The Evening critic., 1883-06-12
THE NORMAL SCHOOL
Commencement Exercises Mt the
Congregational Church,

Congregational Church.
About twelve hundred people were
present at the Congregational Church last
evening to witness the annual commence
ment of the Washington Normal School
and bestow floral tributes aud sincere
applause upon the young ladies who are
just changing from scholars into teachers,
and who have passed successfully through
the long and arduous studies of the Normal
| course
The scene presented in the church was
unsurpassed in brilliancythe seats in every
| portion of the vast auditorium were filled,
the galleries and halls overhowing, and all
the approaches to the stage were banked
and heaped with floral offerings of every
variety Of design and color, and each per-
feet in itself.
Great ships and graceful anchors, bou-
quets ofunsurpassed beauty, baskets of rar-
est flowers, cushions with the initials of some
sweet girl graduate, Tyres and pillars,
crowns and ladders. Everything that the
florists skill could contrive was laid at the
feet of the fair ladies who participated.
Above the stage were seated number of
members OF the Marine Band, and the mu-
sic was prominent feature of the even
ings exercises.
On the platform, ranged in two long rows,
sat the graduates Misses Mariella Twad-
dell Bear, Josephine Florence Bettes, Min
ME Rosetta Bohrer, Daisy Watson Boyd.
Sarah Marian Coomes, Helen Adelia Lake,
Margaret Marie Maher, Louisa Ger
trude Nash, Mary Grace Raven
burg, Julia MAY Rawlings, Jes.
sic Zitella Cox, Ida May DAILY, Emma
Eisenbeiss, Julia Margaret Erb, Ida May
Humphrey, Margaret johnson, Blanche Ty-
Ter Jones, Florence May Roach, Sarah Elma
Saunders, Laura Shackelford, Ida Isabella
Summerscales Margaret Nora Turkenton,
Edith Elizabeth West, Fannie Wise and
Miss Mollie Mcclellan Wylie.
The ladies were all dressed in similar cos
tunes of white, with blue ribbons, and
sitting with vast embankment of flowers
at their feet, presented strikingly besut-
ful sight.
The persons on the platform besides the
graduates were Commissioners Edmonds
West and Lydecker, Professor A. G. Bell
DIR. Shipper, Mr.. B. II. Warner, president
sioner of Education Eaton, Superintendent
of Schools Wilson, Miss Lucilla L. Smith,
the principal of the Normal School, aud
Miss Nellie Pumphrey and Miss Charlotte
Garrison, the assistant teachers.
The Marine Band began the programme
with a charming rendition of the "Pet of
the Petticoats," after which Mr.. B. II.
warner, III lew appropriate ana we'll
chosen words, formally opened the exer.
cises and introduced DIR. Shippen, who de-
livered the invocation.
The whole graduating class then rose
and sang Protect us Through the Night"
The Marine Band followed with colloca-
tion from "Iolanthe." The class then sang
the Song of the Triton in manner that
called forth long continued applause, and
the Mariners of England" was sung for au
encore. The singing by the class was un.
expectedly beautiful, several unusually
sweet and powerful voices being among the
chorus.
Professor Alexander Graham Bell was in
troduced and delivered long address on
methods of education, which was inter-
rupted by the arrival Of the President.
After xylophone solo by Mr.. Lusby the
certificates of graduation were handed to
the graduates by the President, and subse-
quently each of the young ladies was in
troduced to Mr.. Arthur aud shook hands
with him. The Marine Band rendered
Home, Sweet Home" and the young ladies
closed the programme by singing "Auld
Lang Syne" yery beautifully