St Theresa High School - Veritas Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

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VERITAS ' in. I.um1.1.ia DIQYANI-:Y llimm' DONOVAN M,xRG,mE'r QZAMPAU The Declarnatory Contest HE art of public speaking or declaiming is of inestimable value in every walk of life. To be able to express ones views in a clear, concise manner, to present a speech before an assembly, free from embarrass- ment, is an ability, second only to virtue. It gives the speaker poise and self-confidence, and enables him, through practice, to gradually change the inflection of his voice and, in so doing, hold the attention of his audience, to keen interest in what he is saying. Eventually it liberates him from that awkwardness of speech which is characteristic of an amateur orator. A very creditable demonstration of public speaking was exhibited on the afternoon of March Hrst. The declamatory champion chosen by St. Theresa School to carry its colors valiantly into the district contest was Lucille DeVaney, a sophomore, who was proclaimed victor when, with force and coolness, she nobly defeated eight other contestants by her excellent delivery of Wendell Phillipts famous Toussaint L,Ouverture. Harry Donovan was awarded second place on Spartacus to the Gladi- atorsi' and Margaret Campau won third place through her 'tMessage to Garcia? The other declaimers, also members of the tenth grade, were Elaine Bergin, Ursula O,Toole, Florence Gehringer, John Grifhth, and James Tracy' IQATHLEEN TALBOT, '28, , - , i - , ,, , 1 A M-1,it..w f . , 04, -- 1, , KJ!! 1 - at-vi'-x I N le- - - L-lj 1'j -t ,, A iJ.,4' xj- lit ., V 'JI , ,I 1' in , V V? I 1 iljjia One I I undrcd Seven

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VH RI TAS lxlAHGAltE'l' li0RNMl'Ill-ZR Manx' CA'l'HliRlNli Wurrmu EARL liLiiBB,x Oratorical Contest XCITEMENT prevailed and many comments were passed as to- who would be our best orator? First in file was lylary Catherine Whiting. Her speech, A Skeleton, bespoke very vividly the impression which she wished to convey. Again the audience was very attentive and Sylvester Phcney, an honorable junior, made his way to the front, where he very elaborately delivered his oration on the Constitution', in interesting detail. Another junior, John DeLisle, with his speech, Our Constitution, gained considerable applause, conveying to his attentive audience the correct interpretation of our Constitution Still another form makes its Way to the footlights, Earl Klebba, who, with his oration, The Guiding Light, gave to his listeners an account of the exact trials and tribulations our forefathers endured to form our present government. Last, but not least, our senior, Margaret Kornmeier, delivered her composi- tion, entitled, An American Idealf' in such an interesting and impressive manner as to be acclaimed First Orator by all judges. After fifteen minutes of careful deliberation Mary Catherine Whiting was awarded second place and Earl Klebba third. This brought our elimination contest to a close and decided that Margaret Kornmeier was to represent our school in the state and national contest. CHARLOTTE VFZINA 527 , , . 1 ZH ,' rg, -- 2-' t'.', 1 i I A Liz' 4 .Lf One Iliuuln-ri Si.:

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'VH RI TAS i. I.. 5,-I sf rx M3255 ic x if-if .loim GliIlfl4'I'I'll Mun' DiiG.x1.l-:x lXl.-xixcmni-:'i' FOLEX Debating Team. Affirmative IIE history of every land, and therefore, the history of the develop- ment of civilization, is interwoven with the history of public speaking. The old proverb that says, The pen is mightier than the sword, might easily be revised to say, The tongue of the public speaker is mightier than either the pen of the writer or the sword of the soldier. QFrederiek Law.j Public speaking, in some form or another, has always existed-for it is the expression of people's hopes and ambitions. In the days of ,76, Patrick Henry, James Otis, and John Adams advanced in public declamation the nation's bitterness against tyranny. When the question of slavery con- fronted thc United States, Daniel Webster, .Iohn Calhoun, Ilenry Clay and others led the country toward closer union and stronger national life through public speech. The national spirit of America demands public speakers and cries for leaders in politics. Any man or woman who can express opinions and sentiments in public has some power of leadership. The world will dis- cover the public speaker and he will rise from obscurity to as high a position as his abilities extend, simply because ofthe nation's great need for good public speakers. C.x'rH15mNH BuP.Ns, ,27. Ona Ilumlrcrl Eiglil .L M