Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-13
LOCAL NEWS.
Columbian College.
INTERESTING COMMENCEMENT EXERCISE

pleasing display OF flowers. comprising bou-
quets, baskets, wreaths, and an immense
heart s 6eautified the front of the stage behind
the floral offerings were seated Dr.. yelling.
president OF the College: Rev. A. F. Mason
Professors NewcOmb, Fristoe, Shute and Gill:
YoeISrs Yng aSd S4thSer Sones Gray HHnngto9
later, the Judges in the contest for the Davis
prize, Rev. DR.. Murray, and MeSsrs Fend al.
Wight and Darlington.
Alter an opening prayer by Rev, A F. Ma
son, the Latin Salutatory, first honor, was de-
liyered by Mr.. W. b. King. who shares equally
Mr.. W. A Leetch then followed with an ESSAY
on - The Perfection of Nature, dwelling upon
the beauties and wonders of nature and the
unyarylng character of its laws. The speaker
took advantage of the numerous opportunities
for ellphrased descriptive passages which
the nature of his subject afforded him. Mr..
X. {. Hyatt, in an essay on Marie Antoi-
nette, gave thoughtful analysis of the sOr-
rowful life and elevated character of his sub
Ject, pure and noble woman, fallen on evil
times, the guIltless victim of the sins of her
predecessors" In the struggles of Labor
Mr.. W. b. King traced the gradual improve
ment in the condition of the working
cases, but pointed out that their needs are
still great, and, that the growing discomfort
among them will require from our statesmen
the careful consideration of the labor ques-
ton. The dangerous signs of the times,
socialism in Europe, and The developing or
EanlZallon OF Worklnglnen in this country.
were touched upon. 1hiS essay was the prac-
hcal treatment OF modern question. The
J u.
ii. Z. Davis, on - The Spirit of Chivalry." He
claimed that this spirit is cOeval with human
existence 1t is still living principle. The
characteristics OF chivaITy in ancient times, in
The middle ages and in modern times were
! ably portrayed. An imaginary view of the
ChlVairlc age OF the future, with which the
speaker closed, showed that he possessed re-
markable delicacy of fancy and skill in the
choice OF words. Mr.. j. G. S. Richardson fO'-
lowed with an essay on the - Triumphs of the
Mind" The distinction was clearly drawn
between the ancient idea that the victories
gained by trained muscles were the highest
AKA the modern conviction OF the supremacy
Of,the mind. The conQuerOr is no longer
crowned, for his deeds die with him; but
honOrS are heaped on men OF mind for,
through the influence of words they never die.
Mr; Richardson is an easy, graceful speaker
and S0me.0f his illustrations were deliver
ed with much elecuti0nary power. The
valedictory address brought the class eXer-
cises to close. The valedictorian, Mr. III.
{. Davis. who graduates, with the Salutato-
rian, at the head OF the class, is a graduate Of
the public schools of this city, having come 10
the college from Mr. John f. Thompson, OF
mastery effort, and was delivered with fine
! effect. A graceful reference to the late Prof.
Henly ellclted appreciatiye applause from the
vice president Of the board, whose genial
presence is inseparably connected with the
idea of Columbian college commandments,
was also referred to in appropriate terms.
The prize medals were then awarded by
Rev. A. +. Mason, as follows: Elton prize in
Greek, Mr. w. B. King; honorable mention
MIR. IL. Z: Davis. IL was announced thai the
competition Tor this prize was very close.
Staughton prize in Latin, Mr.. w. b. King;
honorable mention, Mr.. Ill. &. Davis Young
prize in metaphysics, Mr.. ii; {. Davis; honor
abe mention, Mr. }. &. S. Richardson Rug
eles prize in mathematics, Mr.. Il, e. Hyatt;
First Davis prize in elOcutiOn, Mr.. J. c. ;.
RichardSOn: second Davis pIize in elOcutiOn,
MIR. III. Z. Davis; EnOSlnian medal for excel
lencc i'll debating, Mr.. J. c. 5. Richardson.
