Northampton Area High School - Amptennian Yearbook (Northampton, PA)

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THE ORATORICAL CONTEST 0 NE of the most instructive public performzances of our high school is the Oratorical Contest. held annually on Lincoln's Birthday. This Contest -is always looked forward to as the time when the best along the lines of elocution that the Senior Class contains is brought before the public as well as the time whensome one can earn a grand prize besides the honor of being able to speak. This year's contest was one of the grandest successes that our high school has had along this line. Every member acquitting him or her- self in the very best style. Thru the entire performance in which eight persons spoke each between 800 and Iooo words, there was but one slight stumble on one word. This, as every one will testify, isavery good record. The eight mem-bers, whom the class had chosen as the contestants were Margaret Kanyuck, Pearl Lesher, Edith Nieman, Grace Lauer. Daniel Kocher, Jacob Kaslovsky, Williani Strauss and Elmer Sh-afer. As usual four prizes were offered, tw-o S10 gold pieces. one for the best girl speaker and the other for the best boy and two S5 gold pieces for the second best of each sex. The subjects were as follows: Margaret Kanyuck ............. To Him that Hath Pearl Lesher ....... .. America, the Cruciblel' Edith Nieman .L. .. A Homeless Nation Grace Lauer . .. ..... Individual Efficiency Daniel Kocher .. ........ Made in America jacob Kaslovsky .. . A Nation VVithiu a Nation NVilliam Strauss .. ........... A Ship at Sea Elmer Shafer ......................... Amierica's Achievements For about an hour and a half a crowd that nearly filled the audi- torium was entertained by the speaking and music of the high school orchestra, then followed the nerve racking wait for the judges' deci- sion. During this time the orchestra tried to relieve the audience and contestants, but it was of no avail. So grandly had each one taken his part that nothing could quiet the great anxiety that prevailed. Even in the large audience o-pinion was greatly divided, none of the speakers -QU-

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TH E INTER-CLASS DEBATE o HE annual journey ol' the earth in its orbit around the sun brings with it lots oi pleasure, opportunities and happiness to High School students. lfVe enjoy these things in our gen- eral routine of school work. Probably the happiest time of the year for the two upper classes was the Amiuial lnter-Class Debate on the question: Reszalzfcd, That Wfar is not Detrimental to the Progress of Civilization , which was held on the even-ing of April 30th. The two hostile armies-the junior Affirinatives and the Senior Negatives-were slcirmishing around the famous Auditorium battle- ground for about live weeks before hostilities really began. The Juniors were under the leadership of H. Farber, Herman and S. Farberg while the Seniors were heroically led by Generals Kaslovsky and Shafer, ably assisted by Head Nurse Lesher. Finally the commanders of both armies drew up their forces on the famous Auditorium platform, and on the thirtieth day of April of the year Nineteen Hundred Fifteen probably the greatest battle in the history of the forensic world took place on the above mentioned battlefield. Both armies advanced and were each in turn driven back thru the skill of the leaders of both sides. Hostilities continued for some time. when the judges stepped forth and acted as a board of ar- bitrators, deciding that all maneuvers should cease and proclaimed the Seniors the able-bodied champions of the iight. To be sure. the curious crowd of spectators quickly agreed with the Judges. Immediately after the crowning of the champions the vast Senior army responded with- their impressive class songi tvg 1.3.3 - , , Q3

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holding an advantage in any way. After about ten minutes of suspense the judges returned and Att. Everett Kent presented the prizes. Isle gave a few introductory re- marks and then awarded Grace Lauer and Elmer Shafer the STO prizes and Pearl Isesher and Jacob Kaslovsky the S5 prizes. In his remarks Att. Kent plainly stated that none of the contest- ants needed to feel down hearted if they had failed to obtain a prize, for after having Hnished their parts in such a fine manner. the distinction and honor they had gained for themselves was a reward in itself. He also stated that it had been exceedingly difficult for the judges to decide just who had merited the prizes, but they had at last decided on the four mentioned above. The following are the two first prize orations: INDIVIDUAL EFFICIENCY NDIVIDUAL efhciency is, or ought to be, the highest desire of every life. To be competent. capable and efficient in some department of human endeavor. is a most laudable ambition. To be healthful. intelligent. contented, happy and at the same time use- ful, is the unvoiced aspiration of every heart. To leave the Wo-rld purer, holier, happier. richer and better than you found it, is a purpose as lofty as it is worthy. In short. to run th-e race of life successfully and win honorably bv reason of merit and efficiency, is an ambition that ought to find a habitation in every human soul. Efficiency is the science of self-management. It is the difference between wealth and poverty. power and weakness, health and disease. Efficiency makes kings of us all. Yet -it is estimated that seventy-three men out of every hundred are in the wrong jobs: that 'most men utilize only about a third of their mental and spiritual forces. Does not this show us that the American people should strive for efficiency? The American slogan is efficiency. WVe aim at world-supremacy. And the world-master must be first a self-master. England has had the efiicient navy, Germany the efficient army, France the efficient house- hold, Italy the efficient art, japan the efficient hygiene, Scotland the ef- ficient thrift. And America? The eiiicient NERVE. We will try anything, and try for anything. Our destiny lies in our daring. Our nationls flag is the stars and stripes, because we aim at the stars,-and smile at the stripes! -21-