Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-12
Just Fresh From the Kindly Care of
Their Alma Mater.
GEORGETOWN Law SCHOOL GRADUATES
A Brilliant Scene at the Commence.
ment at the Academy.
PRIZES AND DIPL O. A S


pearnce than 1t did last evening. The &C.
casion was the annual commencement of
the law department OF Georgetown Uni
versity. Flags, beautiful floral decorations
and the presence of friends made the oc-
casion one which the lawyer in after years
will often picture in his minds eye as being
one of the most charming In his whole
career.
Upon the platform were seated the grad
yates. members of the law faculty OF
Georgetown University and others. The
music for the evening was rendered by the
Marine Band. under the leadership of Prof
Fanciulli The exercises of the occasion
were preceded by several selections from the
orchestra. Rev. ]. Havens Richards, s. j.,
president Of the University. then made
short Introductory address. He congratu-
lated the university upon the fact that a
large number of those who were to receive
a legal degree at its hands on this occasion
were already the possessors Of academic de-
Gfees Ihls, he said. went to prove that the
standard of those who entered the law
school was gradually growing better. But
while II was very important that the young
men VINO applied for entrance to the law
school should be possessed OF good edu-
cation. the standard should not be placed so
high as to exclude those who, although
their educational advantages were few
and an earnest desire to become successful
lawyers The degrees were then conferred
Senator MandersOn's Address.
Judge Martin T. Morris of the District
Court of Appeals introduced Senator Charles
F. Henderson Of Nebraska, who delivered
the address to the graduating classes.
The Senator began his talk with a few
pleasant recollections of his early days in
the law Office. which, he said had been
brought to mind by the comparison of notes
which he and Judge Wilson had been en-
gagged in while seated together during the
nrSt part OF the exercises. The reference to
Judge Wilson was the signal for a tremen-
dous outburst of applause, which showed
very plainly that the judge holds a high
place In the esteem of all those who are in
any way connected with the Georgetown
school of law. Continuing, the Senator said
that while the contrasts of this life are often
remarked and frequently excite our special
wonder they are not so observable as its
reSemblances or SO abundant as its similar
ities. Within short time. said the speaker,
II had been his lot to stand before three diff
ferent graduating classes-one at West
Point. one at a college for women in Mas
SachuSettS and the third the graduating
class OF Georgetown Law School. The con-
trasts or the three occasions were most
marked, but the similarties were more re-
markable. The career OF arms the sphere
OF woman. the pursuit of the law. were wide
apart. yet all united in reaching for the
highest citizenship and for a result that
shall be the best for the race.
The speaker then proceeded to nav a
glowing tribute to the men who devoted
their lives to the instruction of those who
were to follow In their footsteps and con-
graduated the classes before him uDon
the careful instruction which ii had been
their privilege TO enjoy. He warned them
however, not to consider that the degrees
which they had received meant in any
broad sense that they were masters" Of
the study of law. That position was not to
be obtained even after many years of ar
duous labor. IL most cases. but the effort
was worth all IL cost.
Qualities of u Lawyer.
The position of those who had preceded
them in the practice of the law should be
to point out the pitfalls and besetting dan
gers and to tell where the best places for
rest and refreshment were to be found.
In this connection the Senator reminded his
hearers that order is heavens first law"
1t was prime necessity that system and
orderly arrangement should play an import
ant part in me makeup of him who would
be the successful practitioner Punctuality
was of the greatest importance. A client
might forgive anything sooner than judg-
ment by default entered against him be-
cause his lawyer was behind time. Courte-
sy was essential. not only to client and
friend, but tc opponent and foe. Many a
case had been lost by abuse that excited
sympathy. Depth of thought and purpose
tress who needed constant wooing. The
speaker quoted from Emerson that Truth
is the summit of being" and urged upon his
listeners the forsaking of any action about
which I. doubt arose in the conscience.
There was no disposition more charac-
teristic of the tyro in the profession than
that which prompts him to change the
Icing existing. To the man of few cases
the jury system that has obtained SO long
Under our Jurisprudence is all wrong. He
would change the unanimity required
III the finding of petit juries to the ma jority
vote lie would destroy the right of chal-
lehgc, peremptory or for cause. He would
Substitute the straightforward, unsympa-
thetic expert juror for the juror taken from
one's peers. He would tear down the mas
sive edif1ce erected through centuries of
toll. The speaker reminded his hearers
that while it was easy to destroy it was
hard 10 rebuild.
The snowy part of a lawyers life comes
when he is called upon to act as an advo-
cate, but the most important function which
a lawyer occupied was that of counsellor
Here discretion and wisdom must charac-
teriZe his every word. There could not be
with safety any jumping at conclusions
To him sitting in quiet and seclusion life
comes in all its forms and calls for his ad-
vice to lead ii on to better things
In conclusion, the speaker said: IF were
to select a single word to engrave over the
door of the lawyers office, to write upon
the pages of every book in his library and
burn into the very tablets OF his mind IL
would be the word 'fdelity'-fdelity to the
client. fidelity to the court. fidelity to him
self"
The Award Of Prizes.
The annual award of prizes was then
made by Judge Jere Wilson as follows:
Faculty cash prize of $40, to Francis NJ
Eline of Wisconsin, for the best essay from
among the members of the senior class.
Subject, stare Decisis.' %
Honorable mention was made of William
McDevitt, whose subject was. Moral Insan-
ity as Legal Defense"
Faculty cash prize of S25, to Eugene
Rhodes of Kansas, for the best essay from
among the members of the postgraduate
class. Subject, Trial by Jury
Mr.. John w. Langley received honorable
mention, his essay being entitled THE Lee
gal Status of Married Women in the United
States"
Special prize of set of Smiths Leading
Cases" to Eugene Rhodes of Kansas for
the best essay from among the members of
the senior and postgraduate classes COM
bined.
A cash prize of $40 to the member of the
junior class maintaining the best average
in recitations and examinations during the
year was awarded to Charles Earl of Mary
land.
A cash prize of 500 to the member of the
senior class maintaining the best average
in Rotations and examinations during the
year was awarded to r. Ross Perry, jr., Of
the District of Columbia