Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-23
High School Students Graduate in a
Blaze of Glory.
FIVE THOUSAND SPECTATORS.
Sound Advice to Students From
Eminent Educational Authorities.
THE MARINE BAND PLAYS.

school received tnelr OlplOu1as IL WOulu De
hard to say just how many people were pres
en,, but the immense auditorium of the Con-
vention Hall was filed with chairs and almost
every seat was occupied. The empty ones
could be numbered by q few scores, while the
crowd was numbered by the thousands The
lowest estimate that was put on it was 4, 800,
and from there the figures ran up to 5000.
1t is doubtful if a school commencement any
where ever attracted such a multitude Con-
vention Hall is the largest place OF the sort in
the city by all means and it was well that II was
chosen as the scene of last nights exercises for
no theater in town could have held more than
fraction of the people who wanted to see tho
entrance into the wide. wide world OF the class
Of SO of the High School II the weather had
been more propitious last evening there is no
telling how many thousands OF people would
have been on hand.
As one entered the great hall the scene that
met ones eyes was a most noticeable one. The
stage on which sat the members Of the gradual
ing class was erected on the west side OF the
building. The class numbered upward Of 800
Inc girls, all in snowy white, were seated
along the front in the first few rows Of the
raised tiers OF seats. Back of them were the
boys, many of them in the uniform Of the
High School Cadets. In front Of them all sat
the principal of the school, DR.. F. X. Lane
and about him were the members Of his staff.
The presiding officer of the evening was Mr..
John W. Ross. the president OF the board Of
Commissioners. and with him in the seats Of
honor. by the speakers desk, were Commits
sioner Parker. Mr.. John T. Mitchell, the presi-
dent of the board Of school trustees: Mr.. Vim.
b. Powell. superintendent Of the public schools
and Rev. DIR. Byron Sunderland Of the First
Presbyterian Church.
Above the stapa IN tho ceiling Of fha inn
mense hall was canopy Of blue and white.
pointed off with groups Of flags. There was
huge trefoil OF immortelles with the letters NV.
II. 5. made of incandescent electric lights,
while n the center Of the three were the class
numerals ''93." Below the stage we're massed
great Quantities of stately palms.
THE AUDIENCE.
But after all it was the audience that from
very strength Of numbers was the most inter-
esting feature OF all. The crowd began to
gather at comparatively early hour and as
the first arrivals entered the hall it really
seemed rs til ough it never could be filled But
when the time came for the exercises Of the
evening to commence the speakers looked down
upon great sea of faces. Faces by the thou
sand. The summer girl there in force to
see the fun. and there were young men by the
hundred who have tried SO hard and so unavail-
ingly to rival the High School Cadets in the
affections OF the High School girls. 1t was
bright and attractive throng and, aside from
the interest attaching to the commence
ment. 1t was well worth Drawing the storm
simply to look upon that audience and the
happy faces Of the graduates. That the public
schools. as well as the scholars, have a warm
place in the hearts of the people Of this city
was well shown last night, for every reference
by the speakers to the high standard of our
educational system was greeted by the audience
with enthusiastic applause. The acoustic quail.
N hal arg orr IrI tv nod
was possible to hear the speakers with ease and
comfort even at such distance that opera
glasses were called into requisition to give
better view Of the group upon the platform.
COMPETENT UsBERs.
As the audience arrived they were shown to
their seats BY a competent ard handsome corps
of ushers picked from the first two years of the
High School and. from the third year that did
not graduate. They were Messrs. H. s. Bur-
bank, chairman; H. E. Wilson, L. p Darrell
C. G. Mortimer, R. L. Floyd. W. G. Ogden. A.
d. Albert. jr., H. Kaufman, d. W. c. Croessant,
C. r. Hillyer. G.. T. Cox. H. W. Barker, G.
Lewis. c. Barnard, J. H. Heady, W. N. Wheeler
and E. H. Etc.
SPLENDID PROGRAM
In front Of the platform the Marine Band
was stationed under the leadership Of Prof.
Fanciulli The exercises OF the evening were
opened by the rendition Of several musical
selections, beginning with the march which
Prof. Fanculli wrote and dedicated to The
EVENING STAR. The program was as follows:
March THE Evening Star" Fanciulli
Overture. E. .'Tantalusqualen". Nv Suppe
Concert mazurka. "Czarina" ... Came
Cornet solo. The Holy City,. Adams
Mr.. Joseph Hama.
Invocation-Rev. Byron Sunderland.
Presiding oficer-Mr. ]. W. Ross, president
~
Introductory address-Mr. j. Mitchell, presi-
dent board Of trustees
Characteristic. THE Road to Moscow" De Loitz
Address-Mr. Leonard C. Wood.
Piccolo solo. Selected. Mr.. Henry Jaeger
Award of diplomas-Col Myron M. Parker.
Commissioner of the District of Columbia.
March. The High School Cadets. Souss
DIR. SUNDERLAND AND COMMISSIONER ROSS
DR.. Sunderland pronounced the invocation
He asked blessing upon the nation and upon
all the ordinances Of civilization, especially
education. He asked . blessing upon the
schools Of Washington. their principals, teach
ers and scholars.
Commissioner Ross, in making the opening
address of the evening, said that in looking
fore him. the largest ever in this city, he could
not but think that the common interest that the
citizens of Washington hold dearest Of all is our
public school system This was shown in part
by the very size Of the gathering. for nowhere
could one find more attractive nosegay of
loneliness than that represented on the stage and
in front OF it. The wonderful success that
has attended the work Of the public schools Of
the city is largely due to the abilities Of Super
intendent Powell, who acts as the major general
of the army and to his able staff of assistants,
the principals Of the divisions and Of the differ
ent high schools. Back Of all, however. stands
the board of school trustees, who labor in the
interests of the people for other recompense
than the satisfaction that comes from the
knowledge Of duty well done. He said that it
was eminently proper that they should be
addressed by the president OF the board OF
trustees, and he took great pleasure In intro
ducing to them Mr.. John T. Mitchell.
NIB. MITCHELL TALKS.
Mr. Mitchell began by saying that the occa-
sion was one Of mingled pleasure and sadness.
He was sorry that the wretched weather had
kept every one away, and he thought that If the
evening had been q pleasant one there might
have been some one there. Another cause Of
regret was the enforced absence of Mr.. Leonard
c. Wood who was to have made the principal
address of the evening" beside which his own
was to have been but incidental.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke Of the wonderfully high
standard set by the public schools of Washing
ton. and said that this was made possible by the
fact that their interests are buried deep down
in the hearts Of the people. We should, he said,
do away with any one or all Of our institutions
before we give up our public schools. high