Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-03
LLWORKTHEIRWAY
Seventy-fve Young People Equipped
for Business Life.
SPENCERIAN COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT
An Immense Audience Present at
the Grand OPERA House.
INTERESTING EXERCISES

No better evidence of the high place
which the Spencerian Business College
holds in the estimation of Washington peo-
pie could be desired than glance at the
immense crowd which filled the Grand
Opera House to Its capacity yesterday af-
ternoon, and enjoyed the interesting pro-
gram Of exercises presented in connection
with the twenty-ninth annual commence
ment Of the institution. All the available
space in stage. boxes and auditorium was
occupied by friends of the college and of
its pupils. and the enjoyment of the occa-
sion was emphasized by the marks of APP
proval with which the exercises were SO
frequently accumulated.
Upon the stage were Mrs Sara A. Spen-
Ger, the principal of the college; Mr.. j. Or
mond Wilson, Mr.. Zalmon Richards. Mr..
M. G.. Emery. Mr.. a: S. Pratt, Mr..
der, Mr.. Frank B. Noyes Mrs. Ellen Spen-
Mussey, Prof. Henry c. Spencer,
Prof. Duhamel, Miss Anna NJ. Hays,
Miss Lucy NJ. Graves and Miss Lura c.
Rugs. After the orchestra had played
couple of numbers the graduating classes.
comprising seventy young men and women.
the former wearing black coats with red
pnks on their lapels, and the latter attired
in white gowns, marched on the stage, and
after going through a march, which showed
considerable practice in drilling, brought
on their own chairs with sturdy inderen-
dence, and seated themselves behind the
floral wall at the footlights which was
made up of the bouquets and baskets which
had been sent to the graduates by admiring
friends.
Delivery of SalutatOries.
The Invocation was offered by Rev. VIM.
G. Alexander, and the exercises commenced
with the salutatory, delivered by Mr.. Geo.
j. Hesselman, representing the night
classes. He spoke briefly and brightly,
combining his attention to practical observa-
lions upon current events. lie believed the
future would be much brighter than pessi-
mists would allow, and declared that hon
est money, a cessation of tariff agitation
and the presence of business men instead Of
politicians in Congress would be specific
remedies for the industrial evils with
which the country was afflicted.
Miss Josephine Therese Kelly urged young
women to prepare themselves for the emer-
gency which might come to all and cause
them to seek self-support in the saluta-
tory she delivered in behalf of the depart
ment of shorthand and typewriting, and
abundantly proved her declaration that the
world had no place ior oilers of either
sex in a logical and pleasing manner.
The same theme inspired Miss Mary Jean
Gibson in her eXceliently prepared valedic-
tory.
For the gentlemen graduates Mr.. Alister
Sloan Langille delivered the valedictory
and paid high tribute to the institution
which had so abundantly equipped him for
his future business life, dwelling particu-
larly upon the close relations which exist
between the college and the commercial
classes of Washington.
Mrs. Mussey's Remarks.
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, the principal
speaker Of the day, was introduced by Mrs.
Spencer. She described her connection with
the college quarter of century ago and
the pride she felt when she had assist
ed in turning out graduating class of
seven. Those were the pioneer days in the
work of women's education, she said, and
the members of the class of seven were
among the first women in the Union to
undertake business life and its serious re-
sponsibilit:es, and all of them made a sue
cess. Mrs. MusSey dWelt at length upon
the value and efficiency of young business
women. and said that any woman who en-
tered business life in Washington was sure
to be treated with respect and courtesy.
Mrs. Spencer presented to the community,
in characteristic speech, the class of 80.
1.-THE Courtship of Miles Standish,'
study in expression, was exquisitely define
ated by the class.
Mrs Spencer then introduced Mr.. Frank
B. Neyes. valedictoran of the class of 81,
who awarded the diplomas.
MIR. Frank d. Noyes' Address.
Mr. Noyes said: Il take it that my
function here today is that of an elder
brother, who has preceded you by few
years In his plunge into the business of
life, and to welcome you on what is practi-
cally your entrance into the world of af-
fairs. 1t will require hard, earnest and
constant fight to win any success worth
attaining. Above all things, hold to the
truth that all business is based on con-
fidence and reliance in the integrity of 9TH
ers. Withdraw this confidence, on which,
in the shape of credit, practically all the
business of the world is transacted. and
a crash paralyZing commerce instantly fol-
lows See to it that, whatever past in life
you play, you held like grim death to what
is right and fair and honest, and do moth
ing to undermine this confidence.
LAS community or nation gains wealth,
and this in course of time passes by in
heritance to those who have not by any
personal effort earned it. there grows up
what is called leisure or idle class.
This class in older countries sets up a
claim to some sort Of superiority, which
has, indeed received a tacit recognition,
preposterous it may seem. Even in his
country, where our wealth is so new tnat
idleness has been considered discreditable,
we are developing enough idlers to make
very dangerous nucleus, and 1t seems
necessary to warn the youth of the country
that there is nothing notwithstanding
worthy of emulation-in voluntary idle.
ress, whether it be that of the holder OF
inherited wealth or that of the plain, ordi-
nary, everyday tramp Ihey are Dol, pom
are both reaping where they have not SOW
ed 1t is not enough to say that mans
money is working for him. If he is not
producing something with hand or brain
to make the world richer, better and hap
pier he cumbers the earth, and the world
would be better off without him. Least OF
all in this country should one tolerate any
supercilious airs on the part of these para
sites This is not the country nor this the
century for oilers. loaferS or tramps
Il bid you good cheer as you go 1orth
into Hfe's conflict. The training you have
received in this institution whose diplomas
1 am about to present you will be OIL I'M
mense aid in your coming struggle. ne
great body of graduates of Spenceria
Business College you are about to join is
an exceedingly honorable one The bone
and snew of the business life of Washing
ton is largely made up of those who have
been trained in this institution and the
business houses of the city, to say the
least, would be sadly crippled it the Spen-
cerian graduates We're Withdrawn from
them In their name l bid you welcome
and God Speed!'