Milford chronicle., 1935-08-16
SELBYVlLLE GIRL
WINS SUSSEX CONTEST
Elizabeth Lee Murray. 15-Year.Old
Junior, Wins League Prize

Selbyville High School Junior, wal
announced yesterday as the winner
Of the American Liberty League Es
say Contest in the Sussex county d.
vision.
Third of the sectional winners &c
be chosen, she will receive a $25t
college scholarship, and become ell.
gible for the grand award Of $1,000
competing with the successful en-
trans in New Castle and Kent coun-
ties and the city of Wilmington.
Miss Murray is the daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Joshua Lee Murray, OF
Selhgville. After completing another
year at high school, she said she
will enter SwarthmOre College,
where she has been registered as a
prospective student since she was
eight years old.
Widely scattered throughout the
county, ten honorable mention win
neTs were also announced by the
League through it's director, LOris
A. Drexler, at headquarters in Will
mington. Carrying awards of s.
each, these places go to:
Dorothy Joseph, of Milford. a stu
dent at the Milford High School;
Sara Ella Thompson, of Seaford, a
student at the SeafOrd High School;
Jane Torbert, of Laurel, Laurel
High School; Elisha E. Long, of Sell.
byville, Selbyville High School;
Vivian J. Shute, Milford, Milford
High School; Elva Aretha Neff. Mil
ton. a student at the Lewes High
School; Louis S. Deputy. Laurel,
Laurel High School; Grace Belts of
Ocean View, Lord Baltimore High
School, and F. Virginia King of
Bridgeville, BridgevilIe High School.
The winner of the Sussex prize
has been an outstanding scholar
throughout her academic career.
Consistently at the head of her class.
she has never received a grade OF
less than an "a" since entering
school. An accomplished speaker
and debater. Miss Murray has won
every school defamation contest
from the time she was six years of
age, and last year was a [inaiist in
the State trials. She is musician of
wide local repute, playing both the
piano and violin.
Miss MuTray's paper. "The Con-
stitution and It's Place In American |
Life" was chosen from a large field |
representing high schools in all
parts of Sussex county. It is sim
pie, yet eloquent plea that the prin-
ciples of liberty will not be permit
ted to fade.
$50 long ss our people remain
virtuous and intelligent, our govern
nlent will remain stable" she writes.
''While they clearly perceive and
honestly decree justice, our laws
will be wholesome and the princi-
pIes of our Constitution will COM
mend themselves everywhere to the
common sense of man. But should
they become ignorant or vicious, or
should their decisions become the
dictates of desire and veasiity, that
very moment are our glorious lib
critics at an end"
The contest, open tn high school
students of the upper grades
throughout the State, was sponsored
by the League through its desire to
arouse renewed interest in the Am
erican Constitution. Contestants
v ere allowed a wide latitude in
choice of discussion. any phase of
the Constitution being permitted un-
der the rules.
With the announcement OF the
third winner, interest mas grown To
a high pitch. Only the Wilmington
prize winner remains to be MADE
Lublic, following which the choice
of the grand scholarship awar'l Will
be made. 1t is expected that the
iudges will fully complete their
work within another week. Thus lar
Two girls and one boy have quail
fed for the final competition: Miss
Murray. virginia SOckrider, of Mil
ford, Kent county winner, and Reed ;
Stearns. of Newark, who carried on
.op honors in the New Castle coun- [
" section
League officials again expressed
heir pleasure and satisfaction Doth {
N the high quality of tie papers !
unlimited and the wide interest that
he contest has aroused among {
ichool children. The discussion ana J
,eading attendant to the actual pre- \
eutation of the hundreds of essays \
has created a "Constitu-
in the State that q
he League feels will have large b
enefits. =
"I feel safe in saying that there 1
las been more study of the COnsti- L
ution in the past few months than \
n many years." Mr.. Drexler COM
nented today. "Up until the time the n
ontest closed every reference book n
n the Libraries was in use. Such a E
-ide and intensive interest is bound Il
D show itself in a better under
landing and appreciation among n
he young people for American 6
ieals and traditions" T
The Leagues purpose in fostering
he competition. 1t was said, was al
olely for the purpose of promoting
lis study. The directors and ON n
ers felt that at a time when the n
end in the Federal government
was toward change or disregard OF dt
le Constitutes" that the functions 81
/ it's basic law might be advanta-
sously brought to public scrutiny. al
he plan of sponsoring an essay N
,ntest among young people was F
,nceiyed as an effective medium to "
srform this service and at the VI
me tima focus attention upon the M
,cuEoent in the schools. 81
at Is IN the classrOoms of today
at the problems Of tomorrow are Fl
ling solved" said Mr.. Drexler. al
Jpon thorough understanding