Evening star., 1928-05-03

School, was the first Of the two youths
to be presented by Mr.. Moore.
Blackwell walked TO the center of
the stage He uttered word: 1t sounded
strange to him. Wait! That's wrong!
It-excitelnent or nerves or one Of the
woes of the public speaker aSsailed the
lad at the wrong instant and for the
life of him he couldn't launch his
speech. A murmured cue from his
principal seated In the front of the hall
and he was of.
Playing the air with his Grafton on
The Present Significance of the Con-
stitution." Blackwell strove valiantly to
overcome his unfortunate start Ef;
recovery was striking and he carried on
to the middle of his speech He was
making his impression, maybe It
wouldn't be so bad after all. But the
ghost Of fallen orators made a dying
grasp at him again. This time for a
brief instant, for Blackwell shook of
the suggestion of memory lapse to talk
on to the conclusion of his speech. 1t
was game effort.
Lynch Concluding Speaker.
The concluding speaker vas Ray
mond Lynch. carrying the colors OF the
Lee-Jsckson High School. with his orc
ton, The Present Significance OF the
Constitution" OF lighter vocal weight
than Blackwell, young Lynch sought
TO pound away with occasional bursts
OF high-powered voice. His speech
was a fitting conclusion for the pro-
gram, for it ended the contest with a
bang.
Music came TO the rescue Of frayed
nerves again while the judges wrote
their verdict. Then it was time for
some awards. and Oliver owen Kuhn.
news manager of The Star, was intro
duced for that duty.
Mr.. Kuhn sounded the audience per-
fectly when he vouchsafed that 1t did
not want him 10 deliver speech; ap-
plauSe greeted the idea. However. a
few words must necessarily accompany
the presentation Of prizes and Mr.
Kuhn declared that in these times when
there are those who would pull the very
foundation stones from beneath Amer
lean principles. I'VE have erected a
dyke which will weather all storms OF
adversely" with this vast army Of 2,500.-
900 young American boys and girls who
are preaching the doctrines Of sound
! government.
| AS the audience expressed its ap-
| proval Of the speakers assertion, Mr.
| Kuhn presented Randolph Leigh, the
| founder and director general Of the
National Oratorical Contest, whom he
declared was responsible for the present
! wave Of patriotism which Surrounds
| the contest. A rising vote Of indorse-
ment was given TO Mr.. Leigh by the au.
| dience. while the contest founder bowed
his appreciation.
Kuhn Presents Checks.
With brief greetings TO each Of the
| contestants, Mr.. Kuhn presented this
newspapers check for $40 TO each oi
| the young speakers. This amount, Mr.
Kuhn explained, was won Ny them in
| their group contest victories earlier in
the contest.
Representative Moore came TO ths
| front once more. this time 10 give tbs
audience the news 1t awaited. This
crowd waited breathlessly as the words
The winner Is Miss" but at ths
first syllable Of Josephine" 1t went
| wtidl
And again, like so many of the con.
| test meets which have preceded ths
| Virginia finals. the judges sat In the
midst Of the bedlam, reviewing their
| handiw0rk, as It were. Last night
| Jury" was composed Of DIR. q. B
| Woods, dean Of the College Of Liberia
| Arts at American University; Miss M
Pearl Mccall, assistant United State
district attorney for the District oI
Columbia, and Dorsey Hyde, jr., secre
tary OF the Washington Chamber o.
Commerce.