Evening star., 1896-06-11
Brilliant Scene Last Evening When
Diplomas Were Awarded.
COLLEGE AND SCIENTIFIC GRADUATES
Vice President Stevenson's Earnest
and Patriotic Address.
F L OW ERS AND SIC

or the Columbian College and the ninth an
nual commencement of the Corcoran Sci
entff1c School were held last evening at
MetZerott Hall amid most pleasant sur
roundings. The hall was elaborately dec
GRATED and beautified for the occasion,
mass Of palms and potted plants occupying
every inch of the stage, except such as
was set aside for the graduates. the fac
ulty and guests, while along the front was
arranged cut flowers and handsome floral
designs. Bunting and flags had been mad-
use of in profusion and by artistic hands.
Huge rosettes were suspended from the gal
lery, and above them was broad stretch
of dark blue and yellow. the well-known
colors of Columbian.
AS background for the stage the ma
tional colors were stretched. and streamers
of blue and yellow fell in symmetrical
curves from the ceiling to the private
boxes. Banners of blue and yellow, with
the letters c. U. standing out In bold re-
lief, were also in evidence. The hall was
filled with interested relatives and friends,
while on the platform, in addition TO the
president of the university. the faculty of
the school and a large number of prom
inent persons, sat the Vice President of the
United States. In the presence of these,
degrees were conferred as follows:
The College. Bachelor of arts-Edward
A Playter, Iowa; II. May Johnson, Dis
trict of Columbia; Henrietta Camille Morri-
son, Missouri: Mary katherine Chaplin IL
linois: Elnor Wilson. District of Columbia.
Bachelor of science - Harry Hampton
Donnally. Virginia: Mortimer b. Hall,
Maryland: Elliott Coues Prentiss, District
of Columbia: II. Worthington Talbot,
Maryland.
The Scientific School Bachelor of science
Alfredo Victor Cana. Phi. b.. Chile; James
Richard Hamilton. NJ. D., Texas: John
Bartlett Hull, Georgia.
AS the audience assembled, the orchestra
played several selections, and to the
strains of 1.-The Columbian University
March" composed by Thatcher Clark of
the University. the graduates faculty the
guests and President Whitman. escorting
Vice President Stevenson, filed on the
stage. Rev. W. r. Stricken, ID. D., asked
divine blessing. and then Mr.. John Bartlett
Hull of the Scientific School extended a
greeting on behalf of the graduates Among
other things Mr.. Hull spoke of home in
St1tutionS OF learning and the growth of
college feeling at Columbian, and he said
the other graduates Joined with him in
wishing a prosperous future for dear Old
alma mater.
siastic cries of What's the matter with
Hull? He's all right emanating from a
group of individuals in the gallery with
powerful lungs. President Whitman then
OF the Importance of Colum bian University
TO the entire country that national legisla-
tion Is now waiting upon US. The United
States Senate has taken a recess in order
that its presiding officer may be with US
this evening. and send forth our graduates
with wise counsel Ladies and gentlemen
present the Vice President of the United
States"
Mr.. stevenson was greeted with contin-
ued applause. In opening his address he
said to the graduates that they stood upon
the threshold of the world. He then went
on 10 state that it is the proud boast of
the Britons that their constitution has no
single date from which its origin may be
reckoned. while the Constitution of the
United States is but single century old
Ihe Vice President reviewed the unpar-
alleied progress of the United States dur
ing the past one hundred years and he
declared the people of the present day
should regard the founders of the Consti-
tuition with admiration