National Republican., 1883-06-08
LEARNED IN THE LAW.
Graduating Exercises Of the Law Class Of the
National University.
The National Theater Packed With the
Fnends Of the Graduates.
Nunbg n Prcninsni People Pressui--The DiPlo-
nss Presented Ny President Arthur
Addressss 60 che class ny Judge Mac
Arthar aud ProL Ciaughton.


q more brilliant audience than that which as
scmblsd last night 10 witness the commence
mcnt exercises Of the law department Of the
National university. The overture was set
Cor 7;l5, but before that hour tho building
was filled from pie 20 dome, fact which In
dioatod the interest the occasion had excited
Opposed b tho soa of faces In tho audi
tofium was q sea Of roses on the stage,
which, for luxuriant display In all
that is lovely In horai products,
u said 10 have ever been equaled in Wash.
ington. The entire front portion Of the stage
was banked high with remarkable profusion
of hugo and elaborate designs that must have
taxed the ingenuity u the florist 20 the
utmost. lmmortelle., iaponioas, tube roses,
lilies fuschias. and violets hloomod gorge
ously on scores Of crosses, horsesh0es. baskets,
Jacobs ladders wheels. stars, crcscents, and
other artistic figures piled In rich confusion
on the floor, and filed the house with n
delightful and intoxicating fragrance. The
students In fact. were almost overwhelmed
with the liberal foral donations Of their
friends. over the couter of the stage there
was suspended from the ceiling an enormous
SCROLL four and-a-half feet long and three.
and-a-half wide, wrought Of immorlellcs and
worked In living flowers was the maxim I:
~ leqi iusiita ordo hbitas oriuHtar attached
20 this scroll was = large floral pen, with
the date "lSs3" In red roses AZ
the rear Of the stage and al each
wing elaborate paterres over six feet Ia
height groaned with beautiful figures Of
flower and rose, and from the chandeliers aud
along tho flies Of the theater a hundred
wrcaths Of bud aud spray lent their grateful
perfume
most distinguished audience was there 20
do honor 10 the graduating classes, President
Arthur was present. Gen. sherman and Dis
trict Attorney Corkhill occupied a box. jus
tice Bradley, Of the supreme court, was among
the invited guests on the stage. as were cx.
Senator Mitchell, Of Oregon; Gen. Hazon,
third assistant postmaster general Justice
llagnor, ex-Mayor Emory, Comptroller Law
renee. ex-Gov. Wells, Commissioner Eaton,
DIR. u, T. Sowers, as well ~ the President
and others.
The first part Of the programme included
three choice selections BY the marine band,
after which the Rev. William A. Leonard,
rector Of st. Johns Episcopal church, offered
an appropriate prayer.
The Hon. Arthur Macarthur then delivered
the opening address lie said that his main
purpose would be TO call attention 20 one or
two features of instruction that have ac-
quired great prominence aud success during
the past year. Much value was placed on the
course Of the university In the method of in
structon pursued with what Is known as the
who compose this class have already obtained
q degree from the university, a regular course
Of study is assigned TO them, aud they arc
taken in charge by instructors specially as
signed for that purpose. In addition 20 this
all tho recitations of the whole course are
open to the members Of this class. and they
are expected and urged 20 attend tho recita-
tions; and at the end of the year are exam
ined carefully and especially with a Wow 10
all the studies pursued in the whole course.
The practical utility of the moot court,
which has recently been dignifled as a regu.
lar department of the law college, was
highly extolled. Last year the faculty,
recognizing the value of n thorough
acquaintance with the application of the
principles of the law TO actual practice deter
mined TO make the exercises Of moot court
u part Of the regular course Of instruction.
To this end professor was specially assigned
to the duty of organizing and conducting in
the best manner a court in which no was 10
preside as judge. Tho experiment proved a
great success. In this way the business Of
the law is united with its theory and the
student is made familiar with the machinery
and practice of his profession while imbuing
his mind with the most enlarged views of its
value and philosophy.
The address to the graduating classes by
Prof ii. o. Claughton was an eloquent effort,
and was frequently approved by hearty ap-
plause. Its main point was the customary
appeal to the newly fedged attorneys to up
hold the dignity and honor of the profession
by an upright and manly course of life.
During the delivery of this address Pres-
dent Arthur, for whom a carriage had been
sent, appeared on the stage from the side en-
trance, and was greeted with a storm of ap-
plause. He gracefully bowed his recognition
of the compliment, and was shown to scat
next to Judge Macarthur. President Arthur
is chancellor ex officio of the university, and
was there in his official capacity to confer the
degrees upon the graduating classes.
After Prof Claughton's address was finished
NJ Chase, of the board of regents and Pres-
dent Arthur stepped to the front of the stage,
the former TO call out the names of the gradu.
ateS and hand the sheepskins to the President,
who, in turn. handed them to the graduates.
The President made a little speech TO the
young gentlemen, saying that the comforting
OF the degrees was most pleasant duty to
him. The following is a complete list of those
receiving degrees