Evening star., 1928-04-11
GIRL ORATOR WINS
At FALLS CHURCH
Mary Shreve. IS. a Sopho-
more, Is Chosen-Boy Takes
District tx" Place.

The contestant field in the Virginia
districts first group meeting of the
fifth National Oratorical Contes, Spon-
sored by The Star, scheduled to be held
at Falls Church tomorrow night, was
completed today when the Falls Church
High School announced its spokesman
as Miss Mary Fairfax Shreve, Is. a
sophomore.
simultaneously, Albert H. Mills of the
Abingdon High School. Abingdon, Pa,
was designated champion of District
*" in the national competition. Dis
trict "X' is open to students who live
in territory not within the area of any
OF the So newspapers. Mills, as its
sponsoring champion. will compete in q
national semi-final meet at Raleigh,
N. c.. for the right to enter the national
finals here May 26.
Girl Repeats.
Her victory won with an Grafton on
THE Development of the Constitution"
Miss Shreve repeated her conquest Of
last year when she represented the Falls
Church High School in the group phase
OF the contest. This diminutive con-
teStant is daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
E. A. Shreve of Dunn Loring. Va, and,
although she admits she isn't certain
yet just lat she wants to do after
her school days are over, she hopes to
study at William and Mary College. At
present her time is occupied with her
studies and a little basket ball.
Speaking on THE Present Signifi-
canoe of the Constitution" Albert Mills
won the championship of district TX"
through the verdict of three judges:
Stanton j. Peelle, former chief justice
of the United States Court of Claims;
Miss Clara McQuown, Washington
lecturer, and Capt. E. K. Rawson, u. S.
NJ, retired Mills Is II and a senior.
In his next action in the contest the
district TX" champion will compete in
his own right in field of newspaper
representatives for a place in the ma
tional finals and the grand prize OF a
three-month tour of Europe
Last year Miss Alta G. Christianson
of Chippewa Falls, Wis, champion OF
district TX" took close second honorS
in the bid for the European trip and
q place In the national finals here. She
was defeated by Carl Albert OF Nc
Alester, Okla.
District "X" Strict.
The contest operates in district TX"
in accordance with strictly enforced
pian set up Dy tue uatioual COuteSt
Office. One speaker Is designated in
each school by its principal as the
representative of that school in the
contest.
In making the designation the prin-
cipal is required TO certify the pupils
age and school status and that the con-
testant was chosen in a public speak
ing contest. A school representative
may not be designated without actual
speaking competition. The principal
and the pupils teacher in English are
required also to sign a statement that
they believe the contestants speech is
his own work. The manuscript of the
contestants Grafton is then sent to con-
test headquarters. where the winner Is
chosen through his written work. Man
uscripts submitted not in strict accord
with the rule governing district "x'
were not considered.
Through district TX" and the zones
in which the contest is sponsored by
one OF the So newspapers. every high
school student in the United States,
provided he is under 10 and is not
taking a postgraduate course after
having completed his regular high school
course. is eligible TO compete in the
National Oratorical Contest.