Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-11
A CENTENNIAL MEDAL
The Alumni OF Georgetown College
Adopt q Commemorative DESIGN.


Next February there will be celebrated the
one hundredth anniversary Of the founding Of
Georgetown college. Before the present city
Of Washington was known and when the little
port of Georgetown was the one settlement Of
note here, Father Carroll, afterward the hrst
archbishop Of Baltimore, selected the beauti-
full site where the college now stands and built
there the first house for the reception of stu
dents. This was in 1889, and during the hun
dred years that have elapsed the old original
building has, from time to time, seen more
pretentious additions rise above it until the
browning glory Of to-day-the magnificent
stone structure with its towers and campanile-
entombs it like a relic in the court yard of the
past.
Some months ago, when the Society of the
Alumni was considering the preliminaries for
the centennial celebration. 1t was suggested
that medal be struck commemorative of the
occasion, and committee was appointed to
take the matter in charge. They found it no
easy task, but after much patient labor agreed
upon design which it is believed will prove sat-
isfactory. The old seal Of the college with its
legend ''Ad ripas Potomaci in Marylandia" was
starting point, but Maryland has long since
relinquished her title to the territory where
the college stands, and the motto Of to-day re-
CURED another allegiance
The alumni medal finally evolved may be de-
the college arms-an eagle with outstretched
wings, one foot resting on q mathematical
globe and the talons of the other grasping the
cross. From his beak futters the motto
'utraque unum," and above his head sur
rounded with rays and stars, is ApollO's harp.
The cross and globe typify religion and science;
the harp, poetry. Surrounding the rim is the
inscription, ''Collegium observation-disclosures
an-MDCCLXXXVIIII-
THE REVERSE
shows double wreath, one-half composed Of
oak leaves and one-hslf of laurel, the branches
crossed at the bottom and tied. The oak is
emblematic of strength and civic virtue, the
laurel of fsme, and the binding together SYM
bolizes the unity of the two. Running trans
versely, and filling the center space, is the
following legend: "Sodales Alumni Alma
Matres Secularia Festa primum dedicant
MDCCCVIIII."
The selection and arrangement OF the inscrip-
tions required the greatest care and discretion,
80 that they should be in thorough keeping
with the commemorative object for which the
medal was designed, and the legend is mainly
due to one of the italian fathers at the college,
whose reputation as a classicist is worldwide.
The design, it will be observed, is severely
classical, and in accord with Roman numis-
mates OF the Augustan era. 1t will be, OF
course, circular in form, an inch and FIVE
eighths in diameter and will be struck in bronze.
1t is to be worn by the alumni during the GEN.
tennial exercises, and will be suspended from
ribbon OF blue and grey-the college cOlors.
The respective schools of the university-arts
and sciences, law, medicine, &c.-will be des-
ignated in gilt letters, worked diagonally across
the ribbon. The design is the work of VIM. F.
Quicksall, an alumnus now residing in WASH
ington, and the drawings have been sent to
Philadelphia, where the medal will be struck.