Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-07

woMAN'C COLLEGE TO CLOSE WITH
THE COMMENCEMENT TONIGHT.
THE CLASS EXERCISES YESTERDAY.
One of the Most Enjoyable Features
of the Final Week-The Alumnae
banquet an Interesting Event
FINAL Concert Last Night.

with to-day closes the school year o.
The Woman's College. The exercises o.
the day begin at 10 O'Clock at the college
when the distinctions and honors Of
Undergraduates will be delivered by the
PRESIDENT, DR.. James Nelson. This eve.
ung at SIS O'Clock the commencement
roper will he held at the Academy OF
Music. The exercises will consist Of the
award of medals, delivery Of school
diplomas. comforting of degrees by the
trustees and the address TO the gradu-
ating class by Rev. z. T. Sweeney. The
general public is cordially invited to
attend. a number Of persons have ap-
Piled to DR.. Nelson for cards. but none
viii be issued. and none required at the
doors Of the Academy.
The graduating class Is one of the
largest ever sent out from the college,
numbering twenty-eight. The degrees
conferred by the trustees tonight upon
these young ladies are master of arts,
master OF science. bachelor of arts,
bachelor Of science. and bachelor of let
ters. The exercises win close with
Or. Nelson's charge TO the graduates
DAY FULL or INTEREST.
Yesterday was a day full of interest
1
over 10 the students and former students
~ the college, and right royalty did they
make DC Joyful 10 themselves and others.
The dcy began with the class day ex-
tr.is.s 10 the college at 1880 o'clock.
Each year early in the session. the can
didates for degrees organize themselves
and have meetings from time 10 time.
out of this custom grew the ciass-day,
lich IS really a final meeting Of the
class. The senior srJdeats are those
who take most prominent parts In the
work Of the literary societies and the
editing Of the Chisel. and in this way the
distinguishing tastes ana gifts Of each
candidate for a degree are brought out
Her assignment or c!ass-day is made ac-
c1rlingly.
When the hour for tEe exercises ar
rived the members Of the class. in cap
and gown. marched In slowly. and, as
ending the platform. seated themselves
.l O. semicircle.
BRIGHT AND WITTY ADDRESS.
The address o. welcome was delivered
by Miss Hattie Rudd The young lady,
after extending a cordial welcome TO all
present in the name Of the class, spoke !
" just how the girls felt when the reali- !
zauOn came upon them that burdens they !
bad borne for years had fallen away. /
But she said the duties which they had !
performed in these years were certain /
ilues, and now they entered upon those /
which were self-assigned and more bur |
iens0me stin Miss Rudd paid a very /
.o4uuful tribute 10 her teachers. She
said: Through the past years We have
J.en guided By corps Of beloved and I
IGNORED teachers; we have not been LEFT
.l1ne. for they have planned most care
l.iy for our every step; they have warn
us when in danger, they have lifted
,Len We have fallen, and they have
raised Us when praise was deserved
Following the address OF welcome was
DC Grafton by Miss Edith Hatcher The
bought which Miss Hatcher had chosen
% enlarge Is couched IN the words.
Every end is a beginning" The young
r4tOr went on 10 say that life is d chain,
nd when the liver has forged a link he
t Sins Immediately upon the construction
Z another. Each link, she said with
reat truth, was just what one made IT,
was a mans choice and womans
h0ice whether each succeeding link was
LonCer and Of purer stuff than the one
giore
10 fen 10 the lot OF Miss Edna Butler
% tell the story Of the class for the year.
ne proved that the choice was wise
ne. Miss Butler referred very tenderly
o the death OF their classmate, Miss
.ertha Williams, of Richmond. which
ccurred only few months ago. and also
70 the death Of Dr. George G. Wander
Nee. two Of whose daughters are mem
Is Of the olass.
The class poem was written and read
y Miss Maria Childress. II Is beautiful
nl choste IN thought. and deserved the
nervous applause which II received.
lne prophet. Miss Alys Taylor, fore
pa all that would come TO the students ,
ad the college. She painted for them
smiling valleys and fertile plains" TO !
their highway Of life. Miss Hattie
uod. IN turn. told what would befail IN
.ars % come the prophet herself. /,
Ahe bonfire orator Was Miss Mary !
oode' Of Richmond. Miss Goodo told
very elegant and eloquent words OF
me things they did not like at all. such