Evening star., 1930-05-02
WINS IN ORATORY
UNDER HANDICAP
Miss McKim Delivers Address
While SorroWing for Friends
Hurt in Accident.

Shaken by news that five of her school
chums and teacher were injured when
their automobile was wrecked while
speeding to Bethesda, Md, to hear her
speak, l8-year-old Frances Gertrude
McKim of st. Mary's Seminary steadied
herself last night to win the Maryland
State championship of the National
Oratorical Contest with a composure
and perfection of gesture and tone that
assured her the unanimous decision of
the judges.
When the young woman began the
delivery of her Grafton in the auditorium
OF the Bethesda- Chevy Chase High
School, Leland, Md, before an audience
which had gathered from four Mary
land counties to hear the contest, the
only evidence Of her disturbed nervous
state was a slight trembling of her
hands that disappeared when she
warmed to her subject, THE Constitu-
ton; Guarantee of Personal Liberty"
Ably Develops Theme.
With considerable dramatic ability
and an enthusiasm which caught and
held the attention of her hearers, she
developed her theme, showing the
gradual growth of freedom Of the
individual in America and its embodi-
ment in the Constitution and succeed
ing amendments.
Although Miss McKim was the first
favorable position, each of the three
judges awarded her first place by a
large margin. Her victory assures her
q place in The Star area finals here
May 8, the prize for which is two
and-a-half-month tour of Europe in
company with the six other zone
champions.
Award for Championship.
As reward for winning the Maryland
state championship, she was presented
q check for 500 by Oliver owen Kuhn,
managing editor of The Star, sponsor
Of the contest In this region. Mr.. Kuhn
also made awards of gold medals, en-
blematic Of county championships, to
each of the four young orators.
The winner of the contest, slightly
built girl, is the possesSor of a full,
melodious and clear voice which was
audible in all quarters of the large audi
torium.
The daughter of Mrs. Mary Golden
McKim of 1701 Ellamont street, Balti-
more, Md, she is a senior at st. Mary's
Seminary. AT contest in Leonard
town, she was chosen to represent st.
Marys County in the State finals. She
expects to become a librarian.
Second place in last nights contest
went to Dorothy E. Bean, is years old,
Of Hughesville High School, Charles
County, Sh~ spoke on 1.-THE Constitu-
ton; It's Framers," attributing the pres
ent greatness of America to the body
of men who constructed the framework
Of our Government. She is the daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. j. Milton Bean of
Waldorf, Md, and wishes to study
teaching when she graduates from high
school next year.
Other Contestants and Topics.
Other contestants and their subjects
were Wilson Tyrrell, II years old, Be-
theSda- Chevy Chase High School, Mont
gomery County, 1.-The Constitution
Meeting the Revolving Demands of a
Changing Generation" and Beulah May
Beall, Is years old, of Marlboro High
School, Prince Georges County, Eek
Civil War"
Senator Millard Tydings of Mary
land, who was scheduled to preside, was
unable to be present because of a party
caucus. His place was taken by Rep
reSentative j. Charles Linthicum, dean
OF the Maryland congressional delega-
ton, who explained to the audience the
purpose and something of the history
Of the National Oratorical Contest.
Mr.. Kuhn presented the medals and
the check following the announcement
OF the judges decision by the chairman.
Judges Of Contest Listed.
The judges were DR.. Wesley M.
Gewehr, head Of the history department
OF American University; Mrs. Anne T.
Renshaw,. director of the Renshaw
School OF Expression, and Stephen e.
Kramer, assistant superintendent of
Washington public schools.
Music for the occasion was furnished
by the Washington Boys Independent
Band. under the direction of C. j.
Brown, tr. The contest assembly was
closed by the audience singing "The
Star Spangled Banner"