The times., 1897-06-08
GEORGETOWN CLASS 81
Commencement of Law Depart
ment Held Last Night.
HOST OF FRIENDS ATTEND
New National Thea ter Radiant With
Lights, Redolent With Flowers
y
and Resonant With Applause -I50
Lawyers Launched-P L resident
Richards Speaks.

| The twenty-siXth annual commencement
| OF the law department OF Georgetown Tai
vcrsity was held at the New National
/ Theater last night, This serio-j -joyou.
| greatest throngs that ever filled and over
| flowed the historic National Theater
| was an applausive throng. II embraced
I every opportunity to cheer, and would prob
| ably have eIhiTaced the graduating class
and the faculty had they not been behind
| the footiights and bredstwork Of rose,
| and palms
jeremiah II. Wilson, dean of the faculty,
drew down upon him as much applause as
the audience could bestow, and II the
| enthusiastic uass of maids and matrons.
beardiesS boys and bald Benediets could
have twined their arms around his waist
jeremiah Wilson wouid have been trans
lated to the home OF angels by the stranga
lation route.
The decoration of The theater was Lavish
A hedge OF flowers was made to bIoom he
hind the foutlights, and this hedge WIS
thanked OF each end by grove OF palms.
4 monster pair Of scales, W rought in rose5.
D.
was suspended over the stage. From t.
center OF the scales depended a floral
scroll, inscribed, Georgetown Universe Y,
Law Department, 81 at one enI Of
this scroll perched stuffed owl, with eyes
OF electric lights, which he winkeI and
bIinkeG at the audience. Behind all ibis
was conservatory scene. dazzling with
conflagraton of electric lights. Flags Of
all governments were draped around The
balcony and boxes.
The audience surged in to the rythm OF
Haley's Band. The swish OF skirts, the
tread or feet, and the flutter of a Thousand
fans were accompanied by the band, which
pta yed as the overture, Festival by
Leutner.
The class filed on the stage to the
pIaudits Of the host and snappy march.
dedicated to the law school by VIII Haley
After more music and more enthusiasm,
Rev j. Havens Richards, 5. j, president
of the university, delivered the opening
address. He said that one OF the most
encouraging signs of the progress of the
times was the increasing interest IN the
matter of legal eduCa tiun This forward
movement was due in great measure to the
Bar Association He said that the vigor-
GUS competition and generous emulation
between the law schools OF the country had
done much in the advancement of legal
lore, and that in this competition George
town had not been left behind. 'sInf fact"
he added, ''Geor getown University has put
forth unusual efforts to keep up with the
procession"
He told OF the Improvement in the course
of study and the increase in the amount
of practical work which the student was
now called upon to do. He told OF the
moot court, the cases and the documents
which students were required to draw ,Ip
He spoke of the helpfulness TO the student
which came from q knowledge of phil
osophy, ethics, political ecouonXy and con-
stitutional history. He announced that by
agreement with the Columbian University
it had been determined that one year
from next October the regular law term
would be three years at each university.
instead of two for bachelors of law and
three fol- masters OF law as at present
he then conferred the degrees
Hon Stephen NJ. White, of California,
addressed the graduates lie told them of
the responsibilities which they We're about
to assume, and eouuseled them to be lust
In dealing with their fe!Iow-men. Hon.
jeremiah NJ. Wilson awarded the prizes.
The program was interspersed with music
by the band.
Degrees were conferred as follows:
Master of Laws-Joscph Abel, William
Akin, Nathan F. Boone, FeneIon B Brock.
John Burke. Charles A. Calhoun. Steub..n
J. Casey. James NJ Collins, Frank B. Cox.
Thomas A. Cruikshank,. Joseph T. Daily,
Charles s. Davis, lean F. F. Des Garenn.s
Clarence Ergood, Artemus ]. Erwin, ir