Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-08
LAUNCHED ONf LIES SEA
Graduates of Woods Commercial College
Formally Commissioned.
Award of Medals for Special Work
Address to the Glasses by
Auditor Castle.

ment exercises of Woods Commercial Col
lege. The stage was lavishly decorated with
flowers and ferns, a row of green things
growing being banked before the footlights
and another bank appearing at the rear,
the background for the whole being formed
by woodland scene represented on can
vas. In the midst of this attractive setting
group of young ladies, graduates of the
school, formed semi-circle in white robes,
giving a touch of natural beauty to the
artificial decorations Back of the young Ia
dies sat the masculine graduates in an
other Somi-circle
The top of the stage was draped with
American flags, and in the center hung
banner bearing the device wv. c. c., 1899
The Marine Band Orchestra, under the di-
rection of Walter F. Smith, furnished mu-
sic for the occasion.
A large audience filed the theater, all the
seats down stairs and in the boxes being oc-
cupied, while the gallery was also thronged
The friends of the graduates and the pupils
of the school were very much interested in
the exercises of the evening, and applauded
the addresses and the presentation of the
diplomas.
The Rev. William lowering De Vries, rec
tor of st. Marks Pro-Cathedral, offered
prayer, after which Prof C. F. Wood intro
duced the principal speaker Of the evening,
Office Department. Mr. Castle chose for
his subject Typical Americans and pro-
ceeded to read a paper having a bearing
upon great Americans of the past and the
possibilities of great men of the future.
Distinctive American.
Captain Castle said that benjamin Frank
lin the first distinctive American,
typical Yankee. George Washington, he
said, deserved all the credit he receives,
but Washington was modified English
man, while Benjamin Franklin was a thor
hn
life of Franklin, recalling his patriotism,
philanthropy and the public spirit he dis
played. He was essentially business
man, Mr.. Castle said and yet he stood be-
fore kings. He referred to Franklin's serv-
ices in England, the hearing given him by
parliament, and said that Franklin's repre-
sensations made upon that occasion caused
the repeal of the stamp act.
When Franklin returned to America, Mr..
Castle added, he entered upon career of
activity which no man has ever equaled.
In all the chronicles of antiquity nowhere
can be read q better record of a man
among the civic heroes of that period, and
yet the question of the right of his de-
scendants to affiliate with the Colonial
DANES and the Daughters of the American
Revolution has been questioned. benjamin
Franklin stands unriValed as the typical
American of the eighteenth century
The nineteenth century, said the speaker,
brought its own crisis and the man Tor 1t,
typical American, the worlds unquench-
able prophet of hope Mr.. Castles tribute to
Abraham Lincoln was delivered in an elo-
quent strain, which elected frequent APP
plause from the audience.
What of the Future:
Who is to be the hero and typical Ameri-
can of the twentieth century no one knows.
Mr. Castle ventured the prediction, how
ever, that whoever he may be, he will not
come from the ranks of the invertebrates
educated beyond their capacity and who
have become ashamed of their country he
may come from the ranks of the young men
going out into the world from just such
institutions the one whose commence
ment was being celebrated.
Mr. Castle said that az the past mao
witnessed the concentration of government
for individual liberty, so would the early
future witness the concentration OF lnous-
try in behalf of individual prosperity. lie
entertained great faith in the destiny or
the country but said the true American
spirit is to be found in the MISSISSIPPI val
ley and the new northwest, the Soideh
heart of the country. Ours is the greatest,
richest and happiest nation on the globe,
he said, but for that reason We should not
refuse to help others who are helpless.
We have been led up to our duty, and Will
not finch from it. AS we gave our broth
ers in behalf of civilization in this country,
SO we will give sons to bring civiliza-
ton to weaker nations il necessary.
Award of Prizes.
Mr.. o. Eberhardt executed cornet solo,
playing Werner's Parting Song" after
which Prof Wood, principal of the school.
delivered the medals awarded as prizes for
proficiency in studies as follows:
Shorthand-For greatest improvement and
;.daptabiIty, Walter Addison English, Dis
trct of Columbia.
Typewriting-Fo greatest improvement,
adaptability and greatest amount of work,
Hattie Strong Stow, District of Columbia.
General scholarship, shorthand and type
writing-Jessie Rosetta Edelen, Maryland;
given for greatest Improvement in both
branches.
Rookkeeping-To the student having the
best set of books, adapt ability, neatness
and penmanship have also been considered,
Elizabeth C. Nichols, Pennsylvania.
Arthmetic-To the student who has made
the greatest Improvement Bertha Taylor,
District of Columbia
Penmanship-To the showing the
greatest improvement, Fred Nelson Web
Der, jr., District of Columbia.
Spellng-For greatest Improvement VIM
Joseph Schroeder, District of Columbia
Letter writing-For the best set of let
tiers and essays written during the year, J.
Howard Wilkins, District of Columbia
General scholarship, buSiness-AWarded
for the best general knowledge of all the
branches in the business department as
shown in the monthly examinations, Chas.
MdTSlduu carter, DlStrlct of Columbia.
General cholarship-Awarded to the one
showing the greatest Improvement and
adaptabity in all the studies in the COM
bined course, Julia Elizabeth Lambert.
Maryland.
The special prize offered by Mr.. Thomas
w. Smith for the best essay on Your Fu-
ture' was awarded to Miss Elizabetb
CLANCY, and second award, donated bv
the same gentleman, was given to Miss
Ethel N. Phillips. The special prize Of
Tered by Mr.. j. D. Croisant upon the "Ad
vantages of Washington as a Place Of Rasi-
dence' was awarded to Miss Pearl sidney
Craig. The exercises were concluded with
brief address of congratulation to the
prize winners by Rev Dr.. Devries.
The Graduates.
Those who received diplomas were.
Business departmens-Jehn R. Atkinson
North Carolina; Janass 8. Barbour. Ohio.
Enoch George Brian, District of Columhia.
Julia Cannon BrittinEharn, District of CO.
lumbia Emma M. Burns, District of CoIun,
bia; Charles MarsIand Garter. Dstrict Of
Columbia; May Aloysiuss Cassiday. MARY
land; Leon Cohen, District of Columhi,.
Margaret Cecilia Colambus, District of CO.
lumbia; Pearl Sidney Craig, New Hamn-
shire; Walter EugenesDitkmeyer. West Viz
GINA; Sally B. Ficking, South Carolina.