Evening star., 1928-05-03
GIRL TAKES HONOR
IN VIRGINIA FINAL
Miss Josephine Sterling Wins
Championship of Northern
Section of State.

NAAC NAA1AAAkAIA Qi0N0A Va
northern Virginia last nigh: in the Wiz
Einia district finals Of the Fifth Ma
tionsl Oratorical Contest,
With six boys already chosen as The
representatives of the Maryland district
and the five public high school districts
Of Washington. Miss Sterling is the only
girl SO far in The Stars contest area
to triumph over masculine forensic
powers TO win a district championship,
Unless a girl wins in the private and
parochial schools district finals tomor-
row afternoon, the Virginia champion
will be the only girl contender for the
ii-veek tour OF Europe, and its accom-
panytng honors in The Star nnals one
week from today.
STAGED In the auditorium Of the
washington-L High School, the Viz
Sinia district finals meeting last night
fairly briStled with thrills and luSty-
llnced enthusiasm. There were quiet,
easy starts. there were bolting starts and
even falfering starts in the field of fo-
renSic racers for the Virginia champion
ship There was neck and neck compe-
tition between most of the runners, and
fsying finishes by the whole fleld. Wit
Messing the spectacle was tense, eX-
cited audience that packed the orches-
torillm. which might just as well have
been q pennanted grandStand erected at
the finish line of the race. And of
course. there was the board Of judges TO
name the winner.
Kemp Welcomes Throng.
Fletcher Kemp. superintendent Of the
Arlington County schools. opened the
meet by welcoming the vast assembly TO
- t@sr ssxyfer - 4tNfSN
greeting the contestants and audience,
NJ. Kemp. reviewed the values Of the
National Oratorical Contest as he sees
them. The contest. he said has had
wholesome influence upon the youth by
contributing q source Of lively interest
In learning that has made boys and girls
more content with their academic lot.
making them want TO remain in school
rather than desire TO leave it."
Referring 10 the then unknown losers
IN the contest, Mr.. Kemp said that II
they have even q spark OF the fire that
placed them among the five SURVIVOR
Of the original hundreds Of participants
they'll be back in the contest next year
to carry on with greater determination
and courage.
He said that Arlington County IS
grateful to The Washington Star for
the interest IL has manifested in educa-
ton in the State of Virginia and he
commended the administration of the
Fifth National Oratorical Contest fol
the arrangements under which stu
dents IN the various districts have COM
peted In fairness and friendliness. He
took occasion to pay particular tribute
TO Miss Louise Proctor, The Stars con-
test manager, whose interest IN ano
cooperation with our school faculties
have wrought harmony and real Joy
In the contest participation"
Mr. Kemp then presented the chair
man Of the meeting. our friend and
our Congressman. Representative r
walton Moore Of the eighth Virginia
district"
Moore Commends Contest.
In his Introductory remarks, Repre-
sentative Moore declared the contest
staged annually accords the boys and
girls Of the schools the privilege OF dis
cussing the Constitution after INTEL
ligent. earnest study Of that document.
Reminding his audience that the move
rnent is sponsored by the leading news
papers In all sections of the country.
Mr. Moore commended the papers for
their interest In citizenship.
Through this contest" he said. "our
BOYS and girls are becoming better
citizens because Of the knowledge they
gain Of our Government and because Of
the appreciation Of the governmental
principles which they study: and better
citizenship based on such foundation
makes for better, happier and stronger
Nation.
'"The contest teaches children to re-
duce their thought TO writing. and 1t
teaches them the habit OF committing
TO memory what they have put into
writing"
A brief recitation OF the rules under
which the contest Is staged. and Repre-
sentative Moore started the first con-
testsnt down the forensic track toward
the championship.
Miss Dolly ChambIln Of Round Hill
was the first speaker, and as she made
her bid for victory with q speech on
The DEVELOPMENT Of the Constitution, .
sne impressed her audience with heH
quiet, naatter-of-fact, and apparently
rerveless manner. Miss ChambIin was
calm throughout her Grafton. which
she presented in seven minutes and 2s
seconds.
Miss Sterling the Winner.
Then Miss Sterling took the floor
Her frs. words, uttered with feeling
ard In sweetly Sonorous voice thai
carried enunciation proudly, seemed u
fash, BY some mysterious route, the
news that here. IN this pretty. bobbed-
haired girl, was q winner. Miss Sterl-
ing talked ONT was on THE Present
Eignffcance Of the Constitution" thai
she spoke-And her audience was held
fast The time passed rapidly, u
seemed 10 the uaoccupied listener, anc
when there remained only i've seconds
for her 10 complete her speech, ths
WashingtOn-Lee girl brought her ora.
ton 70 a neat conclusion.
One outstanding feature Of MiEs
Eteriings oKatoTy is that IL Is speech
making and not dranatics. But for all
the forensic quality Of her speech this
girl does not strive 10 blast femininity
10 the four winds In favor of q mock
masculine manner In which the attrac-
tive elements Of the woman public
EpeakeY are traded for strained vocsi
thunder. Miss Sterling is true 10 hei
bex. yet she never forgets that she IA
delivering speech, and deliver" shs
ogo la&t night
Miss Lucy viii was the third speaker
or the program. Representing tn
WsrYeuton High School. she did nobIl
witn her oration on THE Development
If tne Constitution" Miss WIN Taad'
EJch d good impression on the tire
Judges that when the ballots we're com
sJ3led the ratings had given her sseofis
nonorS and, therefore, position of on
cal alternate 10 Miss Sterling. Mis-
WITS speech is q well CONSTRUCTED
treatise On her chosen subject and iIe
delivery includes well controlled infiec
Tor and emphasis.
W.th the three giTls on the program
presented Representative Moore re-
l.eYed the natural tenseness VI the D.
Tn0spneTe by announcing selection D.
the Mckinley Technical High fsefop
Orchestra Any luil 10 the actual ora
t0rleel program Wa8 the nnsnnounee'
ejRnsl for o0nYersati0n that suigeo IN
lenRta 40 nfeaALh u the audltoTl4fn