Evening star., 1926-05-08
|PAST IS GOOD OMEN.
FOR D. c. ORATOR.
Remarkable Speaking Ability
of Miss Posey Stirs Hopes
of Eastern High.

If the developments Of the first two
national oratorical contests count for
anything, Miss Myrtle Poscy OF East
ern High School, who won a place in
the national finals by winning the
championship Of Washington and
vicinity yesterday, should make an
excellent showing in the national
finals. Eastern Is the second high
school which has won place IN the
national finals two years in success.
sion. The Phillips High School Of
birmingham. Ala, won n place In the
national finals In 1924. and its repre-
sentative that year was given NTH
place in the national finals. The next
year Robert Sessions, also IL repre-
sentative of Phillips High School, not
only won q place IN the national
finals, but won the national champion
ship itself.
In the 1926 contest the Representa-.
tive Of Washington and vicinity, OF
Eastern High School, won NTH place
In the national finals. This year the
representative OF Eastern High School
would seem to have an excellent
chance to duplicate for her school the
progressive success achieved by the
Birmingham High School.
All the Eastern High School cohorts
are calling attention enthus usiastically
to this promising parallel and hopes
Of great victories ahead run high. III
addition they point To the remarkable
speaking ability Of their representa-
tive.
Subject Aids Chances.
Miss Posey has Increased her
chances for the national champion
ship. it seems, by the subject which
she selected, namely, Americas Con
tribution 10 Constitutional Govern
ment.' This is the broadest of all the
themes permitted in the contest and
at the same time is treated by the
Washington champion with due re-
gard TO the Importance of details. 1t
is probable that most of the fnalists
will speak on the subject OF the Con
stitution or the relation thereto OF GER
tain statesmen. The contrast, there
FORE will be In favor of the speaker
or the speakers developing the new
theme.
Miss Posey will speak tifth in the
meeting of June !. The speaking or
der for the contestants, which was de-
termined by lot drawings made by
Frank b Noyes, chairman Of the
American publishers committee, Will
be as follows:
First place-Winner at Philadelphia.
Second place-Winner ut Los
Angeles.
Third place-Winner at Chicago.
Fourth place-Winner at Louisville.
Fifth place-winner at Washington.
sixth place-Winner at Kansas city.
Seventh place-Winner at New
York.
Trips Through Europe.
All seven Of the national finalists, az
companied by chaperone and the
national director, will be taken on a
tour OF Europe. sailing from New
York on July and going through
France, Italy. Switzerland, Germany.
Holland, Belgium, England and Scot
land. The party will sail from Liver
pool in September, landing at Mon
treal after n trip up the 81. Lawrence
River in the most attractive time Of
the year to see that magnificent
waterway. In addition to this trip
abroad for each national tinalist, Il
handsome silver loving cup will be
given tho national champion as a
trophy. The winner OF the national
championship Will compete in the in
ternational finals to he held In Wash
ington October Is, 1926, when the rep
resentatives of England, France, the
United States, Mexico and Canada will
participate.
The judges at the national finals
June will be Chief Justice Taft and
Associated Justice Van Devantcr San
ford, sutherland and Butler