Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-24
THE COLORED HIGH SCHOOL
Annual Commencement at the Academy of
Music.
Well-Rendcred Program, Supple
sioner Wight Confers Diplomas.

School, was held at the Academy OF Music
last evening. The house was literally
packed from pit to dome, and while the
cclored citizens of the District largely pre-
dominated In the audience, the number of
white people present was quite large
Ex-senator Blanche X. Bruce, one of the
trustees of tine public schools. presided,
and beside him on the prettily arranged
stage were seated District Commissioner
John B. Wight who conferred the diplo-
mas; Mr. Robert H. Terrell, who addressed
tie graduates; the Rev F. j. Grimke,
Trustees Shadd and Cornish. DIR. w. S..
Montgomery. the principal of the school,
and Superintendent c. +. Cook. The Ma
rine Band furnished a delightful program
of music.
After the band had rendered Bach's
Festival overture and Sousa's "Ei Capt.
tam march MIR. Grimke invoked the di-
vine blessing. and then Graduate William
H. Beason of the Business School, after
the band had pleased the audience with
selections from kerker's Lady Slavey,
delivered in an impressive manner an ora
ton on THE Chief Need of the hour
good education, he commended, is the
chief need OF the hour. especially LOT ths
negro race, for no matter what one wouti
be in this busy world. he cannot hope TO
succeed without education The young man
urged his race to obtain a practical. every
day business education, rather than seek
to be lawyers, physicians or scientists for
there are too MANY professional men and
far too few practical business men among
the negroes.
Received Hearty Applause.
Mr. Beason was heartily applauded. and
his Grafton was followed by the rendition
by the band of Fanciuli's gavotte, Mime
haha" succeeding which Miss Carrie W.
Burrill, a graduate of the scientific school,
demonstrated in pleasing manner How
Science Teaches Morality" She said that
as the world becomes more ciVliized anu as
science progresses. morality Keeps pace
with all advancement The deeper in SCI
ence one goes the more firmly Is the law
of Christ found to be established
VollStedts waltz, Jolly Fellows, next
followed when Miss Mary g. Storum de-
Hvered in a most taking way an GRAFTON on
WHAT Shall the Harvest Be?' Miss Stor-
um said that the harvest depended alto
gether on what is sown. and she told her
schOolmates that they were about TO SOW
seeds which will bring either success OF
failure. Sac urged them TO plant only those
seeds which bring a golden harvest. seeds
of honesty, frugality and tenacity of pur-
pose What the negro race wanted more
than anything else were moral giants rath-
than intellectual giants. She urged her
people to do good because it is good, and
flee from evil because it is evil.
VaIedict"ry Address.
The valedictory. after the band had rer-
dered Brahms Hungarian Dance was
delivered by Graduate Daniel y. Brooks.
He told his classmates that. unfortunately,
they will find in mary instances the words
NO admittance' written over the door of
opportunity. He commended that the negro
needs leaders and he expressed the
hope that scholarships will be provided for
the pupils in the colored High School. that
they may be able to enter soEie of the
higher universities of the country He
feelingly thanked his instructors for their
patience. and bade them and mis- class
mates farewell
Tobani's idyl. Hearts and Flowers" was
splendi1ly played by the band and then
Commissioner Wight introduced. He
was enthusiastically received and Prin-
cipal Montgomery called the names of the
graduates they stepped forward and re-
ceived from Mr. Wights hand their diplo-
mas. Much to the regret of the audience
and graduates, the Commissioner refrained
from making any remarks. After the IA
NOUS intermezzo from Mascagnfs "Cavalle-
ria Rusticana' had been delightfully."- rem
dered by the band. Mr.. Robert H. Terrell
addressed the graduating class.
Education and Character.
Mr. Terrell said, in part:
Commandments are not, and never will
be. commonplace events. They are always
new. always full of significance. always
crowded with interest and enthusiasm. 1t
is an evidence of good citizenship and de-
votion TO the common welfare that men
and women come together from time to
time TO REFUGEE Win the CnlIIrGn whose
first victory in life finds its crown of lau-
rel in these seasons of gracious Joy.
For me this occasion emphasizes the in
adequacy Of language 10 express sen,i-
ment- The school from which you have
received your diplomas tonight Is the one
in which my early years found those
splendid influences and effective processes
at work that instilled in the ambition
to prepare myself for a career that would
put me IN touch with the higher and
grander aims of life. 1t was my privilege
also to labor here as teacher for several
years. endeavoring to make others appre-
ciate the value of becoming heirs to some
of the great mental wealth left TO the
world by the men of learning and culture
who lived before u.s.
Looking Forward for Years.
1T IL with peculiar pride therefore my
young brothers and sisters. that 1 speak TO
you tonight. although can hope to bring
to this occasion no such contribution of
thought and learning it deserves For
years you have been looking forward to
this event: your eyes have been fixed on
this height and your feet have been press
ing hard on the path which leads to lis
summit Now that you have reached it,
what is your purpose? How Will you use
to the best advantage that knowledge
which you have attained? You pass to-
night one conspicuous mark in Iife's short
course These questions therefore, are
worth your serious consideration Thu.
can be no better, more appropriate time
to begin to think of them than now
You belong 10 race whose educattona
history is so brief. though marvellous in
many respects. that il would be unfair 10
bring 1t into compa rison with that of oIher
races whose civilization is measured nv
centuries and not by decades. Along all
lines of progress the negro-American has
done well. and deserves much of the praise
that is bestowed upon him. Yet let me i'm.
press upon your minds the fact that in tn,
race of lfe he is yet far, far behind the
white American.
To Every Man a Moment
Let me say to you that the responsible.
ties resting on the rising generation OF
young colored men and women are to,
weighty to permit of any cessation from
work on their part To every man a mo-
Eent comes at length when he must fac.
Hfe's deep significance. must recognize II.
possibilities. must know It's limits anC
make a final choice among conflicting pur
poses Begin to think now on your futur,
and the work TO which hope you will con
secrate ell your attachments and all YOU
best energies
The oppOi tunitics and environments u
many of you at home have not been sucl
that your parents could share in the WORT
Of your teachers In never SO small a de
Tt q. hSsrh III,