Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-21
Last Nights Joint Commencement
of the High Schools.
CONVENTION HALL CROWDED
Interesting Speeches by Prominent
Men Cheered.
THE DIPLOMAS AND AWARDS

wall 10 wall last evening IN orQer 10 VIII
ness the joint commencement exercises Of
the Central, Eastern and Western High
Schools. The large attendance was a fore
ible reminder of the meetings of the noted
evangelists in the same auditorium eighteen
months ago. but its coming was for a diff
ferent purpose; mothers and fathers were
there to proudly witness the formal grad
uation of loved daughter or son, more
joyous, perhaps, than the recipient of the
diploma over his or her success, and there
were also present interested friends and
sweethearts not by the score, but by thou
sands.
The graduates and the audience began
arriving early. Before 730 o'clock close
professions of ladies, attired In white and
ribbons, and men, ranging from grand
fathers to tots, were in motion on every
thoroughfare leading to Conven ton Hall.
1t was an interesting turnout to gaze on,
too, and residents along the streets re-
ferred to reviewed the passers-by from up
per windows as though the attraction was
a brass band and men in uniform. At the
entrance to the hall quite jam resulted
from the influx, but the throng was kept in
motion, although pedestr!anism was far
from rapid.
An Attractive Sight.
Inside things were even more Interesting.
The hall never before presented such an
facing east, was erected midway on the
west side and about three sides of it the
seats for the audience were placed. On the
platform the seats were arranged in tiers,
and directly above them was constructed
a large monogram of the letters w, H and
S, inclosed in a circle of green sprigs. In
cluded in the device were numerous mean
descent electric lights, with vari-colored
globes, the w showing blue, the H red and
the s white. The monogram was the work ,
nj ard Cai of f1,.,U Il
Latng class, and it was greatly admired
Above the plat 'orm there were in addition
three large American flags and field of
bunting, with stripes of white and blue
the High School colors, while suspended
from the ceiling, walls and railing of the
gallery were streamers and banners with
out number, the whole forming a most pic
turesque sight
Seating the Audience.
The audience was still arriving when, at
s15 o'clock, the Marine Band, under the
personal direction of Prof. Fanciulli, locat-
ed near the front Of the platform, but
separated from it by a miniature forest of
palms. began the overture. Barber of
Seville" The seating of the concourse was
in the hands of a committee of High |
School cadets, wearing the uniform. blouse |
and white duck trousers, and admirably |
did they perform their duty. The absence |
of disorder, crowding and delay was re-
freshing, and reflected more than ordinary |
credit on the cadets, who We're Mr.. Fox. |
in charge; Messrs. Julihn, Kent, Hylmun, |
gan, Herbert, Walker, Clark, Fuller, Grasty, |
Goover, Wilkinson, Ray, Chase. Farrow. |
Norwood, Kelley. Brockett Pipes. Tracey,
Howe and Tasdel of the Central SCHOOL,
Messrs. Miller, White, Kelly, Funck, Hun
ter, Pierce, Bryan, Coleman, Law, Strick-
Ter. Smell, Church. Brock, Dawson. White, |
Austin, Thorn, Spalding, Slye, Landvoigt and |
Good of the Eastern, and Messrs. Leetch, |
Kirkland. Whiting. Beller Smoot, Rams |
burg. MCGOWAN, Berry and jackson of the |
Western.
On the Platform.
During the overture and the succeeding |
number, a mazurka, La Mousme," seats |
on the front of the platform were taken by |
Commissioner John W. Ross, Commissioner
George Truesdell, Postmaster General VIM.
L. Wilson, Rev. A. D. Mayo, Rev. Charles |
A. Stakely, President James Whelpley of |
the board Of school trustees, DIR. a. H. |
Wilmer of the board of school trustees, |
Superintendent of Schools William b. Pow |
ell, Principal Francis r. Lane, Principal |
c. NJ. Lacey Sites, Principal Edith c. Wes- |
colt. Mrs. Hoeglesberger of tine faculty of |
the Central School. and party from the
Chinese legation. |
In obedience to a signal from DR.. Lane |
the band commenced playing the ever |
popular High School Cadets March," and |
the procession of graduates entered the |
hall, the fourth-year class in the lead. |
Every one arose to watch the line move |!
through the aisles. separate at the front of |
the platform, mount the same from oppo- |
site sides and then approach the rows of |
chairs thereon. The music stopped, DR.. |
Lane clapped his hands and the hundreds |
OF graduates took seats as one person and |
earned round of applause by the unison |
Of the movement.
Mr.. Ross Address.
Commissioner Ross,the presiding officer of
~ a ia
invoke divine blessing, and the latter,
among other things, asked blessing on |
the educational institutions which were |
about to send forth the young people on |
the platform The next number was the |
intermezzo from "Cavaileria Rusticana,"
by the band, after which, in an introduce |
tory address, Commissioner Ross stated |
that there are many causes which render |
June an ideal north in the Washington !
calendar. 1t is the month of roses, he said, |
when the air is laden with the perfume |
of flowers, but the chief distinction of The |
month of June at the capital is that it |
marks the end Of the school year and !
brings needed rest. ut Is the time now !
for congra tulation,' the speaker went on |
to say. These young people have worked
and studied we'll. They have learned how
to learn, they know what discipline is and
they know what is possible in the way of
scholarly attainments. They have tested |
their capabilities and may success attend |
everyone of them. All persons connected |
with the public schools know that they !
will make the most of their opportunities |
and we consider them our boys and our |
girls.
IT congratulate these young people on
having been able to attend school in the |
capital, Commissioner Ross continued. 1.-THE |
privilege afforded the youth of the District |
of Columbia to study the lawmakers of |
the nation, the men of the departments and |
to attend great conventions is unequaled. |
The pupils of our public schools are well |
Yersed in the political history of the coun- |
try and the principles on which it is found !
ed These advantages ought to be open |
to the youth of the entire country, and to
that end a great national university should |
be located in the District" In closing |
Commissioner Ross congratulated the |
school trustees the superintendent, prin-
cipals and teachers, and expressed the |
hope that they would enjoy a weli-earned |
rest. He was presented with a handsome |
basket Of flowers by the class.
Prof. Fanciuli's patrol the GLORIOUS |
South" caused much enthusiasm, especial |
Iy that portion of 1t embracing Dixie"
and in response to a determined encore the |
new and popular Morton Cadets March"
was played.
Postmaster General Wilson.
In introducing the speaker of the even |
ing, Commissioner Ross referred to Post
ubo