Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-15
Easy Stage Performance.

ana the CONSTITUTION, ana MISS AHUd
Hickox, whose subject was Trans
forming the Constitution into Action"
Easy Stage Performance.
Miss Edmiston spoke fourth and
Graves followed her. Miss Edmiston
had an excellent grafton and spoke
with splendid command of the Ian
guage, but she seemed slightly nerv-
Gus She hesitated once or twice, and
once she stumbled, but the applause
that followed her Grafton was pro
longed.
Graves displayed an easy stage
presence He spoke in a strong, clear
voice, with excellent diction and con-
vincing emphasis. His Grafton was
somewhat shorter than that OF his
predecessor. but I'm 1t he had arranged
his facts clearly and succinctly. The
chief points of his speech he summed
up at the end in a brief and con-
vincing review
All the speeches were of high cali
Der, up to the standard set last year
by the group from which Miss Myrtle
Posey, winner of The Star finals, was
chosen,
Tension during the program was
relieved by the school orchestra,
which played several selections after
the third speech and following the
contest. The oratory was followed by
series of three competitive drills by
the cadet corps. The first was by in
experienced cadets, the second by ex-
perienced cadets and corporals, and
the third by sergeants.
Finals End Long Training.
The Armstrong High School finals,
staged yesterday afternoon In that
schools auditorium, was the climax
of many weeks of work by the seven
contestants and other entrants who
fell by the oratorcal wayside in the
elimination contests. Each Of the
seven speeches. delivered before a
perfect audience reflected the
wealth OF research work that each
speaker had performed in the prepare
ton of his speech.
Not the least interesting feature of
the contest meeting was the audience
of some ! 100 students and parents,
who sat throughout the period of 40
speaking minutes without so much as
A ripple of applause or a single stir
| that might have disturbed the speak
ers. G.. David Houston. principal and
the chairman, had warned that ap-
plause during the delivery of an ora
ton would handicap rather than
hearten the contestant. and interpret
| ing that warning to the extreme, all
| applause was reserved until the win
| ner had been announced, and then
there was plenty
Allen Andrews, the . 1S-year-old
champion of Armstrong. was the last
speaker to take the platform. and. in
spite of the fact that the jury had
| focused it's attention on orations for
I f,.lI H. .rsc
adjudged his Grafton best.
Spriggs Wins Again.
| Second place was awarded to How
| ard Spriggs, who has won that place
in the oratorical contest in his school
| for three years.
| Talking on Alexander Hamilton and
| the Constitution" Andrews, the 1S-
! year-old winner delivered his Grafton
| with elaboration that commanded at
| tention. His gestures were few, but
| they evidenced sincerity, and his enun-
| citation and pronunciation were excep-
| tional. After victory and it's prizes
| OF 500 and Il place In The Star finals
were his. Allen said he will study law
! at the University OF New York. striv.
| ing always to become an outstanding
! orator. His talent in this line. he said.
| he will devote 10 the advancement OF
| his race. The 800 he won will be used
| as the foundation Of real bank &C
| count. with no plans for its use save
| the security It gives.
! In a brief period between the seven
| orations Luvada Snow sang solo,
and following the speeches, while the
| ballots were being totaled. the student
body sang, under the direction of
| Ernest Amos faculty music leader.
The stage was simply but attrac-
| lively dressed. Hanging as back
| ground against the dark darperies was
a large American flag, and on the left
| side OF the platform was an easel ear
| rying "A copy of the Constitution and a
| picture of the historical ship, old
| Ironsdes," framed in the American
| shield. During the speeches the ora
| tors gestures were directed toward
| the pictorial group that was guarded,
| as it were. with stacked rifles.
The Judges were Dr. C. II. Richard
| son, James c. Waters. jr.. and A. 8.
Pinkett,