Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-26
THREE SCHOOLS
SELECT ORATORS
Harmon Francis, Viola Bar
rett and Bessie CuSh
Win in Contests.


Nirginias progress in the fourth Ma
tional Oratorical Contest took two
more forward steps yesterday when
two additional schools of the Virginia
district selected their spokesman
Harmon Francis, 1S-year-old senior OF
the George Mason High School of Del
Ray, and Viola Haywood Barrett, To-
senior of the Alexandria High
School. won the honors to represent
their respective schools in the coming
group and possibly Virginia finals
contests for the second time. as each
represented his school in the contests
last year.
While the Virginia schools We're
selecting their spokesman, Notre
Dame Academy (for girls) chose its
representative in Miss Bessie Cush
and thus the fast-growing list of Sc
lected orators for the private and
parochial schools district received an
other entrant.
Is Among Youngsters.
Miss Barrett. the winner of the con
test between students of the AleXan.
dria High School held during school
hours yesterday. is one of the young
est entrants in the oratorical contest
She is only 49, while the age limit
and the age of most of the contest
ants is 10 years. But few years
evidently mean nothing to this girl
for her victory yesterday was her
second similar conquest-she repre-
scented her school last year also.
Her Grafton on THE Meaning of the
Constitution Today" won against a
field of meritorious speeches on sub
jects akin to hers. The entire student
body of the school, of which Fl. T.
Moncure is principal, and a. few "out'
siders' crowded into the auditorium
for the speech making battle Of the
year. The judges were r. c. Bowton.
superintendent of public schools in
Alexandria; Miss Harriet Springman
and Miss Mary Booth. Alexandria
school teachers. and Charles Henry
Smith of the Virginia State Legisla-
ture.
Miss Barrett is the daughter of Rob
ert South Barrett, and their home is
at 404 Duke street. Alexandria. In
the high school she is active in ath-
letics as we'll as the club functions.
She goes out" for basket ball and
tennis, and she is a member of the
Pep Club and the Literary Club of
the school. Following her gradua-
ton from the high school in June,
the young orator intends to go to
the College of William and Mary to
prepare for career in social service.
Won Last Year.
Like Miss Barrett. Harmon Francis
who won the right to represent the
George Mason School of Del Ray last
night, is school victor for the second
time. He held that honor last year
and, strangely enough, his alternate
in the contest a year ago, Clarence
Hawkins. 16 years old. won second
honors again this year with his era.
ton on "Jefferson's Contribution to
the Constitution.
Young Francis subject was John
Marshall and the Constitution and
it won from three other orations
The auditorium of the school was filled
with an enthusiastic audience of stu.
dents. parents of students and others
who were interested. musical pro
gram completed the round of activi
ties, which amounted TO a veritable
gala holiday
Harmon Is looking forward TO the
field of engineering, and when
this June he will make ready TO enter
George Washington University. where
he viii study hydro-electrical engi
neering. Scholastic activities, in
which he stands high, do not require
all the time Of this young orator, how
ever. for he is a three-letter man in
school athletics. The all-star foot ball
championship of the northern Vir.
GINA region was captured by Har
mon, who seems to have emulated
the famous wearer of the big "77' on
his athletic jersey--for this young
Virginian also carried ice during the
Summer. As a matter of fact. Har.
mon Francis conducted his own ice
business.
Girl Plans to Study Law.
The Judges of the George Mason
High School contest were William
KIeysteuber, mayor Of Potomac, Va;
Walter c. Stone, attorney in the De.
partment of Justice, and Rev. w. v.
Miller. of Alexandria. Rev. John s.
Sower, pastor of the Potomac Baptist
Church, presided as chairman of the
meeting.
A potential lawyer carried off the
oratory honors in Notre Danes final
contest held during the school session
yesterday. Miss Bessie Cush, 17-year.
old senior of the girls academy, won
with her Grafton on 1.-THE Constitu.
ton" before the entire school body, In.
Guiding students and faculty The
meeting was one of the most enthu-
siastic school meetings held and when
Miss Cush was declared winner by the
jury of three judges the whole stu
dent body expressed it's determination
to root" for their entry in her group
finals to be held in the George Wash.
ington University. April s.
The judges were Rev. John Mahoney
S. j.; r. J. holland, S. j., and Fran
els J. Coyne, $. j.
Miss Cush is the daughter Of Mrs.
William +. Cush, POI street north.
east. Following the completion OF
her studies at Notre Dame, Miss Cush
says she will study law at George
Washington University Like nearly
every orator, she is active in athletics
also, and she has been captain of her
schools basket ball team for three
years.
In addition TO her athletic and
scholastic work she has time also for
her social and club affairs of the
academy. She was president of last
years Junior class. and she is vice
president OF this years graduating
class.