Viroqua High School - Pipe of Peace Yearbook (Viroqua, WI)

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Miss Conrad C. Tollefson M. Smith G. Tenny C. Weavil The negative team consisted of Cyrus Tollefson as first speaker, Marion Smith as second speaker, and Genevieve Tenney as third speaker. This team had the honor of giving the first debate in Viroqua which took place on the same day that the affirmative team went to Richland Center. Their opponents consisted of three boys who comprised the affirmative team from Richland Center. The decision given by Mr. Thomas of La Crosse High School, Mr. Meinecke of Cashton, and Mr. Wheelock of the Vernon County Normal was two to one in favor of Viroqua, which of course pleased everyone. At this debate there was a great show of high school spirit which was very much appreciated by the debaters. The second debate was to have been held February 12, with Mazo- manie, but they forfeited the debate to Viroqua with a decision of six to nothing. The third debate was held at Viroqua, February 19, between the affirmative team from La Crosse and our own negative team. In this de- bate the j udges were Rev. Pfaffman, Mr. Gulbrandsen, and Mr. Smith. This time the decision was three to nothing in favor of Viroqua. Thus in this year,s program, we won three out of the four debates, which was the total number of debates in which we took part. Not at all a bad record, we think. Much of the credit is due to our coach, Miss Conrad, who worked long and faithfully With her teams. aagh

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Miss Conrad J. Nixon E. Hendrickson H. Buchanan A. R. Gross There were about thirty students who tried out for debate in De- cember, before Christmas vacation, from whom nine were chosen. After vacation every one was soon hard at work, inspired by a desire to be on one team or the other. When the teams themselves were picked, we found that John Nixon from the Junior High was first speaker, Eldon Hendrickson was second speaker, and Harold Buchanan was third speaker. V The first debate was held on February 5, 1926, between Richland Center and Viroqua, the question being: Resolved: That Congress shall be given the power by Federal amendment to regulate the employment of all persons under eighteen years of age. The affirmative team went to Rich- land Center and, in a heated and interesting debate, met the Richland Cen- ter team, composed of three girls. The decision was two to one in favor of our opponents, and we are sure that they had to work to earn it. The fourth debate was held at Viroqua on March 8, 1926, between Tomah,s negative team and our affirmative. There was, at this debate, only one judge, an expert from La Crosse, Mr. M. E. Goff. He gave Viroqua the decision and explained very clearly why his decision was in our favor. N eedless to say, this decision at the closing debate of the year pleased us very much. hgzn.

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Dec lamatory The Declamatory Contest was held the same night that the Reading Contest was held, Friday, April 23. There were seven contestants, including two from the Junior High who had been chosen in the preliminary try-outs some time before. The first speaker, Emma Williams, gave the selection, In the Palace of the King? Her portrayal of the cowardly king and the haughty Spanish maiden were splendidly done. Sarah Minshallis itJoint Owners In Spain was a humorous selection as nearly really life-like as it could be made. The two selections given by the J unior High Contestants, HThe Man of Sorrows, by Clarice Solverson, and All That Glittersli by Margaret Minshall, showed the talent that will soon be forthcoming from the Viroqua High School. Pearl Olsonis delivery of ttThe Court Sceneii from tiThe Merchant of Ven- ice was such as only those with great dramatic power could do. itThe Bath Hour, by Helen Baldwin was given extremely well, and enthusiastically received. Anna Rose Gross, on her delivery of The Two Homecomings? showed talent and a great capacity for dramatics. First place was award- ed toHelen Baldwin, second to Anna Rose Gross and third to Pearl Olson. Let us congratulate the two people who are going to represent our High School at Tomah on May 7 and wish them the best of luck. Oratory The local oratory contest, which took place April 22, was an unus- ually brilliant display of Forensic talent. The orations which were pre- sented were very nice pieces of work. Maynard Opsahl, in his delivery of the famous oration by Wendell Phillips, itTouissant L,Overture,,l showed that even if he is small, he has ability. Sheldon Gardnerls delivery of iiLee, The American, was very commendable, a worthy tribute to that great leader. Marion Smith upheld the honor of the girls by her delivery of liBuilders of Empires? The delivery of ttAbraham Lincoln by David Ful- ton, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Waterway by Fortney Larson, and ltThe Duty of a Citizenli by George Eckhardt were fine examples of the talent Which, as yet, lies dormant in our J unior High School. Eldon Hendricksonls delivery of uThe Constitutionli was indeed worthy of the noble subject of hls oration. Harold Buchanan, in portraying itWhat War Isf' presented the true facts of war so forcefully that, if the world could have heard him, war would cease. Every delivery, not only in this contest, but in all the others, is am- ple proof of the ability and skill of our coach, Miss Conrad, who has spent much of her time to help Viroqua make a showing in the coming contests. First place was awarded to Eldon Hendrickson, and second place to Harold Buchanan ,and they are the ones who will go to Tomah May 8 to win, or do their best to win, honors for the Viroqua High School. The Viroqua High School extends to the contestants the support they need, and to Miss Conrad the commendation she deserves.