Evening star., 1927-05-18
ORATORY OFFICERS
ATLEONARDTOWN
"AIeck" Loker, Star Region
FinaIist, Is Given $500
Award.

IeonardtoWn demonstrated yeSter'
day that the National Oratorical Con
test is not all battle between contend
ing speechmakers when it received
with it's traditional hospitality the
officials of the contest and The Star
who had journeyed to it to present to
one of its sons part of his merited
rewards.
In the old courthouse, set in a
grove of trees upon the bank of
Breton Bay, William Alexander
Loker, the Leonard Hall School senior,
who by his oratorical prowess won
the right to represent this region in
the national finals. received a cash
award of $500. Fleming Newbold,
business manager of The Washington
Star, made the actual presentation of
this papers gift to its champion, and
there ended the business" of the day.
Made Business Pleasant.
Even that business session" was
made a pleasant gathering. The ST
Mary's Academy, another Leonard.
town school, whose representative
had been defeated by "Aleck" Loker
in that same court chamber In the
initial stage of the contest, supplied
music for the occasion. Little Laura
May Church, only 10 years old and
SO tiny she had to stand upon an ele-
waited platform to be seen above the
music stands, directed her class
mates in their concert-and her mu-
sicfans, too, were all about her own
age.
AS a feature of the musical pro-
gram. between the brief addresses of
the principals in the presentation
ceremonies "Alecks' sister, Fran
ces, and her classmate, Frances Ellis.
sang duet, Dreaming of Old Sweet
Home" The young vocalists were
accompanied by S-year-old Zita Hal
ler. who played a violin almost as
large as she, and Merriam Drury,
pianist, and a next-door neighbor of
the Lockers.
Invited to Luncheon.
After the meeting in the Court
house, Mrs. William NJ. Loker. the
champions mother, invited the Wash
ington party and several Leonard
town folk to her home for "a bit of
luncheon" On the way TO the Loker
residence, however. the party visited
Camp Columbus. the Summer camp
of the Leonard Hall School. After
viewing Breton Bay. the party was
photographed and then continued a
short distance on to the Loker home.
The luncheon was delightful fam
ilv affair and one Of the guests re-
called the song Of the two girls back
at the Courthouse-"Hom The meal
was one of the nationally famous
Southern Maryland chicken dinners,
and it was enjoyed along with pleas.
ant conversation, in which AlecK
took an active part.
List of Guests.
Mrs. Loker's guests included Broth.
er Ambrose. director of Leonard Hall
School; Brother Walter, member of
the faculty: Roland E. Duke, mayor
of Leonardtown: DR.. c. Hayden,
Leona ~dtown physician; Mr.. Newbold
and Miss Nancy Newbold, his daugh'
ter: Randolph Leigh, founder and di-
rector of the National Oratorical Con-
test; Miss Louise Proctor, contest
manager of this region: Robert Per-
kins, photographer for The Star, anc
Charles B. Degges, staff correspond
ent of The Star.
Following the luncheon, members of
the Washington party, with the
brothers and students OF Leonard
Hall. visited the school and its
grounds. During the tour OF the
school Prother Walter, teac' Hr or
English, told of the added Interest
tha. his students have taken in his
subject since the contest entered st.
Marys County. and declared that
teaching English now is picnic
Some Returned Early.
Some of the Washington visitors
were obliged to return soon after
lunch, and those who remained longer
were driven all the way back to the
Capital by Brother Ambrose in com
pany with Brother Walter. "Aleck
and other students OF Leonard Hall.
Leonardtown had proved that the
contest is not all battle b Ween con-
tending speech-makers.