Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-27
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRA
Final Exercises of the Episcopal High
School
Presentation to n Popular Teacher
Mark of Honor From Old
PupiIs-Other Notes.

The final exercises of the Episcopal High
School of Virginia took place in Liggett
Memorial Hall at the school yesterday af-
ternoon, and was attended by a large num-
Der of youth and beauty from Washington,
Baltimore, this city and elsewhere. The
opening prayer was read by the Rev. w.
H H. Assheton of Warrenton, Va, who
had charge of the religious work among
the High School boys while he was at the
seminary. The certificates of merit were de-
| livered by Mr. L. NJ. Blackford, the princi-
pal For reading at sight, Philip p. Steptoe
of Culpeper won the first prize, and Thos.
F. *. Nelson of Fairfax, the second prize.
For ordinary reading w. w. Laird of Mary
laid got the first prize, and Archie r. Hox-
ton the second. For defamation FitZ l..
Minniserode of Alexandria, first prize, and
E. w. Robertson of Louisiana, second. The
scholarship prizes were awarded as follows:
Whittle prize, first, to F. A. Cooke of Mis-
sissippi; second, r. I. Browse, West Vir
gnia; third, p. p. Steptoe of Gulpepec;
fourth, L. q. Hoxton of the High School.
Johns prize, T. F. X. Nelson of Fairfax, T.
l. Rust of Alexandria and H. S. Worth
ington of Fairfax. Meade prize. VIM. w.
Laird of Maryland. At this juncture A. r.
Hoxton read "A Noble Effort, from Puck;
E. w. Robertson detained The Women
Of the South" Jas. l.. Gordon; w. w.
Laird read THE Outcasts of Poker Flat"
Bret Harte, and F. l.. Minnigerode de-
claimed Through Death to Life" When
these exercises had been completed the pre-
sentation of medals took place, as follows:
Taliaferro prize medals-lor Improvement
in penmanship, first to Richard Cheney
Wilson of StauntCn; second to Watt Har-
den Hairston of Henrico. Bibb prize medal
for excellence in the study of Shakes
peare to Philip Pendleton Steptoe of Gull
PEPPER. HoXton memorial prize medal-for
excellence in mathematics TO Llewellyn
ri Ilt.b Cab
Wilson prize medal-for excellence in. Eng
fish composition, to Elliott Johnston Dent
of Pennsylvania.
Inasmuch as the occasion today was the
twenty-fifth anniversary of Mr.. L. NJ
Blackford as principal of the school, and
his loyal old boys, of whom there are many
hundreds in every part of this land, had
determined to present him at this time
with some token of their regard, so. at
variance with the program, Immediately
after the commencement exercises proper
the Rev. j. Thompson Cole, an alumnus, of
New York, requested that the alumni be
given the floor, and called upon +. Walton
Moore of Fairfax TO take the chair.
Mr.. Moore stated the wish of the old
boys TO mark this anniversary in a signiti-
cant manner. He spoke in glowing terms
of the work that Mr.. Blackboard has done
in the quarter of a century of his princi-
paship. and said that whatever the future
may have in store for the school, her past
was assured, and nothing could efface or
detract from the brilliant record. He then
introduced Mr. Morgan II. Beach of Wash
ington,who. in witty and graceful speech
presented Mr.. Blackford on behalf of the
old boys of the past twenty-five sessions
beautiful silver service He congratu-
lated Mr.. Blackford upon the eminent sue
cess that has crowned his laboTs. and
voicing the sentiment of all true friends
of the school, wished him many moro years
of undisturbed prosperity as principal.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Beach's address,
which was received with rounds of ap-
al,
most grateful and touching acknowledge
ment of this mark of favor and affection
from his former pupils.
Just before Mr.. Blackford's acceptance
| the audience rose and sang AUD Lang
Syne," and when he concluded three hearty
! cheers We're given him. The whole cere-
| mony. though almost impromptu. was deep
ly affecting, and one long to be remember
| ed The alumni committee, of which MIR.
R. Walton Moore is chairman, and Mr..
| P. Lea Thorn of Baltimore is treasurer,
are to be congratulated upon their taste
| in selecting the present. The service is a
masterpiece of silver work. The loving cup
has embossed upon it two pictures of the
school buildings, one as they We're in 1870
| and the other they are today. There are
five other pieces to the set, all massive
and beautiful.
Police Report.
There were but two cases before Mayor
Strauss in the police court this morning
| phonzo Arlington, charged with assault on
W. r. Pruitt, was dismissed. Alice Jones
| charged with disorderly conduct, vas dis
missed.
4 Narrow Escape.
AS Mr.. Charles Howells wife and chilli
| were coming off the excursion steamer City
! of Richmond last night, about 10 o'clock,
| the gang plank slipped of the wharf and
threw them into the river. Mr.. Howell had
reached the wharf with a baby carriage,
| and was returning to get his wife and child
| when the accident occurred. He saw a
| woman with a baby in her arms struggling
| in the water. He swan to where they were
and rescued them. They proved to be his
wife and child. In the meantime. the crew
| of the steamer came to his assistance, and
| rescued all three. Mrs. William Latham
| was on the gang plank at the time, but
| was saved by some one who was standing
| near her. This is the second accident OF
| the kind on this wharf. the first one being
| that of Miss Dove. who was drowned on
the Fourth of July, 1891.
Capt p b. Hooe is very i'll at his resi-
dence on Washington street.
| A musical entertainment will be given
| this evening at the Young Mems Sodality
Hall, on Duke street. for the benefit of St
Mary's Church, by the co.oced scholars
| of ST. Marys school.
| Mr. Alexander Murray and bride have
| returned from their wedding trip
| The ordination exercises at the TheoloS-
| ical Seminary will take place tomorrow
morning at IL o'clock.
The term of Mayor Strauss will expire
| Sunday night at midnight. Mayor-eiect
| Beckham will return from Europe about
the middle of July, until which time the
| president of the common council will act
| as mayor. The garbage matter will re-
ceive the same attention in future I'M
| der Mayor Strauss, who has done 50 much
| toward Kidding the city of this nuisance.
Theological Seminary Alumni.
| The alumni association of the Theologi-
| cal Seminary met yesterday. and after
| trarsacting routine business elected the
| following officers: Bishop Whittle, presi
| dent Bishops Dudley of Kentucky, Jack
son of Alabama, Newton of Virginia. Ran
| dolph of southern Virginia, and Rev. R. b.
| Tucker, vice presidents; Prof. S. A. Wallis,
| secretary, and Prof. Grammer, treasurer.
| The alumni address was delivered by DR..
Jones of Pennsylvania Last night Rev.
| Floyd Tompk;nS of Rhode Island delivered