Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-24
HIGH SCHOOL PRIZES
Diplomas and Scholarships to Deserv-
ing Boys and Girls.
MEMORABLE COMMENCEMENT OCCASION
Convention Hall Completely Filled
With Friends of Graduates.
L H E CLASS OF Is 8

The graduating exercises of the Wash
IL gton High Schools were held at Conven-
ton Hall last evening in the presence of an
audience which completely filed the great
hall The 16S young women and men who
thus babe adieu to associations of several
years made up a class which will long be
remembered for the beauty of the girls and
the manliness of the boys. The class of
1898 will also long be remembered because
of the fact that one of its members, John F.
Bethune, left the school recently to fight
for his country in the war with Spain.
One vacant chair last evening, prettily
o,namented with old glory, told Of the
young soldiers patriotism, and when Dis
trict Commissioner Wight came to present
The diplomas he referred to the young
mans absence, and, after praising his de-
votion to his country, called upon one of
his classmates to accept the diploma and
place it upon the vacant chair, which he
did amid great applause
The hall was handsomely decorated,
great banks Of plants and flowers covering
the front of the stage which was placed
on the western side of the hail. while from
the ceiling and above the stage flags and
streamers, in which the red, white and blue
occupied a most prominent part, fell in
graceful folds. The Marine Band arrived
from Omaha but a short while before tie
hour CT the commencement and delighted
the audience with number of selections
a patriotic medley bringing the immense
crowd 10 it's feet with wild cheers when It
Closed with the Star Spangied Banner
On lie stage were Commissioner Wight.
Mr.. a. S. Worthington. who delivered the
address of the evening: the Rev. w. IL.
Milburn, the chaplain of the Senate, who
deliver ed the Invocation; the Rev. DR.. S.
II. Greene, Trustees HaZen, Wilson, Bar
nard, Superintendent Powell, Principal
Lane Prof. Johnson Of the Eastern school,
Miss Westcott, principal Of the Western;
Miss Rainey of the Central and the Chi
nese and Corear ministers and their suites
Entrance of the Graduates.
After the undergraduates of the schools,
attired in fatigue uniforms, had seated the
audience and the Marine Band had render
ed several selections, the graduates march
ed upon the stage to the familiar strains
of the High School Cadets march. The
young ladies were attired in white, while
the young men appeared, with some eX-
ceptions, in the uniform of the cadet corps.
Commissioner Wight introduced the Re-.
Mr.. Milburn, who invoked the Divine bless
ing upon the occasion and upon the young
people who were stepping out into a great
er life.
he presided in the absence Of Commission r
Ross who was absent from he city or
imperative business Mr.. Ross, he said
deeply regretted icing compelled to foreso
the pleasure OF being present, for nothing
So deeply appeals to him us do the high
schools; and no man feels prouder of the
schools than does Mr.. Ross, and no enc
has done more to advance their interests.
1t is great satisfaction to him and to all
others here, said Mr.. Wight, that the Dis
trict public schools holds SD high a place
in the educational ranks Of the country. 1t
is right, said he, that it should be So for
If SppakS of the ipteflipppca Of the fi0p' c
capital.
Mr.. WOrthingtOn's Address.
Mr.. Wight then introduced Mr.. A. S.
Worthngton. who delivered a brief ad-
dress. explaining that he had been inform
ed if he would 90 well he should be brief.
Mr.. Worthington contrasted the want of
thought and facilities in educating the
young in the days when he was a school
boy with the deep thought and practically
endless facilities which prevail today in
tie education of the young. remarking that
he feared the boys and girls of today do
not fully appreciate or realize the le-
sources they enjoy. He said he had con-
sentcd to deliver the address of the occa-
sion with much hesitancy, he having been
chosen as a substitute for Representative
Gro svenor of Ohio, who was unable to be
present. While 1t is his business to make
addresses almost daily, Mr.. Worthington
said. he had never appeared before such
jury or paid homage to such court he
then addressed. He said he was ashamed
to admit that although he has resided here
for thirty years or more, he had never be-
fore attended a public school commence
ment. But he was delighted that he had
come, and promised to come again and
make himself more familiar with the Dis
trfct public schools, which are, he declared,
second to none in the country.
Mr.. Wortfington then related, much to
the amusement of the audience, his eXper-
fences as schColboy in Ohio, rcmarking
that today the education of the young is
a common sense way. Yet it Is remark
the education of the young. He extolled
practical teaching, saying that it results in
common-sense knowledge. and that it is
good. hard, common sense which, after all
wins the battles Of life. He urged the
members of the graduating class to remem-
Der that always. and predicted that if they
did they would be correspondnsly success
full. Mr.. Worthington eloquently referred
to the beauty and greatness of the national
capital, and asked the members of the
graduating class to remember the priv
ileges they have enjoyed here, and to do all
they can, wherever life may call them to
increase the beauty and greatness of Wash
ington, which, he declared, is greater than
old Athens, more beautiful than Paris and
grander than Rome of old.
Awards of Scholarships.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Worthing-
toms address Superintendent Powell an
nounced the following awards.