The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-20
College Commencement Made a
National Event.
President Mckinley Presents
Diplomas to Graduates.
A NIECE AMONG THEM.
Whole Town Decorated For the
Occasion.
Crowds of Visitors Come From
Surrounding Country.

South Hadley, Mass, June 20.-Corn-
mencement day at Mount HoIyoke col
lege was made a national event today
by the participation of President Nc
Kinley, who with Mrs. Mckinley, AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Allen and
members of his official family. had come
here to witness the graduation of Miss
Grace Mckinley, the presidents niece.
Governor Roger Wolcott and Mrs. VOL
cott and others of political and social
prominence attended the exercises.
President Mckinley presented the
graduating class with their diplomas
and degrees.
The preparations for welcoming the
visitors, although simple were cordial
and appropriate. The decorations about
the town particularly, upon the houses
near the college were tasty and pic
turesque. No attempt at general dec
grafton of the institution buildings has
been made beyond the draping of few
American flags. The interior of the
chapel however, was adorned with flags
and bunting and the generous use of
potted plants, palms and cut flowers
produced a very pleasing effect. The
town was crowded with visitors early
in the day. Although the limitations
of the cottage chapel were we'll known
to all residents in this section the peO-
other an opportunity would be given
them to shake hands with the president
and the college grounds were thronged
some time before the hour scheduled
for the beginning of the days pro-
gramme.
The president and his party reached
here at 10 o'clock. DR.. Trask and Rev
DIR. Judson Smith, of the board of trus-
tees of Mount Holyoke college, were
waiting for them at the entrance to the
college grounds. The visitors were
escorted to the chapel, and, as the
president, leaning on the arm of DR..
Smith appeared at the entrance, the
audience arose.
The president and the gentlemen who
accompanied him, were given seats on
the platform. Mrs Mckinley, Mrs VOL
colt, and the other ladies of the party
sat at the right, in the auditorium. The
seniors occupied the front rows.
After devotional exercises DR.. Smith
read an address, his subject being: "A
Plea for the Humanities-" In closing,
he welcomed the guests and introduced
Governor Wolcott, who spoke at some
length. Then, While the chorus was
singing, President Mckinley was
escorted to the front of the platform by
Mrs. Mead, president of the college.
Upon a table near at hand lay the
president raised one and the name it
bore was that of his niece. Miss Grace
Mckinley. The young lady advanced,
received the diploma and shook hands
with the president. This was the only
demonstration made by the graduates,
aside from the usual bow and express
sion of thanks.
AS the last diploma was presented and
the president was about to resume his
seat, DR.. TraSk arose, and, addressing
President Mckinley, announced that
Mount Holyoke college wished to con-
fer upon him the degree of doctor of
civil laws. The president accepted the
honor in the following words:
Ladies and Gentlemen: L can not
from 2cknOWled
of the very distinguished honor which
the board of trustees and officers of this
institution have been pleased to confer
upon me. l want to assure the young
ladies of the graduating class that am
both delighted and honored to be a
member of a class of '99.
''MaSSac chuSettS has been and is first
in many things but in nothing more
than in educational institutions.
L count myself most fortunate to
have been privileged yesterday to look
college, that splendid institution of
learning for the education of the wo-
men, and 1 count myself most fortunate
today to look upon the faces of the |
graduates of this gloriOusly historic in
that has done so much for
the eXaltatiOn of women and whose in
fuence is felt not only in Massachusetts
but in every part of our common coun- |
try.
Mount Holyoke is more than sixty
years old today, and the influence of |
this 1nSClluIlOn IN mOulQ1nS ana Shaping
the citizens of the nation can never be |
told.
Il am glad that we are demonstrating
in the United States today that the boys |
shall have no more advantages than
the girls and Mount Holyoke and Smith |
and the half dozen other institutions of |
the land are demonstrating that fact
An educated womanhood is an open
school for citizenship every day of the !
year. and the home is the training
school for the mother the soldier and |
the statesman. 1 wish for this gradual
ing class all good things and 1 want |
you to be assured that all good things
wait upon a good and noble woman"
At the close of the presidents deliv-
erance of the degrees, a beautiful purple |
banner inscribed Mount Holyoke '99'
was presented to him by the graduating |
class.