no one
would ever see them.

"The rules for the contestants will be very simple. The play must be
original. It must consist of not less than three acts, and all
manuscripts must be in the hands of the committee appointed by the
president of the senior class on the Tuesday before the Easter vacation.
The play may be comedy, drama, or tragedy, but it must be
representative. The duties of the committee will be to receive the
plays. As soon as they have been submitted they are to be turned over to
three members of the Overton faculty, provided they are willing to act
in the capacity of critics. I should now like an opinion from the
class."

Emma sat down amid an energetic clapping of hands. To a member, the
class was in favor of the proposed contest. One after another the
members rose to voice their approval, and when the president called for
a rising vote every member was instantly on her feet.

"You understand that we shall require permission from the president of
the college before we can officially announce the contest," Arline
reminded the class. "I will appoint Miss Dean, Miss Harlowe and Miss
Wade to call upon the president and obtain his permission. Then the play
committee will see to the advertising of the contest."

Before the meeting closed, Anne Pierson, Miriam Nesbit, Ruth Denton and
Elfreda Briggs were appointed to serve on the play committee and the
date of the production of the play was set for the Friday of the fifth
week after the Easter vacation. It was also decided that Lecture Hall,
which boasted of a stage and several sets of scenery, and would hold a
goodly audience, should be used for the occasion.

Within the next three days Miss Duncan and Dr. Hepburn, instructors,
respectively, in English and Latin, and Dr. Darrow, professor of Oratory
and Dramatic Expression, had been interviewed and had consented to act
as judges. The moment these preliminaries had been attended to, Gertrude
Wells had begun an elaborate poster to hang above the bulletin board in
Overton Hall announcing the contest. At the bottom of the poster was
fastened a card on which the rules had been painstakingly lettered in
black and red. By the end of the week there was scarcely a girl in
Overton who had not stopped before the gayly colored poster to read the
news that was being discussed long and earnestly throughout the college.

Those who had acquired a certain amount of reputation in the matter of
themes boldly announced the