Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-02
Seventy Seventh Commencement Of
the Columbian University.
CONVENTION HALL Was CROWDED
An Eloquent Grafton Delivered by
Representative DoI|iver.
CONFERRING THE DEGREES

in the esteem of the people of the national
capital The occasion was the seventy
seventh commencement Of the famous and
venerable institution, and the vast audi
forum was crowded as it has seldom been
before. Once or twice during the Moody
meetings several years ago it's walls may
have inclosed a greater number of people,
but the 5000 they held last night were an
ideal representation of the very best the
capital city contains. Stupendous in size,
the audience was equally as significant in
character.
From a picturesque standpoint it was
unrivaled. The rare and beautiful flowers
which were profusely banked in scores of
offerings before the platform were not
brighter or more variegated in their colors
and hues than the human parterres that
stretched down toward them from the very
entrance to the hall. Every woman ap-
parentiy had donned her daintiest draperies
and her best hat, and when the fiorid style
now prevalent is considered in this connec-
ton, the scene may be we'll imagined by
those not fortunate enough to view it. 1t
was a genial, happy, eXpectant multitude.
too, with nothing of the perfunctory about
it. Every component in it had been at
tracted by especial interest in somebody or
something connected with the exercises of
the evening, and in this direction the popu-
larity of Columbian was proved in a most
significant manner.
The Decorations.
The decorations tasteful and artistic
were almost overshadowed by the brilliancy
of the gathering. Above the platform at
the front of the stage, wherein the partici-
pants in the exercises were assembled
hung an immense floral badge of the var
sity in blue and yellow. fringed with aspar-
aSus vines and resting against two large
American flags. An electric-lighted yellow
cleaned from a
spondingly brilliant red IT, from the yell
low field of the badge. From the center of
the vast arched ceiling streamers of naval
signal flags ran to each corner of the hall
and on either side of the stage were ban
ners bearing the insignia of the Greek
letter societies. Along the center of the
arch there twinkled a number of arc lights,
while the red, white and blue incandescents
strung down the Orders added effectively
to the picture.
Crowd Patiently Waited.
The exercises, which were to have COM
menced at o'clock, were unavoidably de-
layed for an hour, but the vast assemblage
was extremely good natured and passed
the time in pleasant chat and in the enjoy
ment of the scene. Musical selections were
rendered by the National Guard Band, and
when the strains of Sousa's Stars and
Stripes began, the audience stood up to
give welcome to the incoming procession
of the chief actors in the events of the
evening.
1t impressive scene. as the cap
and gowned graduates, led by the repre-
SentatlVeS OF the gentle Sex among them
marched down the main aisle two by two.
They moved to music and to the applause
of thousands of hands as we'll When the
head of the procession reached the lower
end OF the hall tile couples separated and
drew up in a line on either side of the aisle
and through the passageway thus formed
marched host of the learned men who
have made themselves SO important apart
of the success and progress of Columbian.
President Whitman, capped and gowned
led the line with Representative Jonathan
+. Doillver, the orator of the commence
ment. Following came Rev. DIR. Samuel II.
Greene, vice president of the university
and Rev DR.. Charles A. Stakely, the com
mencement chaplain, and in turn followed
the board of trustees of the university the
official guests, the deans of the various
faculties and the faculties. Then the two
long lines of black in the main aisle merged
into one and marched to the stage, where
they were to receive the proofs of their
intellectual attachments. the coveted re-
wards for years of close and assiduous
study and research.
The Opening Exereises.
President Whitman's commanding figure
advanced to the front of the platform and
was greeted with applause. He thanked
the audience for the patience with which
1t had waited through the unavoidable de-
lay and requested 1t to stand and sing
Praise God. From Whom All Blessings
Flow, and to remain standing while Dr.
Stakely offered prayer. The words of the
solemn hymn were voiced by the vast as
semDlage, and with bowed heads it listen
ed to the feeling prayer which DIR. Stakely
offered to the Omnipotent pleading for
blessings upon the university and It's fu-
ture, upon those it had sent forth into the
battle of life and those who We're to follow
Representative Delivers Address.
There was music by the band and Presi-
d=nt Whitman introduced Representative
Dolliver as the orator, and his theme, THE
Nation OF America" NJ. Dolliver express
ed MS pleasure at the privilege of speaking
upon such an occasion, and congratulated
the university upon the incr, easing recogni-
tion 1t was receiving throughout the world
as tie ally and patron of learning and the
iDeral arts. He congratulated also the
young women and the young men who, he
SAID, were about to receive diplomas that
would be passports to Intellectual celebrity
everywhere In the United States. He said
If he had been at liberty to sslect a topic
he would have chosen one mora directly
bearing upon tie subject of education. His
theme, however, had been chosen for him
and he would endeayor to tell sometime
about the foundations of our national in.
stitutions; how they were Laid; the vics-
situtes to which they had been subj acted
ana the OUTLOOK Tor the structure reared
upon them.
Too little attention, he declared, Is paid
Ia schools and by educators to the real mis-
| tory of TIE revolutionary psriod. The indi
yidualizing of a few Of the men of thai
| period had cut off the vision Of its realities
There was a preponderance Of myths, and
/ in some quarters, Washington had beer
| made to look almost iiks craven image
| and only Ethan Allen and Israel Putnam
were entities. The history Of a country II
| the greatest of all studies, but in preparing
/ the histories of our country q few states
| men, few soldiers, few leaders had beer
| exaggerated into demi-gods, and whole
| populations counted for nothing in the mas
| querades of kings aud potentates.
Suggested Models.
He wished that some one would do for
America what Macauley had done for Eng
| land and Carlyle for Scotland; that the
revolutionary period might be treated in
! diligently; its home life described and the
beginnings of our republic thus traced and
perpetuated.
around frugal tables" he exclaimed,
| where were gathered the humble and
| earnest bathed In the true spirit OF faith
| in God were built the foundations that
have made this country the permanent
| home of freedom"
Mr.. Dolliver described visit he made 10
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