Evening star., 1939-02-09
Poetry Group
EntertainS
Winners
Dinner rendered
Undergraduates
In Contest

The poetry group Of the Wash
ington Branch of the Association OF
University Women entertained the
winners in its annual undergraduate
poetry contest at a dinner last night
at the A. A. U. w. clubhouse.
Mrs. Horace Torbet, committee
chairman of the contest conducted
by the Martha MacLear Poetry
Group, presided and announced the
winners.
Rex LoWman, a Junior at Gallau-
det College, was awarded first prize
for his poem. Ulysses Remembers"
Barbara Below, a freshman at Will
son Teachers College, second prize,
for her poem, Third Sonnet and
for her contribution, "Nascitur Mus," "
and Miss Solange Strong, senior at
American University, third prize.
First honorable mention went to
Elizabeth Hanlon, Junior at Trinity
College, for "On Seeing Renoir's Por-
trait: second mention to Jean Sart-
well, senior at American University,
for "Velasqueth to Ell Greco" and
third mention for his "Ballade OF the
Stardust Trail" to Cecil R. Mar
tin, freshman at University OF Mary
land.
The poems of the winners were
read by Miss Alberta Walker.
The guest of honor and speaker
was Oscar Williams, New York poet,
who read from his own poems, con-
trasting his early work to those OF
later years. Mr.. Williams encour-
aged the young poets present by
his contention that writing great
poem is more important than hav-
ing a bank account. He spoke trol
experience, he asserted, as for pc
Rod of many years he ceased writ
ing poetry in order to make a flnan-
cial success. Later, he continued,
he gave up his financial ambitions
to return to poetry.
"Poets should not stick to one form
Of poetry" Mr.. Williams advised.
After mastering one form they
should go on if they wish to progress.
Poetry has taken tremendous strides
since the 1920s." he added, "and
there is a feeling of greater re-
sponsibility and consciousness among
contemporary poets of today"
Gustav Davidson of the Congress
sional Library was also a guest at
the speakers table, and it was re-
called during the evening that at
one time he and Mr. Williams were
associates in poetry publication
venture.
Among those present were Mrs.
Robert Oleson. president of the club;
Miss Ruth Henderson. Mrs. Vernon
Kellogg. Miss Pearl Cooper, Miss
Elizabeth Peet, DR.. gWinifred Rich
mond, DR.. Carrie Weaver Smith,
Mrs. Richard Hogue an Miss Mary
Louise Brown.
The art appreciation group of the
A. A. U. w. will hold memorial
service at pm. tomorrow at st.
Johns Church in honor of Benjamin
H. Latrobe, the architect who de-
signed the church. DR.. Oliver j.
Hart, rector Of the church, will pre-
side, with the assistance of Thomas
T. Waterman of the Historic Ameri-
can Building Survey.
A program of organ music will be
presented and a poem written by
Latrobe for the original dedication
more than 100 years ago will be read
*k
Miss Ella L. Smith of London will
speak at the International Relations
Committee forum luncheon of the
University Women Saturday at lis
pm. Her subject will be What
Were the Issues of the Spanish
War;"
Miss Smith has visited in both the
Ioyalists' and insurgents territory In
Spain.
Mrs. John Donaldson, chairman
OF the International Relations Com
mittee, will preside and Miss Irene
Wright, member OF the committee,
will lead a discussion.