Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22


view of what he had
done in the pas. eight years. He saw him
self an oversrown, awkward angular boy.
being critically examined by several scores
of other boys of pretty much the same
characteristics. and being introduced by a
tall man in queer sort of a gown to those
nearest to him.
He followed himself to the study hall
and the refectory of the boarding school,
and later to the long, high raftered dormi-
tory lined with beds little bigger than cots
ard each to itself in a compartment cur
tained with cotton stun hanging from iron
frames. He remembered the next morning
when he was given desk in the class
rocm and the days that followed when he
was getting acquainted and paying sundry
visits down back of the ball alley to fight
certain boys who had decided to take his
measurement.
Then he entered college and then came
the calm, humdrum. monotonous months
that followed when his position among his
fellows was assured, the pleasures and pun
ishments, the penanceS and prizes, and the
steady advance from one class to another
up the step ladder of advancing studies.
The Days That Are Passed.
The eight years were all before him; their
triumphs and failures; their storms and
sunshine, and he heaved sigh of some
tblr g like regret until he looked at the suit
and the shoes. Then he dwelt upon what
was going to happen to him in the next
twenty hours. He had attended commence
ment exercises for all those ten years. but
those to come soon were to be different
1t would be his turn now to sit upon the
stage, and be one of the objects of interest
to the throngs in front. There would be
prayer. and music and an address, and then
his name would be called and he would de-
liver his carefully prepared valedictory.
He Slowed with pleasant anticipation. and
there was great gratitude in his soul, too,
as he thought of the two dear old people
who would bend falling ears to catch his
every word and send affectionate proud
glances up at him from swimming eyes.
That ten minutes of musing in the old col
lege room is as fresh to him, twenty-five
years after, as If 1T had occurred only yes
terday. But the realities that followed
where are they? What did he say in that
valedictory anyhow? Something stilted and
conventional. he will bet. Let's see, who
were the other fellows? There was Jack
LOOMS and Patterson Gregg-and-why
there We're twenty-six of Them and he can't
remember but two. and they live near him
nCwi
There are a thousand and one young men,
ana young women, too, who are now going
through pretty much the experience as he
did twenty-five years ago. and twenty-five
years hence, perhaps all that seems now
50 vitality important in even the smallest
details will be as dim to them. Maybe
graduation is merely the doorway to actual
life, and as We are struck with the appear
ance of an entrance when we first go into
a house, and lose all but vague memory of
Wnat'lt Is like when we reach the more at
tractive and interesting interior, do we
forget the details of what we once regarded
as the very epoch of our lives when the
hustle and worry and keen interest of the
after struggle takes possession of US.
Over Again i'm the Children.
The man who graduated twenty-five
years ago is interested again in another
commencement, indeed. two of them, in the
year 1895. but in different way. lusty
picture OF himself has or will step out on
the stage to receive the parchment that
certiiies that he is bachelor of arts while
a sweet image of her mother will receive a
similar document from a young ladies'
boarding school. Young to get through so
soon? Verify, for the boys twenty and the
girl year younger.
The father Is called upon for cash in an
apparently extravagant sort of a way. Tom
seems to think his daddy is made of doub-
looms. There are his new clothes-say 500.
There are his class expenses, and class day
exercises will be so more. Cash for an ap-
proprate celebration of the occasion-say
so more. Make incidentalS SO, and the
total of the items will tell the story of
what it will cost to see Tom through the
finals
Then there's Anna bless her Her mother
of course, attends to her side of the ques-
ton. but the father pays the bills. There's
that cream OF white dress with accom-
panyins gewgaws and fixtures, filmy lin
gerie. silk hosiery. slippers. gloves, hat
flowers and a host of other things. Does
he itemize the articles? Never in the world
He Jumps the expenses with a cheek for
$50, anu inwardly declares that a girl IS
less expensive than boy-at graduation
times. anyhow.
That father Is neither extravagant or
foolish. He is careful and economical, but
he Is fairly well-to-do in the world, and
wishes to have his children make good
appearance upon such a momentous occa-
sion.
OF course there are lots of other fathers
who cannot afford such an outlay but
taking the average business or professional
mans children, it will cost just about the
amounts enumerated above to properly see
the children through the brief period of bid
ding final adieu to regular studies In mod
schools. outside, of course, of the reg
ular fees charged by the institutions
The Commencement Grafton.
Graduation is not the pleasantest part Of
getting an education, however, in the case
of the ambitious student. The essay, thesis
address, which is necessary to a diplo-
ma in these days of advanced methods, are
responsible for an immense quantity of
hard work, Of careful research and of tire
less weighing in the scales of Judgment
Time was when the aspiring senior pre-
pared his final mental effort out of his
inner consciousness. He gave his views on
this or that subject, supposed to be of i'm
portance in the life he was about to enter
His remarks We're on the editorial order
and were submitted without emendation
or elimination.
The latter day work of this sort is en-
tirey different. Professors and pedagogues
demand something more material now from
advanced students than mere dissertations
on this or that threadbare and hackneyed
theme. A high standard is set and stu
dents are compelled to make energetic eff
forts to reach II.
For weeks past the Library of Congress
has been visited by young men and young
women, too. who went to pore over ponder
Gus tones the subjects they were to
consider in their final school efforts. Science,
history, literature of the higher class
statistics, biographies and a host of other
shelves have been ransacked by the aspir-
ipg yourg authors in search of authorities
upon which to base proper and logical con-
illusions upon the question propounded for
their consideration.
They read the results from behind stacks
of flowers that Danish footlishts, and hear
the applause of audiences that cannot I'M
derstand, save in spots. what in the world
to oil nj huf he priza visit knows