Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-14

1t was with difficulty that all Of the large
| class of graduates Of tine Columbian University
Law School found seats upon the stage of the
Academy Of Music last night, and it still
more perplexing for their friends to find room
within the theater doors where they could wit
ness the commencement exercises. which were
the twenty-eighth in the history OF this WELL
established institution. From the back wall of
the stage to the top scat in the uppermost
gallery every point of vantage was filled.
Probably never before has such an audience
been within the doors. And such an animated
sight they presented. The ladies-and there
were a great many OF them-were in summer
evening costume and the gentlemen were in
full dress.
HANDSOME DECORATIONS.
The committee which had charge of the dec
orations deserve the commentators Of their
classmates and the thanks of the audience. Tho
theater was bright and pretty that 10 one
entered the doors without remarking upon its
appearance. The gallery and boxes were draped
in lively colored flags and bunting The stage
set for u conservatory scene made the
more realistic by the banks of palms which
formed the background and sides of the rows OF
flowers which stretched across the footghts
Besides the graduates there were on the stage
the members Of the faculty. Attorney General
olHeS. Mf InarlSs W. NeeOnHm. commissioner
Parker. ex-COmmssiOner Douglass. Mr. Walter
5. Cox, Mr.. VIM. A. Msury, Profs. Henry F.
Davis and VIM. G. johnson. Civil Service Com
missioner Lyman, ]. Ormond Wilson, Z. Is. Hay
and others.
After an overture by the Marine Band the
graduates, faculty and invited guests marched
upon the stage and Rev. J. j. Muir invoked the
Divine blessing upon the young men who were
going out into the world in great profession,
and asked the Almighty aid for those members
OF The class who were IL jured in the disaster Of
Friday
Mr.. NEEDHAMs ADDRESS.
The address TO tho class was delivered by Mr.
Charles W. Needham. He said that TO those who
were about to enter upon the practice Of a great
profession he did not intend TO deliver lecture
but rather 20 point out in brief way some of
the great meridian lines the guiding stars and
the principles which must be in their minds
and III their hearts in order that they might
reach the topmost round of the ladder of fame.
he assumed that each inspired with this
ambition and the spirit of patriotism which
must govern them. Law. as generally under
stood. means the enforcement of the laws, the
prevention OF crime and the enforcement of
obligations. But this was only an infinite part
of this science. For where one man breaks the
law thousand keep it, where one obligation is
broken thousand are kept.
Law is rule OF action and it becomes the
duty of every lawyer. whether he be Judge or
practicing before the bar to lay down the laws
and rules which should guide their actions. II
Is guide of human activity. and rs such il is to
be observed. Mr.. Needham continued that he
would not take his auditor to the court which
always appeared SO attractive for the young
lawyer, but to the consultation room. where the
greatest glory and benefits were to be derived
There the rules have to be laid down which will
guide the courses and actions of those who
seek legal aid There the LAWYER shows his
LOYALTY &c the profession and his love OF the
rights of the individual. He advised that in
all their work they should demand that the law
shall be obeyed. and that in making
contracts and obligations nothing should
be written down but the truth. for
without it law cannot be respected and
honored. Law should like truth. not only be
known. but it must be prevalent, and it is the
duty Of the lawyer TO make it such. In the
community the rights OF the individual must be
observed. and lawyers should see TO it that they
are. The speaker referred to the social, moral
and political organizations which they would
be consulted i'll regard to. and recommended
that they be allowed all the freedom and scope
that the law permits Competition is Just but
destruction must not be allowed. In closing
he prophesed that the time would finally come
when tribunal would be established which
would not only govern the activities of the
state. the government and nations, but the
world.
AWARD OF PRIZES
The degrees were conferred by President
James c. yelling. and at the conclusion of this
ceremony. which was very enthusiastic tho
o,v,r, Of nr;zes ,x,s mazda bv At,or,or caroro,
O.. -, A., :, 49, a,.r,-;. ,'
IA bad 100 orr,x;no in W,shiro.nn 20 a.
fact tina. by virtue Of his Office he was made one
of the overseers of the Columbian University.
Tie likencd the prizes he was about to present
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iue nm pl.N9 Va Nv oi,oi.. py ON,
missioner larhcr Iol 'He oes' eAaii'lh''1ion oi
,ne ueereG vi DHIneior vi law. was a""raeu 20
"tIii",n -. h.t' tno niI''on piiIe vi S'o'
oHereu d! coi; n. l. Ditto" ior 'ne oest eN-
! aihiiatioh III 'he uegree OF master Oh INV was
In'hiec between hicharo NiAoh anu hooert Il.
woods. the committee announcing their ma
bhity TO award 10 one without doing an MUS
tlce 10 the other.
Inc greatest rh'eIes, was a.tacheu 10 'he
award OF prizes TOT 'he pest essays, 'he seals OF
the envelopes marked WIN nom oe piumes OF
contestants no. oeIne broken untll 'he AWARDS
were 20 De ihaue. ne winners OF prizes proved
10 De as follows: forty dollars essay on La
oliines 81 tnc Master Tor tne INJURIES OF the
servant, william hnstea heier; SSo. essay on
ne romeo rover ae, 4 ne soi tne ntn.e,
). waiter Barber, ana gu; essay on line writ
ten constitution j. A. higiey.