Oberlin Academy - Etean Yearbook (Oberlin, OH)

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cl Niue LAWRENCE W. FIFIELD, COACH ex-officio members of Congress. Constitutionality Con- cededf' The Academy upheld the affirmative, and the High School the negative. The outcome of this contest-the decision in favor of the negative-again proves that losing a decision does not signify any gross inferiority on the part of the losing team. Nor does it lead to the conclusion that the debate was not beneficial to all participants and enlightening to the audience. It was all of this, and the speakers deserve the commendation. The three speakers of the team graduate this year, thus leaving larger opportunity for new men nextvyear Who intend to enter active debate work. This year's con- test closes the present series of debates With the High School, but the debates will undoubtedly continue as usual, and possibly a triangular league may soon be estab- lished With some third school, thus giving greater oppor- tunity and further interest in this kind of contest. MARTIN H. DODGE.

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THEODORE GREENE. CAPTAIN DEBATE The debate situation at the opening of the school year 1913-14 was not auspicious. With one experienced debater presenting himself for the team, Coach Fiiield had to face the proposition of creating debate material. That he succeeded in this task, all those who heard the Academy-High School debate on March 20th Will testify. The four Academy men who participated in that contest, T. M. Greene CCapt.J, N. Berthoi, F. Bastell and J. S. Turner Calternatej, showed the results of a comprehen- sive study of the question and three months of careful training by the coach, supplemented by the helpful sug- gestions of Prof. Shaw. The speakers were keen and alive to the issues. The debate was very close and the final de- cision Was swung only by minor points of the discussion. The team did credit to its Alma Mater and maintained the high local standard of interscholastic polemics. The question of this year's debate Was, Resolved, that, the members of the President's Cabinet should be One !'Illll'LIl'IJd an mi Eight

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THE DEBATE BANQUET At six o'clock, Friday evening, March 6, some twenty old and young Academy Debaters, came trooping up the stairs of Park Hotel, hungry and expectant, wondering where in the world, or out of it, Mr. Shaw was. Of course, there he was standing in plain sight, as soon as we had asked the man at the desk all about it. There was a hearty welcome and a warm handshake for each new-comer, and then considerable in- troducing and weather remarks in the hat and glove room, which is of course neces- sary and doubtless very interesting. Quite a study in human nature, though, to see how green each fellow can look as he enters the door. It pays to get there early. Well, the dinner was as excellent as usual-Mr. Shaw's dinners are always excellent -and because of its excellence it went right to the spot. Pray, what more could a bunch of fellows ask for. Pretty soon the coffee-cups were taken off and we began to get ready not to yawn at the toasts we knew would follow, when Mr. Shaw arose and put one over us. He told us that the toasts would be omitted this year and said he would be glad to read to us for a little while if we cared to listen. Of course, that was an unnecessary question, so presently he began. The two chapters from Mary Raymond Shipman Andrew's The Eternal Masculine were keenly enjoyed as the peals of laughter and grunts of satisfaction indicated. About nine o'clock we tried to blurt out our thanks to Mr. Shaw, and then went our respective ways. ' Yes, truly, Mr. Shaw, we are grateful, very grateful, for this yearly token of your interest in us and in the debate. Many of us will forget the carefully threshed-out argu- ments and the places for emphasis in our speech, and even the speeches themselves, though that seems impossible just before the Debate, but we will not forget these cheery gatherings or your patient help and undampened interest in all things pertaining to debate. Many are the times when We have been disheartened and discouraged and received from you just the aid and encouragement we sought. Many are the times when your suggestions and your guidance pulled us over a tight place. Truly are you called the Father of Academy debate. Ogle H