The Washington times., 1925-09-12

The girl, Mrs. Ruth Griffith
Burnett, is doubly happy, for she
earned the wonderful trip with her
pen. She learned today that she
had written the best essay on
what the Motion Picture Means
TO Me-" in the nationwide Greater
Movie. Season Contest, sponsored by
the Motion Picture Producers and
Distributors of America. Inc, of
which Will H. Hays is president.
Her husband Jesse Burnett. is
tust as happy, for didn't he always
| tell her she ought to try her hand
at writing?
The pair and their baby, probably
the youngest person ever to start
such a long trip, will sail from New
York on the Red Star liner Be.gen.
land on November 25, to return
April 6, 1926.
Other Winners Surprised
Winners of the, other prizes are
just as surprised today. They are
Mrs. Lawrence G. Wood, of Tulsa,
Okla, who won the second prize,
two trips to Los Angeles, and c. l.:
Westerman, of Breckenridge, Colo,
who won third honors, two trips
to Miami, Fla. Both will stay two
weeks.
Mrs. Burnett is a minister $
daughter. and taught school for
! two wears. Mrs Woods says she
is just a housewife Il intended
to accomplish great things when |
left college," she said today, but
love and MARI age came to me, and
l am content now to let the rest of
the world do the big things.
Mr. Westerman is eighty years
] old, is a civil war veteran, and has
been deaf since the Battle Of Weeks
burg.
The more than 100000 essays
were submitted TO the leading news
papers OF the country, which con-
Quoted the contest.
Local Essays Splendid
The local winning essays were
published, and sent to the national
| judges. The essays submitted to
The Washington Times were called
splendid, but those written by the
| prize winners were considered
| better.
The national judges were George
Barr McCutcheon, president of the
Authors League of America; Alice
Duer Miller. noted author; Richard
Washburn Child, famous writer and
former Ambassador to Italy; and
Doctor s.. Parkes Cadman, president
of the Federal Council of Churches.
Doctor Cadman was called abroad
and could not return in time TO
take part in judging the contest
and he appointed as his representa-
tive Doctor George Reid Andrews.
chairman of the committee on
Educational and Religious DrAT q,
of the Federal Council of Churches.
The prize-winning essays follow:
WHAT THE MOTION PICTURE
MEANS TO ME-
By Mrs. Ruth Griffith Burnett, In
dianapOlis, Ind, winner of first
prize two trips around the world
on the Red Star Liner BeIgen-
land in the National Greater
Movie Season Contest.
Sing us a song was the de-
mand Of yore and the wandering
minstrel complied. AS he sang the
song of Valor there unrolled before
the eyes Of his listeners q picture
to teach. to inspire and to enter
tain them.
Tell us a story was the de-
many Of our fathers from the oasis
of the freight And as the story
teller, beloved and admired, told the
story there unfofded before the eyes
OF his hearers picture to teach, to
inspire and to entertain them.
"Show us a picture" is our de-
mand, and 10, we are given the
ma gic of real picture with the en-
chantment of the minstrel and the
charm of the stoFy-teller.
In the broadness of it's scope and
its capacity for the portrayal Of
things great and small. the motion
picture shows me history, science,
are and literature From India,
with its swarming highways, to
barren Alaska, the world is mine.
the generous gift of the camera.
Because it depicts humanity the
motion picture inspires. It's subtle
sermons are abiding.
1t takes from my tongue the
timid II can't" and in its place
puts q brave I'll try"'
1t lightens the corners of pride
and indifference and makes me a
little more sympathetic, more toll
Grant and more fit to take my place
beside my fellow men.
1t entertains me. 1t draws me
without my accustomed self and
lets me laugh until the tears come.
or sit upon the edge of my seat
in suspense. 1t makes me glad to
be alive.
Education. inspiration and enter
tainment These three the motion
picture mean to me.