Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-25
Henri R. M. Van Hoof, II,
Wins International Con-
test Cup Here.
.ENTRANT FROM CANADA
AWARDED SECOND PLACE
Selection of Youthful Speaker From
Holland Proves Popular With
Crowd.

A smiling young Dutchman last
night won the world championship ir
high school oratory when he delivered
two speeches in his native tongue tt
capture a speedy verdict in the sixth
International Oratorical Contest finals
at Constitution Hail.
Henri r. M. Van Hoof, l7-year-old
Overveen, Holland, student, was the
winner Of the contest. He spoke first
on THE Royal House of the Neither
lands" and then. extemporaneously on
Holland and the Future"
Canada's French-speaking entrant
Gerard Cournoyer, 10, of Quebec, won
second place and Martin Krieger, II
of Berlin, Germany, was third.
Robert Gibson Rayburn, the IT.
year-old American entrant, captured
fourth place, although only the first
three positions were announced at the
finals.
Decision Was Popular.
In recognition of his victory. young
Van Hoof was proclaimed world cham
pion by Friedrich w. Won Prittwitz und
Gaffron, Ambassador from Germany
who announced the findings of the
board of multi linguist judges. The re-
suit appeared to be the most popular
decision ever presented to an Inter-
national or National Oratorical Contest
audience.
When the applause OF the more than
1000 persons who filled Constitution
Hall to overflowing could be halted
momentarily, Randolph Leigh, director
general of the contest and chairman OF
the finals, introduced DR.. Frank w
Ballou. superintendent of d. C. schools
DR.. Ballou's efforts to make a brie1
the cleaning silver trophy to the
happy Dutch youth were drowned
when the audience burst into renewed
applause as it realized its accepted here
was receiving the reward of victory.
The judges whose decision proclaimed
the young Dutchman the champion
speechmaker of the world were: Migue
Cruchaga Tocornal, Ambassador OF
Chile; DR.. Jams Herman van Royen
Minister of the Netherlands: DR.. Marc
Peter, Minister of Switzerland; DR.
Junior College, George Washington
University; DR. Richard Henry wilson
head of the department of romance
languages, University of Virginia, and
DR.. Paul G.. Gleis, head Of the depart
ment of German, Catholic University OF
America.
Made Second Speaker.
AS in previous years, each contestant
delivered first a six-minute prepared
grafton which he had committed to
memory. At the conclusion of his first
effort, each contestant left the stage,
carrying with him a slip Of paper
bearing new topic on which he was
to speak for four minutes extempo-
raneously on his return to the stage
The extemporaneous topic was taken,
in each case, from the contestants own
prepared speeches, so that each boy
was subjected to an oral examination
OF his knowledge of his chosen SUBJ
ject.
Contestants Take Places.
The contestants took their places on
the stage as the orchestra completed a
stirring selection. Their appearance
was a signal for enthusiastic applause
from the audience
Randolph Leigh, director general of
the contest, opened the meeting with
a brief introduction of DR.. Cloyd Heck
Marvin, president of George Washington
University, the Introductory speaker of
the evening.
DR.. Marvin reviewed the Importance
Of the spoken word in international
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