National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-02
CoLoRED CoUNSELoRS.
Howard Law Department commencement
President GardeId's Little Speech

The graduating exercises of the law
department of Howard University occurred last
evening in the college chapel. There was large
attendance and great interest manifest in the ex-
ercises. The hall was very tastefully decorated.
In the rear of the stage large American flags were
draped, while above were the words Glass of 81
and the motto "M Mems Agitat Molem" worked in
evergreen. Suspended from the chandeliers were
handsome baskets filed with plants. while flowers
adorned the stage. Upon the stage were Rev. DR..
Patton, the president of the University; General
Eaton, Commissioner of Education; Hon. B. K.
Bruce, Register of the Treasury; Bishop Brown,
and members of the faculty.
THE PRESIDENT,
attended by his private secretary, ]. Stanley
Brown, entered the hall while. the exercises were
in progress, and received with great applause.
The dean of the law faculty Mr.. Warren C. Stone,
presided. The exercises were begun with piano
solo by Miss s. Alice Somerville. Rev. DR.. Rankin
offered prayer, which was followed with very
acceptably rendered Duet by Mrs. G. W. Ball and
Miss Tillie .Somerville. The charge to the class
was then delivered By the dean, and was replete
with many suggestions of value to the young grad
yates. Miss Blanche Washington rendered piano
solo, after which
THE VALEDICTORIAN,
William H. Richards was introduced. He is tall,
slim young man, of light complexion, and spoke
in an earnest, forcible manner. The subject-mat-
ter of his Grafton on the Genius popular Gov
ernments' was well worded and delivered in a
manner that held the attention of his audience
throughout. Mrs. G. W. Ball sang very acceptably,
and then the president, DR. Patton, said that the
duty of comforting the degrees usually devolved
upon him, but as they were honored by the pres
ence of the President of the United States he
would ask him to take his place. The graduates
then filed upon the stage, and
PRESIDENT GARFIELD,
arising addressed them as follows: Some years
ago it was my honor and pleasure to move the ad-
mission to the Supreme Court of the United States
of one ofy your race. He is now, believe, one Of
the Oldest living colored counselors before the Su
preme Court. 1t gives me pleasure to put into
your hands this diploma, which launches you
into active life, to capture your place in the world
and conquer the success which work and study
alone can give" He then presented diplomas
to the following
GRADUATES:
Henry E. Baker, Columbus Miss; William H.
Richards, Athens, Tenn; James II. S. Parker, Chat
tanooga, Tenn; Charles H. Lemos Fredericksburg,
Va; Leonidas A. Lewis Chester, s. C. A vocal Sc
lection was then finely rendered by Miss Tillie
Somerville. Hon. A. H. Pettibone delivered the
address, which was an able exposition of tho
sphere of the legal profession. A vocal selection
by Miss Blanche Washington brought the exercises
of very pleasant evening to a close. The follow
was the efficient committee on arrangements
William H. Richards, Miss Emma Gillette, James
F. earle, James H. s. Parker, Henry E. Baker,
chairman. The ushers were as follows James f.
Garlic, Lawrence o. Posey, George w. Cook, Jesse
Lawson, I. S. D. Berger