Declamatory Contests - An Important Part Of School Activities Of Long Ago

A much looked forward to event of the schools of long ago were the Declamatory contests. The dictionary states that Declamatory is a formal speech made in public and spoken with great emotion and force. The matches must have been full of tension and emotion as to see who the best and forceful speakers were.

From the archives of The Crittenden Press lets go back visit some of these exciting events. Memorizing daily assignments were very much a part of school then, it called for much focusing and concentration on what you were trying to learn.

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Feb. 23, 1923 – Oratorical and Declamatory Contest

The preliminary oratorical and declamatory contest was held at the Marion Graded School auditorium. Mr. Richard Hicklin, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hicklin, was the winner of the gold medal in the oratorical contest.

 Richard  Hicklin - Gold Medal Winner

 Miss Thelma Travis was the winner of the medal in the declamatory contest. The subject of Mr. Hicklin's oration was The Masked American. It was a great composition and was effectively delivered. 

 Thelma Travis - Gold Metal Winner for her story telling.

 Feb. 22, 1924 – Declamatory and Oratorical Contestants Draw Crowd

Weeks of preparation had put the contestants of all the grade schools on edge and eager for the opportunity to display their talents to a large audience which was just as eager to hear them. So many young ladies had wanted to enter the contest that an elimination contest had been held in private, the five winners of which appeared last Friday.

The two winners were, Miss Elizabeth Haynes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Haynes of Marion and Mr. Ryvers Sarlls, of near Bells Mines. Miss Lois Hicklin read "The old Nest" as the opening number, following an invocation. Miss Hicklin's portrayal of this literary gem was a very charming one. Mr. Avery Reed then appeared with "The Self Supporting Student" as his subject. "Peg O' My Heart", one of the sweetest stories in all English literature, was then read by Miss Virginia Terry.

"The Master Passion" was the subject Mr. Thomas Nelson had chosen. Misses Margaret and Blanche Guess sang a beautiful number at the close of this and were heartily encored. Miss Dorothy Haynes then appeared with "Flaming Ramparts" a reading requiring much dramatic ability to effectively render and Miss Haynes did wonderfully well. Mr. Ernest Hughes then spoke on "A Nation's Honor," Mr. Hughes has the possibilities of making an unusually good public speaker.

Miss Ada Nelle Frazer had chosen "Why the Chimes Ring," a reading which requires much natural ability and intensive training to render at all effectively. Mr. Ryvers Sarlls then appeared with the winning oration, "Character." It was well delivered and with further training Mr. Sarlls should make on the county best young speakers.

Miss Elizabeth Lee Haynes then appeared with a dramatic reading , entitled the "The Valiant," It was beautifully read and presented.

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October 26, 1926 – Contest at Mt. Zion A Great Success

The declamatory contest for Division Four of the county schools was held at Mt. Zion last Friday evening. The contestants were; Gretna Woody of Seminary School; Vivian Sullivan of Prospect; Eugene Beard of Baker, Bertha Kirk of Heath, Gwendolyn Gahagan of Weston, John Fowler of Oak Hall, and Hughie Wilborn of Post Oak.

The gold medal was won by Hughie Wilborn and the silver medal by John Fowler. The Cave Spring quartette, composed of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Drennan, Ray Brantley and Dallas Little added much to the program. They will sing at the final contest on November 20.

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Nov. 19, 1926 - Contest at Frances

The declamatory contest in Educational Division Two was held last Friday at Frances. All of the contestants from the different schools had splendid readings and had been well trained.

The gold medal was won by Miss Ruth Hard, a pupil of Mrs. Bessie Oliver at Caldwell Spring. The second prize, a silver medal, was awarded to Miss Anna Belle Hunter, of the Mexico School. Miss Hunter is a pupil of Wilton Yandell.

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This beautiful gold pin that was the prize for the person that won the Declamatory Contest.  

Much hard work and time went into the students practicing to be in this speaking contest.

But this pin was worth all the hard work and effort.

I wonder how many of these once prized pins are still out there somewhere, tucked away in the back of a drawer or in a dusty box or trunk in a family's attic or basement and them not knowing the history of the Declamatory Pin.