Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-29
boy, a, winner
MIGRATORY MEET
John Oscar Bell Takes HonorS
at Alexandria; Girl Is
Manassas Victor.


young soldier. standing youthful
guard against an older field, fought
for-and wOn--coveted honors for his
school in the first group meeting Of
The Star National Oratorical Contest
area last night in the Alexandria High
School, while 500 students and parents
cheered and sighed at his victory.
John Oscar Bell, jr.. cadet sergeant,
historian and potential diplomat of the
Washington-Lee High School. which
was the youngest" school to send n
spokesman into oratorical battle, won
first place In the first Virginia district
group contest with his Grafton on
THE Benefits of the Constitution"
Girl Wins Honors.
Before the smoke of battle had lifted
ut Alexandra another winner was
chosen in the second Virginia group
contest. held at Manassas late this
morning. Competing against two boys,
Mary S. Pattie won first place with
an grafton on 1.-THE Constitution"
Miss Pattfe defeated Henry G.. lfer-
rell of the Haymarket High School.
talking on Lincoln and the Constitu
ton" and Frederick S. Leinbach of
the Swavely School for Boys, who
spoke on 'rhe Constitution" -
In winning in the Alexandrla group
contest Sergt. Bell. IA years old, won
a place in the Virginia district finals,
which will be conducted in his own
school April 7. In his victory last
night he defeated Miss Viola Barrett,
16. of the Alexa ndria High School,
who was adjudged winner of second
honors; Harmon Francis, 18, of the
George Mason High School, and Miss
Jennie Wards, II, Of the Lee-Jackson
High School.
Audience Is Enthusiastic.
The contest last night was perfect
in the enthusiasm of the audience and
In the craftsmanship of the contest
ants themselves. Warned by the
chairman that applause during q
speech would handicap the orator, not
sound was heard from any quarter
of the auditorium during the speaking
periods. The hackers of the speakers
displayed great craftsmanship in the
silence they held during the addresses
of their representatives rivals.
Miss Jennie Wards was the first to
speak. Her subject was 1.-The Con
tribution of My State to Constitu-
tional Government" John Bell,
second: Harmon Francis was third,
with John Marshall and the Consti- !
tuition" and lastly Miss Viola Barrett
delivered her Grafton on 1.-THE Mean
ing of the Constitution Today"
The winner walked manfully from
his place on the stage to a position
near the edge of the platform. He ,
spoke easily and clearly. while his
gestures were those of the veteran
measured they were. His natty blue
uniform, cut by the cleaning white
Sam Brown belt, was reflected reas'
suringly in the uniforms of just so
of his "buddies" out there in the au.
dience, and while he spoke one nat /!
urally thought of West Point and the |
manly men who speak there.
Friends Hold Celebration.
Although allowed 10 minutes for i
the delivery of his speech. Sergt. |
Bell required only 71a minutes to !
send his opponents down to emphatic !!
defeat. The announcement of his +
victory by Charles Henry Smith.
member of the Virginia State Legis-
lature and chairman of the meeting, /
was a signal for a veritable riot of /
enthusiasm. Sixty uniformed cadets /
of Bells company who had journeyed !
TO the hostile battle-ground to root for |
their schools representative dashed |,
for the stage. Selling the happily be- |
wildered Bell. they hoisted him to !
their shoulders and, amid the cheers /
and applause of their Civilian" con- |
tingent, they rushed him to waiting /
buSses.
Unknown to the little non-com, |
Ludwig, faculty director of the cadet |
corps, with the assistance of the com |
pany, had prepared a buffet supper |
at his home for Bell--win or lose |
and it was there the shouting mob |
bore their champion.
An hour later. the young orator /
reached the home Of his mother. |
Mrs. Frances c. Bell, a teacher of |
languages in the school the boy at !
tends. Waiting with his mother for !
his return was Mrs Marie Malott, !
head of the English department, and |
his teacher. Mrs. Malott was chair !
man of the oratorical contest commit
tee OF the Washington-Lee School. and |
1t was she who worked so hard with |
her boys and girls to prepare them !
for the coming contests.
May Win Higher Rank. /
John is a real boy and he made that |
clear In a brief chat with q reporter
for The Star. Admitting his small !
stature handicaps him in athletics,
John said he has concentrated all his
reserve energies on the cadet corps.
but has since been promoted to SER
geant, and they do whisper that his
victory last night, coupled with his
good drill work, has merited for him
a promotion to the rank of lieutenant.
AS for his soldering, John Bell
comes by it naturally. Another John
Bell crossed the Pacific some years
ago when the Federal Government
needed military aid in the Philippine
instruction. In that service, the other
John Bell was decorated for bravery
and he was Johns father. who died
here later. The spirited little orator
himself was born out there in Manila
and before he was 4 years old he had
crossed the Pacific Ocean three times.
He said last night he didn't remember
any of that, but that he rather felt
the experience would serve him In ex-
cellent stead in the event of q certain |
European trip this Summer.
Hobby Is Stamp Collecting.
Johns hobby is stamp collecting, and
that. and his love for history, COM
bine to give him knowledge of world
affairs that furnish a wealthy back
ground to his grafton last night. He
is particularly interested in the affairs
OF England, and once through high
school, he says he wants to go to
Harvard University to prepare for the
diplomatic service-and through those
years at college he must work his
way, he tells you in a mighty manly
sort of way.
In his fight for oratorical honors,
John defeated six girls of his own
school and he says he believes he can
..beat any girl" But he was speaking
then of girls in oratorical contests and
not eIseWhere-er-a-tha is another
matter. When he got home last night,
he explained to his waiting mother