Epstein, Sullivan Win In Boylston Speaking Contest

Awarded first prize in the 126th annual Boylston Speaking Contest, Alan S. Epstein '43, of Leverett House, and John W. Sullivan '43, of Adams, each won $35 last night by their presentation of a memorized prose selection.

Earning second prizes of $25, were Edwin E. Boysen '43, of Winthrop House, Norman S. Stearns '44, a commuter, and Richard L. Weinberg '43, of Winthrop.

Praised by Robert S. Hillyer '17, Boylston Professor of Oratory, who was in general charge of the contest, as one of the best that he had heard the speeches were marked by the variety of their subject-matter. The winning selections were excerpts from a letter of Robert Louis Stevenson and an essay on Shakespeare by George Lyman Kittredge, formerly Gurney Professor of English Literature here.

Another innovation of this year's contest was the relative informality with which it was conducted. In the absence of Endicott Peabody II, who was scheduled to preside over the meeting, but who was unexpectedly called away by a Naval examination, Professor Hillyer conducted the speeches from the floor. Charles Townsend Copeland '82, Boylston Professor of oratory, emeritus, was unable to serve as honorary judge.

Decision Difficult

Basing its decision on the aptness of the selections and on the excellence with which they were delivered, the panel of judges experienced "unusual difficulty" in selecting the winners. Serving on the board were Robert F. Bradford '23, member of the Board of Overseers, and local District-Attorney; Walter D. Edmonds '26, the famous novelist; William C. Greene '11, associate professor of Greek and Latin, Dean Willard L. Sperry, and Edward A. Weeks, editor of the Atlantic Monthly.

Selected by a preliminary competition, the 10 contestants were allowed an almost unrestricted choice of subjects. Boysen delivered a selection from Clemence Dane, while Stearns recited "The Last Lesson," a short story by Daudet, and Weinberg offered a portion of "The People, Yes," by Carl Sandburg.