Certificates OF proficiency were then pre-
seEted as follows; l.. 7. Bradshaw, natural
science; VIII. Butler, English natural science
and philosophy: Frank Fuller, mathematics.
Greek, Latin and modern languages; ASaDh
Hall, Jr;, mathematics and modern languages: {:
X. {. Hyatt, Greek; III. &. LindSley natural
science; Ernest McGill, English and modern
languages; I. \. Murray, mathematics, Greek
and Latin Frank Power, philosophy; ID. h.
Shute. English, natural science ana philOS-
Ophy; w. H. Smith, English, natural science
and philosophy.
The following students were entitled to di-
plomaS in the schools: w. III. Butler, modern
languages; H. {. Davis, English, Greek, Latin,
natural science, philosophy; Il. Z. Hyatt. Eng-
llsh, mathematics, Latin, philosophy, natural
science, modern languages: W. B. King, Eng
liSh, Greek, Latin, philosophy, natural science;
W: A. Leetch English, Latin, mathematics
philosophy, natural science; j: G. 5. Richard
son. English, Greek, Latin, philosophy. natural
science; ID. X. Shute, modern languages; w.
II; Smith, modern languages.
Dr. yelling then felicitously addressed the
graduating class as follows:
Gentlemen Ot the GrddudtiRg CyuSS:-The
days OF your youth are numbered. The last
S4ideD sands of the hour glass have run out
Alter this night you are TO lay aside the Silken
gown OF the college student and put on the
t0gG riTiLiS, in token of the more eXacting
labors and higher responsibilities which await
Of years il Las been the mission Of parents
and teachers to lift you from the helpleSSneSS
and lncapacity of that individual life into
which you were born, and to place you step by
>tep IN communion and fellowship with the
collective life OF the race to which you belong
In schools of language, in schools of science.
and in schools of philosophy you have learned
now 70 plant The roots OF your mental being in
The rich subsoil OF the learning, literature and
art that have come down to you from all the
generations of the past. From a thousand
streams OF intellectual influence you have
gathered into your minds the power of
thought and action which you are hereafter TO
turn on the great problems of human inquiry
duced TO your possession the priceless heritage
Which the choice and master spirits OF all
TINE have bequeathed to you, you have at
least learned where it is deposited and how it
may be had for the due and diligent seek
ing. If, indeed your minds have been imbued
with the broad and liberal culture of the true
iZenShip of the wOrld-aS with all the
rights of that citizenship, SO with all its duties
Realzing, ; as i you must must do, that the best part
your veins is that which you derive by virtue
of your organic connection and vital sympathy
with the great thinkers, scholars and writes
VI IOl ages, SOu dIc ucuCtlOTlu 10
show that you have drunk into their spirit by
thinking thoughts and doing deeds which
shall be worthy of your high intellectual
lineage. 1t is, indeed, a cloud of glory into
which you have entered and by which You
have been overShadowed. as with toilS0me
steps and slow you have climbed the hill of
learning by '.the right path of virtuous and
noble education" as Milton phrases it; and
woe to you ii, as you commune on that hill
with the mighty dead. it do not prove to you
the mount of a great mental tranSfiguratfon.
lese emlnence, you ought to have learned to
Clarity your minds from the delusionS of ig
nOrance and from the prejudiceS of Scant
and narrow training. Ii to you the sign of
the MacrOcoSm has been revealed, as il was
revealed in mystic vision to the eyes of Faust
let us hope that you have learned to read II
with reverence and with humility that SO
when, like Faust, you shall turn your ewes
from these high CONCENTRATIONS to scan the
sign on the earth, You may address yourselves
to the daily duties of your terrestrial life. moi
with the iron leer of Mephistopheles scowling
over your shoulders, but with a calm serenity
drawn from fellowship with the saints as well
as the sages OF human story.
During the period of your long novitiate you
nave Deeh rather the recipients than the dis
penSefs OF intellectual benefits. Out Of the
helpessneSS OF childhood, out Of the troward- |
ness OF youth, you have emerged into the |
stature OF men, and at each stage OF your pro |
greSS you have found kind hands to lead you |
where the wa " was dark and strong arms N Il