Evening star., 1926-04-20
GIRL ORATOR WINS
FINALS IN VIRGINIA
Viola Barrett of Alexandria
High Will Compete in Ma
tionaI Contest.

Viola Barrett of Alexandria High
School was declared the winner OF
| the contest in the finals of the Nir
ginia district of the National Oratori
| cal Contest this morning and will
| represent her school in the Star area
! finals which will he held in Wash
ington May :. This closing con-
| test among the schools of the four
Virginia counties comprising the
Virginia district took place in the
auditorium OF the Alexandria High
School. The judges were Senator
II. D. Stephens Of Mississippi and
Virginia and Joseph W. Byrns OF
Tennessee. Paul Morton. city man
ager Of Alexandria,, presided.
Miss Barrett. who spoke on the sub
ject of Marshall and the Constitu-
tion," with splendid poise. oratorical
ability and earnestnesS, is IA years
old and one of her schools most out
standing pupils She Is the daughter
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert S. Barrett Of
Alexanria and the granddaughter of
the late Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett,
nationally known lecturer and welfare
worker. Violas oratorical success as
well as her excellent advancement in
her school Studies are accounted for
herited talent in public speaking. Her
victory today entities her to a District
prize of 500. and an opportunity of
winning The Stars area award of 5000
additional, the honor Of speaking at
the national finals in the Washington
Auditorium on June 4, and a three
month tour through Europe, with all
expenses paid.
nn1 Dau Vn.,tkH dnnAnI
Second honors at the Virginia finals
went to Harmon Francis. 17-year-old
senior at the George Mason High
School. Del Ray. His grafton on
Marshall and the Constitution" was
we'll delivered. Francis is a leading
figure in all of his school affairs.
being an excellent student and a
three-letter man in athletics. Prof.
Harry Baker. jr., is principal of the
Virginia alternate's school. A num-
her of his classmates accompanied
Francis to today's finals.
Lenore Thomas, ~ years old, the
youngest winner of a school cha M
pionship reported anywhere in the
country, gave an excellent account of
WashinGton-Lee High School at Ball
grade and an excellent student She
spoke on The Constitution" She
was accompanied to Alexandria by
the seven other finalists in that
school and by Prof. j. Foster Hagan.
faculty chairman.
DabneY Waters. representing the
Manassas High School. spoke on 1.-The
Constitution" He was accompa MED
to the finals by a delegation of 20
classmates. who came to display their
interest and support. The contest in
this school. which has aroused in
school principal Miss Eugenia II.
Osbourn.
Western Finals Friday.
A report from Miss Rose Stutz,
faculty committee chairman at West
ern High School, states that the finals
in that school will be held at the Fri
day morning school assembly. with
the following contestants: Dorothy
Cook. Philap Evans, Richard Green.
wood. Robert Leonard, Frank Weitzel
and John Wheeler.
BY way of general reference to the
contest and it's bearing on school
activities this year, Miss Stutz says
There were so many more excellent
orations this year that the commit.
tee feels the contest is bringing about
zeal for the study Of the Constitution
and a real appreciation of our insti
tutions. Greater breadth of vision
and firmer grasp of our ideals is more
manifest each year. Certainly the
response has been most gratifying