The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-02
Thirty Little Boys Sing the
Phantom Chorus From
"Sonnambula."
WARM DEBATE ON EDUCATION
A Complete List of the Rhetoric
and Grammar Pupils Who
Received Prizes.

The literary exercises of the rhetoric
and grammar classes opened the thirty
seventh annual commencement week IN
Exhibition Hall of st. IgDatius College, at
Van Ness avenue and Hayes street, last
night. The hall was crowded with the
proud, fond parents, other relatives and
the friends of the young members OF the
classes.
Clarence Carrigan delivered a welcome
in Latin of his own composition, empha-
sized with appropriate gestures. The
forum at Rome had presented many such
q scene, and the applause which followed
was none the less ringing than has
sounded in the Circus Maximus. 1t is
down in the experience of all college boys
that the translation of Latin may be an
easy thing, but the translation of English
into Latin is entirely another under
taking. Young Carrigan bowed as stately
as Cicero in recognition of the applause.
The exercises began with an overture by
the excellent orchestra of the college.
George G. Fox delivered an essay on
the Fourteenth Centenary of the Bap-
tism of Clovis" He recited how the fierce
King of the Franks had been won to Chris
tianity by his Queen Clotile, and how
daughter of the church. His delivery and
the subject matter of the discourse were
heartily applauded
A chorus of about thirty boys, with sew
eral men as bassos, sang the Phantom"
from the opera "Sonnam bula, in fine
style. Being encored, they repeated it.
Then came an original poem by John
Carrigan, 1.-The Basilica of the Sacred
Heart, Montmartre. Here is verse
from it:
Dark the hour OF trial,
When wondering al the sight,
. ! he world saw PROSTATE, lying
Under the victor's might,
On the red field OF battle,
o.. Graspng her shattered lance
Scarce conscious that the fight was lost,
Poor conquered bleeding France.
France that had been so glorious,
France one to all so dear,
And proudly by her children hailed
The nation without peer.
Richard Lloyd Williams spoke as
Young man during the time OF Constantine,
when he acclaimed his Latin specim men,
De Bono Discipulo," and received his
full share OF applause.
4 small bow at the little end of big cor
net, Master William Dewey, u years old,
completely captivated the audience by his
solos. He received almost as many en-
cores as there are notes in the scale. Two
of the things he played were Tine Blue
Bells OF Scotland" and yankee Doodle"
There was another selection by the
college choir, and then came a debate on
the question: Resolved, That classical
education is, generally speaking. more
useful than a purely commercial train
ing" The affirmative was supported by
William Barry and George Svetenich, and
the negative side of the question was
championed by Henry Tanning and
George Harloe.
The young men all made good and
energetic speeches, the strongest, per-
haps, being that of Mr.. Tanning. The de-
cision was left by H. Merle, president OF
the debate, with the audience, and the
audience was not called on to decide.
More music by the young chorus and
the orchestra followed and then the fac
ulty took seats on the platform and the
distribution of prizes was in order.
Silver medals were presented to those
having the highest scholarships and suit
able books to those winning premiums
Frequently the announcement of the name
of a popular pupil was followed by ap-
plause by his schoolmates and the audi
ence. The awards were as follows: