National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-11
OUR CLASS.
Twenty-One Graduates in Medicine From
Howard University Last Night
The BcstovaI OF Floral Tributes Dis
ponsed with at tho Request OF the CIuss.

Inc slNIcenJn annual commencement eA-
crcises of the medical department Of Howard
university were held last evening in the Con.
gregational church The attendance was
large the church being crowded. Tho au-
dience consisted mainly Of the friends Of the
graduates and of the university. In keeping
with an established and grow ing custom in
the larger medical schools of the country,
floral decorations and gifts were dispensed
with. Heretofore these havo constituted n
prominent feature in every commencement
exercise in this city. BY dispensing with the
custom, the Howard medical college have
left tho option with tho friends of the
graduates of expressing their compliments
in q more permanent and useful manner to
the graduate If they desired, or of simply
testifying their regard by their presence at
the commencement exercises. While an
innovation in this city,it is highly probable
that it will at no distant day become general
1t secures q more substantial recognition for
the recipient and at the same time affords
more satisfaction to the donor than the mere
bestOwal of flowers.
The music for tho occasion was furnished
by tho marine band under tho leadership of
Prof SOusa, who arranged au excellent pro-
grammc which was rendered with fine effect.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
Rev. DR.. Perry, followed by cornet solo,
Last Rose" by Prof Jaeger, after which
Prof. G. b. Purvis, NJ. d., delivered an ad-
dress to the graduates, rcpletewith practical
advice and suggestions for tho future guild
ance Of the aspirant for success In the field of
medical endeavor aud investigation. Rev.
DIR. Patton, president Of the university, then
TO rmally Inferred the degree of NJ d., after
which the valedictory address was delivered
by J. Melvin Lamb. of Pennsylvania.
Tho address WAS delivered in good style, and
possessed the rare merit of being appropriate
TO the occasion. The yalediCtOrian upon this
occasion did not full into the too prevalent
and amusing fault of gravely onlightening
his auditors how to succeed in life generally,
and in the profession whose threshold
he was just crossing in particular. Neither
did he treat his listeners to an ex-
haustivo dissertation upon abstract
scientific principles laboriouslv compiled
for the occasion. 1t was farewell talk with
| friends, instructors, aud students, straight
| forward aud practical. Without self depro-
| citation of present attainments, the address
was a reminder of future tolls and patience
that lay acaoss the path to future success.
| With fitting modesty, but yet with resolute
| courage, the ambitious candidate now pub
| licly welded and consecrsted to his calling
| henceforth his bride-was exhorted to go
| forward, deserving at least, If not actually
| achieving, success. The address concluded
with tho following sentence:
| Nothing now remains, gentlemen of the
| graduating class but that | should tender
| you my sincere wishes for your success, and
| If any exhortation be demanded TO urge you
| to the exertion of your powers let me remind
| you of the words of the great master, Hip
| pocrates Life is short art Is long, occasion
sudden, experiment doubtful, and judgment
| difficult"
While the class of 1884, numerically, is not
| the largest ever graduated from the college,
it is conceded that, collectively, it represents
| l. ...t.H a.,lVr tauI -
tainments, but in literary requirements as
| we'll, and passes out better equipped to
achieve success than any class that has pre-
ceded it.
The graduates twenty y-one in number,
were:
Kate Dellcourt Barstow, New York; Kath-
arine Frances Beatty, Michigan; Jules Fred
erick Billiard, A. NJ, Maryland; Charles
Augustus Chase, A. NJ, Maine; Augustus
Burt Coolidge, New York; William Edwin
DiohondoIfe-, w. Virginia; William Geddes,
| Indiana Mary Eliza Hartwell and William
| Davis Hughes, A. NJ, Oho Albert Lafayette
Jackson, New York; John Melvin Lamb,
Pennsylvania; George Abraham Leech, Iowa;
| Thomas Martin, District of Columbia
Thomas Miller Michigan vladimir +. De
Niedman, A. b., Phar. d., Russia; Edward
Fletcher Norcross, Vermont; John Coke
Norwood, North Carolina; George Nelson
Perry, Ohio; Maurice Fischer Pilgrim, A. b.,
New Jersey Louis Cromer Purman, Florida;
John Betram Medford, England. and post
graduate, William Stewart Bell M. D., In
diana.
Among the prominent persons present was
Gen. o. o. Howard, the founder of the uni
versity, who, in answer to repeated calls
from the audience, came forward amid
great applause and responded in few happy
remarks, congratulating the university upon
the success which it had attained in its
various departments "Once," he said, at
was cross to bear diploma from Howard
university; now it is an honor"
The graduates and their friends, after the
EXERCISES were concluded, were favored by
the faculty with collation. in the lecture
room.
The alumni will hold meeting tonight
at the college building, at which it is desired
that every graduate in the city will be