Evening star., 1926-10-05
BR|TA|N'S ORATORY
CONTESTANT HERE
william M. Newton Elated
Over Courtesies Extended
FinaIists in Mexico City.

tHS TcCSptAou given Tic A'A1Aeo AAA
the International Oratorical Contest
in their recently completed trip to
Mexico City, William Meades New
ton, representative OF England in the
contest, reached Washington today.
He will rest for the next few days
in preparation for his competition
with the French. Spanish. Canadian
and United States spokesman. in the
Washington Auditorium the evening
of October Is.
In recounting the high lights OF his
trip. Mr.. Newton said:
"Our welcome was typical of the
enthusiasm with which we were
greeted everywhere. At the station
we were met by a military band and
escort, while crowds of cheering stu
dents raised us shoulder-high. We
made brief speeches, while the girl
students flung flowers. Never was
there such a welcome for a few
schoolboys and never did we so bit
terly realize our inability to speak
Spanish. A few words of Spanish,
mixed up with English and quite
lot of French enabled us to converse
and even argue with the Mexicans,
who seemed to us a very we'll bred
and highly intellectual people.
Address by President Gales.
1.-THE day following our arrival we
were introduced to DR.. Puig. the
minister of education, and after a
visit to the beautiful white
House." called Chapultepec, we were
introduced to- President Gales. who
spoke to us of Mexico, and signed
autograph books for us. Everywhere
we were treated in the same courte-
Gus and considerate manner.
1--WE saw two shows in Mexico. In
one of them we heard the comedian
make quite good turn out Of the
oratorical contest by pretending to
make an Grafton on an advertisement
for beer.
1.-The buildings in Mexico City are
the churches are wonderful examples
Of carving and decorations. Mexico
City compares well with any city we
have seen for fine buildings and wide
streets. Within a motor drive lie
many places Of beauty and historic in
terest. We visited Xichimilco, the
Mexican Venice, where the Grand
Canal Is rivaled. We also visited the
enormous pyramids Of the Toltecs and
the Aztecs. They are immense struc-
lures and dominate a plain which is
covered with old temples full of beau
tiful carvings. For grandeur of de-
sign, some Of these can rank with
the wonders of Greece.
Curios Purchased.
1--WE all spent quite a lot Of money
buying Mexican and Indian wares.
There were curions stone idol-headS,
horsehair belts and beautifully fooled
leather goods, native pottery and
'Tecalr ware. We had lunch one day
in a cave cafe.
1.-TWO days after our arrival Ell
Universal (the chief newspaper spon-
sor for the contest in MeXico) gave
us a magnificent luncheon at Chapul-
tapec Restaurant.
Mr.. LanZ-Duret, manager of Ell
Universal, presided and the embas-
sizes were all represented. The lead
ers of Mexican life and thought were
there from universities, from business
and from newspapers. What wonder
that the luncheon lasted over four
hours with such wealth Of talent
to entertain us. All types of speakers
were there, and 1 can truthfully say
that although our Spanish is in.
intestinal, yet we grasped most Of
the points which were made.
Mr.. Gaurreque, a Fox film agent,
took a good deal Of film of us at the
pyramids, at the speaking, and after
the luncheon. On the Friday we gave
our orattons to a vast audience (more
than 5000 at the Hidalgo Theater,
and were given a warm reception.
After each speaker the band played
his national anthem. We had God
Save the King twice, once for the
English representative and once for
the Canadian representative.
Program of Festivities.
zone day we saw a cockfight in the
morning and bullflght in the after
noon. finishing up with a 'Kermesse,'
or carnival dance, at the National
Preparatory School. In a cockfight
one Of the cocks is always killed, and
this is usually by the razor-like spur
of the other cock. The whole fight is
whereas the bullfght takes much
longer. We saw six bulls killed, and
got big thrill out of the matador's
art. He risks his life all the time.
One of the matadors was a Mexican
lad Of 16, and we envied him his
grace and GOODNESS. The picadors do
not have very good horses, and the
result Is that the horse is usually
gored, which is rather horrible. A
good picador will save his horse, but
1t seemed to US that he would have
far more chance of doing this If he
had trained and quick horse.
''The quickest game we ever saw
was pelota.' and 'fron-ton,' the ma
tional game. a kind of basques. The
Mexicans play this game. a kind of
fives, as they play most games of
all countries. The players are amaz-
ingly proficient and rapid.
'The 'Kermesse' was very enjoyable
and we'll attended. We danced land
MeXicans dance all the usual steps),
and there were side shows, besides
sacks of confetti and streamers.
when we were steaming away,
how sorry we felt that we had only
week. We would all have liked to.
stay much longer. The people are
splendid and their city is amazingly
interesting and beautiful"
Commitments Americaus