Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
ORATORY CONTEST
NARROWING DOWN
IS School Champions to Go
Into Virginia Semi-FinalS
This Week.

Il
week when is stalwart young speech
makers representing as many Virginia
high schools meet in four Seml-t1nal
group contests to select the four com
batants in the Virginia district finals
of the fourth National Oratorica1 Con
test, April Z.
Alexandria will witness the first bat
tie between the opposing schools, when
contest is held in the auditorium of
the Alexandria High School at s
o'clock tomorrow night between the
representatives of the Lee-Jackson
High School of Alexandria, the Wash
ington-Lee High School of Ballston,
the George Mason High School of Del
Ray and the Alexandria School itself.
Contest at Manassas.
The second of the group contests
will be staged in the auditorium of
the Manassas High School at 1920
o'clock Tuesday morning, with the
following schools battling for that
group honor: The Haynarket, the
Swavely Agricultural and the
Manassas School.
Ieesburg will hold the third meet
ing in which will compete the Lincoln
High School Of Lincoln. Va, the
Round Hill High School, Herndon
High School, the Ashburn High School
and the Leesburg School.
The fourth and last of the group
contests of the Virginia district will
be held at o'clock, Thursday night,
in the auditorium of the Madison
School of Falls Church. The schools
which will compete in that contest
are the Franklin-Sherman of Mclean,
the Oakton High school. the Fairfax
High School and the Jefferson High
School of Falls Church.
Programs Are Planned.
Elaborate programs have been
planned for each of the group meet
fngs and large blocks of seats have
been reserved in each of the audi
forums for the friends and hackers OF
the contestants. These contests are
the first in the Virginia district in
which schools have competed against
schools, as heretofore, the contests
have been confined to the individual
institutions for the purpose of select
ing their respective spokesman.
Rivalry is keen between the schools
and in some instances motor truck
caravans will carry the crowds of
students and parent supporters.
Charles Henry Smith, member of
the Virginia House Of Delegates will
be the presiding officer of the meeting
at Alexandria, while the judges, who
viii select the best Grafton from the
four are Elmer Louis Kayser, sec
rotary of the George Washington
University and professor Of history in
that institution: L. r. Alderman,
specialist in adult education in the
United States Bureau of Education,
and w. T. Winds, specialist in rural
education. United States Bureau of
Education.
Following a brief address by Mr..
Smith, the young orators will come
upon the platform-one at a time
TO deliver their respective addresses.
Only 10 minutes will be allowed for
the delivery of each speech and the
audience viii lbe urged to refrain from
audience will be urged to refrain from
of the speeches as no additional time
viii be allowed the speakers for the
minutes the enthusiastic and excited
audience may squander.
Jennie Wards to Speak First.
The first speaker of that contest
will be Jennie Wards of the Lee
Jackson High School, who will talk
on THE Contribution OF My State to
Constitutional Government" Next.
John Oscar Bell, jr., Of the Washing
ton-Lee High School, will bid for
group honors with his grafton on 1.-THE
Benefits of the Constitution" Har-
mon Francis of George Mason School
talking on John Marshall and the
Constitution" will speak third, and
Viola Barrett. granddaughter of the
late DR.. Kate Waller Barrett, will
speak last, on THE Meaning of the
Constitution
John Bell will have the largest con-
tingent of hackers IL the number of
reservations made I'm the auditorium
constitutes good prophecy. His school
has had set aside for its share of the
audience 10 seats. The George Ma
son School has reserved 90 places,
while the Lee-Jackson has set aside
10 seats for its party. A student or
chestra will play in concert during
the counting of the ballots and that
meeting, like the other three, will be
concluded with the singing of THE
Star Spangled Banner
The contest at Manassas win be
held at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning
and the meeting will be presided over
by r. G. Hayden, division superin-
tendent of the Prince William County
schools. A jury of three will decide
upon the respective merits of the
three competing speeches. and its
members are DR.. c. r. c. Johnson of
Manassas. Gorge Tyler. clerk of the
Prince William County Court, and
Rev. Warren A. Seager, pastor of
st. Pauls Church, Haymarket.
Competition Is Keen.
The elimination contests at the
three competing schools have been
among the keenest of the district and
the speeches will not be easy to judge.
The first orator will be Henry G. Her
rell of the Haymarket school. who
will talk on Lincoln and the Consti.
tuition" while Mary S. Pattie of the
Manassas school, on THE Constitu.
tom will be second. The spokesman
for the Swavely Agricultural School
will be chosen in final elimination
contest in the school Monday.
Miss Pattie, spokesman for the
Manassas High School. is IS years old
ana is the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs
Luther j. Pattie. Like so many of
the contesting orators. she is active
IN the literary movements Of her
school She will be graduated in
June and next year she hopes to go to
college, although she has not vet de
cided which institution she wishes to
attend.
Henry G. Herrell, the 17-vear.o old
representative of the Haymarket
School. is the son of Henry S HerreIl.
In addition to his scholastic work ne
is active in athletics and is captain Of
his schools basket ball team When
he delivers his Grafton i'm Manassas
Tuesday morning. he viii have the
support OF more than score # Hav-
market rooters who VIII accompany
him to the scene of the battle in a
special car.
Third of Series Wednesday.
The third meeting Of the series will
}e held Wednesday afternoon at 5
k'riorix in the IAesburc High School