Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-21

DISTINCTIONS HE HAS WON.
The senior class Of Harvard college has At
tracted considerable notice by electing a col
ored man as q class orator. The ract has Q
peculiar interest here, as Clement Garrett Nor
gan, the young man SO highly honored despite
race prejudice, is Washingtonian and gradu-
ate Of the public schools Of this city. The
election occurred on Thursday. The class
oratorship is the hig CHEST honor in the gift of q
graduating class.
Naturally the election Of Mr. Morgan was not
unanimous and some feeling has cropped out
as result of his success, but Morgan's ma
jority was surprisingly substantial.
HOW HE WAS ELECTED.
Morgan had not been talked of for the honor
until the last few days, when a number of men
determined that the election Of q colored man
would be q handsome way Of showing Har-
wards friendship for the race, especially in view
OF the notable part filed by such Harvard men
as Sumner, Phillips and others in the abolition
together and organized movement to place
the colored classmate in the honored Office, and
the vote they rolled up was the big surprise of
the meeting.
Mr.. Morgan has won several prizes for his
finished oratory. While student at the Latin
oratory and last year he easily carried off the
Boylston prize at Harvard.
A SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Mr.. Morgan is about thirty years Of age. His
mother resides in Georgetown, his father hav-
ing died short time ago. His parents
moved here from Petersburg, Va, where they
had been slaves up to the emancipation. The
new orator attended the public schools here,
graduating from the high school in 1876.
O
he taught school for four or five years. In
1882 he removed to Boston and entered the
Boston Latin school, from which he graduated
in 1886, when he entered Harvard in the class
Of 80.
Mr.. Morgan, during his career at Harvard
has supported himself by working in different
barber shops in Boston during the winter and
at the seaside resorts during the summer.
With classmate he went to many Of the big
hotels, giving readings and recitations.
WHAT HIS FRIEND SAYS.
Harvard has had one other colored orator, who
is also Washingtonian. R. H. Terrell Of the
fourth auditors Office graduated from Harvard
In the class of '84, and at that time he was one
of the commencement orators. Mr.. Terrelrs
position, however. came to him by reason OF
his high standing, and Mr.. Morgan is the first
colored man to be elected an orator.
Mr.. Terrell knew Mr.. Morgan well during his
stay in Boston, and in talk with a STAR re-
porter today said Morgan is a man of perhaps
thirty. He is tall and well formed, and is very
dark in complexion. He has a strong, intel
lectual face, his eyes being especially bright
and piercing. He is a man of courtly manners
and modest even to fault. Every moment oi
his time which he can spare from the labors
necessary to obtain the money for his education
is given up to study. He is an earnest worker
and his attainments are very great.
Morgan's style of oratory is of the highes
class. His impressive appearance, deep, mag
nifcent voice, and quiet yet effective delivery
render him one of the finest orators Harvard
has ever seen.
Harvard there was not the slightest race dis
tinction. He was treated by every one a
exactly on par with the white students.