Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-14
PRIZES AND DIPLOMAS
Seventy Second Annual Commencement of
Columbian College.
OratiOns Delivered by Graduates Last
Night-Excellence I'm Studies Re-
warded-Prize Winners.

In the presence of throng which filled
Metzerott's Music Hall the seventy-second
annual commencement of that venerable
and famous seat of learning, the Columbian
College, was held last evening. In connec-
ton with it was also held the seventh an
nual commencement of the Corcoran Scien-
tific School. The stage was handsomely
decorated with plants and cut flowers. and,
after the Marine Band orchestra had rem
dered Rossinis ''Tancred" overture, Presi-
dent yelling. the faculties of both insti-
tutions and the graduates marched upon
the stage, amid the enthusiastic greeting
of the audience.
The Rev. DIR. Huntington invoked the
Divine blessing, and then, after the or
chestra had rendered two selections by
Jungmann, President yelling introduced
Mr.. Marathon Montrose Ramsey of West
Virginia, a graduate of the Scientific
School. who read very interesting paper,
entitled Language and Science
When the applause which greeted Mr..
Ramsey's paper had subsidized President
yelling announced that essays had been
prepared as follows: The Development of
the English Novel, Miss Hester f. McNelly,
District of Columbia; Commonplace Phios-
:ophy. Miss Juliet Maud Duvall. District of
Columbia; Harmonies Miss Mary Virginia
Fenwick, District of Columbia; American
Womanhood the Highest Product of Our
Christian Civilization, Mr. Henry l.. Mitch
ell, District of Columbia The Evils of In
restricted immigration. Mr.. George Luff
Edmunds, District of Columbia; The Politi-
cal Condition of France in the Latter Part
Of the Eighteenth Century, Mr.. William W.
Grier, District of Columbia; Glimmerings
of the Dawn, Mr.. Arthur l.. Wilson, West
Virginia. Miss McNelly and Messrs. Ed
munds. Grier and Wilson, explained Presi-
dent yelling, had been excused from a
reading OF their papers, and then Miss Du-
vail was presented. Her essay was a very
interesting contribution, in which she traced
from the earliest nations to those of the
present time the folk lore of their people.
In very many instances, she said, the same
Identical stories, with very little difference
in presentation. were found in the folk lore
of all nations 1t was commonplace philos-
ophy upon which they were founded, and
1t was such philosophy, said Miss Duvall
which, after all, had done so much for
mankind.
In her paper Miss Fenwick pictured Ma
ture one grand poem, a beautiful, silent
finite. There was harmony always be-
tween God and Nature. said the young lady,
a fact which should never be forgotten. In
It's recognition and in its acceptance was
found peace and success.
La TZarna," concert magurka by
Came, was rendered by the orchestra, and
then Mr.. Mitchell. the third contestant for
The Davis OIatorical prize, read his paper.
Describing the condition of woman in the
earliest of the ages, and picturing her
gradual advancement, the essayist said that
today she enjoyed in free America the
greatest freedom and privileges she had
ever known. In that freedom. he said, lay
the secret Of this country's success and
promir ence. for with the progress of wo-
man had man risen to his highest estate.
AS Egypt had reached her highest develop
ment when her literature was fullest of the
praise of woman and her work, SO would
America lead the other nations of the earth
because of the freedom of her cultured wo-
men. When she was degraded and enslav-
ed. the nation was degraded ana enslaved.
Napoleon's sun did rot go down at Austen
litz. but 1t sank when he robbed Josephine
of her right to stand beside him. H Is
"Womans emancipation, said Mr..
Mitchell, in conclusion. began with the ap-
pearance of the star of Bethlehem and had
been co-existent with Christianity. until to-
day she stands side by side with man, the
highest product of Christian civilization .
Mr.. S. Carroll Ford of the District of
Columbia followed Mr.. Mitchell. delivering
the valedictory. He made no attempt at
oratory, but in plain matter-of-fac ad-
dress spoke feelingly of his alma mater, of
it's great worth and illustrious position and
babe his fellows and the faculty a touching
farewell.