San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-11-03
New York World,
FAIR YOUNG PIONEERS THESE.
New York S,rmal College Turns Out Its
First Girl BacheIors of Arts.


The big hall of the normal college OF
the city of New York at SiXty-eighth
street and Park avenue was filled with an
audience of 1000 people Thursday morn
ing who had come to see the .213 gradu-
ates of this years class in the closing
exercises of the school. These 213 are
now fully qualified, as their diplomas
attest, to teach in New Yorks public
schools. Noticeable among the gradu-
ates was a group of fifty who wore col.
ors of orange and white fastened with
pins bearing the motto, "Tentanda via
est" concerning which one of the wear.
ers confidently informed friend that it
meant "get out of our way"
This group was composed of the aca-
demic part Of the class, "A. &. 9th, i'll
school parlance, and they are the first
girls who have ever received the degree
of bachelor of arts from any publicly
supported institution i'll this country.
This caused no marked difference IN
their appearance, however, from that of
their less fortunate sisters, except III the
cOlors and pins they Wore. There was
discernible in their cOuntenances, how
ever. a subdued consciousness of their
Importance III being the first class ever
graduated from the institution to attain
the lofty general scholarship indicated
by class average of over so per cent.
Around the bachelor band were seated
the normal graduates, 223 strong, wear
ing lavender and white cOlors and pins
ornamented with their class motto. In
the seats back of the white mass Of
graduates and in the OveThanging gal
leries the audience was closely packed,
while III the front was the platform
where sat the dignitaries Of the day.
A large number of policemen were
scattered about the hall, as if fears were
entertained that the bachelors, in Cele
bration of their newly acquired mascu-
Unity, might institute college rash
or do something equally subversive Of
normal school decorum. The exercises
passed off without any such disturb
ance, however, from the salutatOry Of
Harriet NJ. Raschen to the valedictOry
delivered by Lima Hall. The programme
was agreeably diversified by some very
good singing by the normal college glee
club. who reflected great credit on their
training, both in the selection and rem
| ditiOn of their songs
After the essays and distribution OF
! the regular prizes, School Commissioner
| Clara NJ Williams, who is herself a
| graduate of the normal school, awarded
| four prizes, one to the girl of each class
having the highest standing, and then
! announced that two prizes, one Of twen-
ty dollars, the other Of ten dollars, were
to be awarded fer the best essays on
! General Grant, the Grant monument
committee having offered the prizes.
One of these was offered to the College
of the City of New York, but the stu
dents of that enterprising institution
complained that it was too near exam
nation time to work on essays, so the
prize intended for them was added to
the one offered to their more industri-
Gus sisters. The prizes were won by
Ethel Stebbins and Estelle Forsch-
! heimer.
When the exercises were over the
fifty bachelors led the way out, carry.
ing their diplomas bearing the new col.
lege seal of Minerva sitting in circle
of ivy, the college plant, clasped to then
manly bosoms.-New York Sun.