Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-19
BUSINESS SCHOOL CLASS
DIPLOMAS CONFERRED on NINETY
SEVEN GRADUATES LAST EVENING.
CommissiOner mcfarland Presides
and Commfssioner Ross Presents
the Rewards of Merit.

In the presence of admiring relatives and
| friends. school officials and District Com
| missioners, nearly one hundred young peo-
pie were officially transferred from school
routine to the beginning Of the more ser!-
| Gus responsibilities of life last evening at
the New National Theater. The occasion
was the annual commencement exercises of
the Washington Business High School.
Without question 1t eclipsed all previous az
fairs Of a similar nature In the history of this
most important branch Of the local pubic
educational system. The theater was crowd
ed practically from pit to roof Never was
there within its walls an audience more en-
thusiastic, more demonstrative, more gen.
timely Interested AS the diplomas were
awarded and the graduates passed across
the stage. each was accorded reception
that would have done honor to popular
hero. Truly. it was a great night for the
Business High School.
The interior Of the theater presented a
scene most easing to the eye The stage
setting was that of a woodland. The en-
tire front, for depth of several feet, re-
sembled fairy bower. Cut flowers, tokens
of esteem addressed to the graduates. were
massed and banked in such profusion that
they encroached dangerously near the space
set apart for the officials. In addition to
other potted plants.
From the proscenium was suspended a
shield of orange and blue, the school col
ors. bearing the class designation. 1900
From the rail of the first gallery hung
yards upon yards Of bunting of the school
colors. The second tier of boxes was SINH
larly decorated. The drapings throughout
the remainder of the house included the ma
tional colors. artistically festooned.
Mr.. Mcfarland Presides.
~
the board of Commissioners Of the District
of Columbia, was the presiding officer last
evening. Others who occupied chairs on
the stage were Mr.. John w. Ross. Commits
sioner of the District of Columbia. who
conferred the diplomas; Rev. DR.. A. S.
Fiske who delivered the address CT the
evening: Rev. DIR. c. c. Meador, who in
voked the Divine blessing: Messrs Whelp-
ley, Wilson, Hazen and Mrs. Tulloch. rep
resenting the board of trustees of the pub
lie schools: Mr.. w. B. Powell superinten-
dent Of public schools: DR.. F. r. Lane. di-
rector of the High Schools, and MIR. Allan
Davis, principal Of the Business High
School.
While the audience was assembling sew
eral musical selections were rendered by
the Marine Band Orchestra. under the Ill
recton of Prof. Santelmann. To the stir
ring tones of the High School Cadets
March the graduates appeared in view.
They took seats arranged In sem1circle
at the rear OF the stage, the young lduleS
occupying the front seats. the young gem
tlemen. in dark clothing forming the back
ground.
Commissioner Macfarland raped for or
der and called upon Rev. DR.. Meador to
open the exercises with prayer. Next in
order an artistically rendered saxo-
phone solo. fantasia on Carnival of Ven
Ice" by Mr.. John B. Moeremans of the or
chestra. At the conclusion of the musical
selection Commissioner mcfarland arose
and made brief speech. He said 1t
happened that he knew the Business High
School best of the local institutions 1t has
his deep interest, he said. and 1t was de-
lightful for him to be in attendance at the
exercises. He congratulated Principal
Davis and the faculty on the excellent work
accomplished in the school
DR.. Fiske's Address.
Mr. Macfarland then introduced Rev. DR..
Fiske, who addressed the graduates in a
scholarly and entertaining manner. The
speaker said: I'VE are about to burst into
the glorious bloom of a new century" He
insisted that it was we'll worth their wait
ing for centuries to be born in order to have
been born in this age. DR.. Fiske referred to
the events of our war with Spain, of kitch-
ener's advance to Khartoum and of similar
incidents, and declared that each was fit
ting climax TO the nineteenth century.
You the product of the nineteenth of
the centuries" the speaker went on to
say. Yours is not yet ripened energy;
you are problem, the only risk of the CEN
fury to come, the only uncertainty. The
record of the century closing is made. You
are an omnipotent force. You are solemnly
bound to surpass all that has passed before
you, but in order to do 1t you will have to
get up early and work late
DIR. Ffske continuing. referred to the
many inventions and improvements of the
nineteenth century. He spoke Of the quick
communication established throughout the
entire world. and earned applause by ex-
pressing the wish that we might have
quicker communication with China just
now.
The speaker admonished the graduates
that they must accept the responsibility
that confronts them as they go forth into
life. He argued that public opinion Is IN
command everywhere, and then very plain
ly informed the graduates that he was not
there to flatter them, but to ask them the
most searching questions.
In conclusion DR.. Fiske urged the gradu-
ates to be the saviors Of the time in which
they lived and to be worthy of the great
time appointed for their destiny.
AS he resumed his seat the orator of the
evening was presented with several hand
some floral offerings. each handed to him
by one Of the girl graduates
During the rendition OF flute solo.
"Sleep Well, Sweet Angel by Mr. F. v.
Badollet of the orchestra, several young
ladies busted themselves with arranging
more floral conceptions which had arrived
late and were intended for the graduates.
A stand, made up ingentously of the let
tiers b. II. s., ana holding the diplomas,
was placed in the center Of the stage.
Commissioner Ross Introduced.
Commissioner Mcfarland made a witty
reference to the possibility of Governor
Roosevelt being the national vice presiden-
tial nominee in introducing Commissioner
Ross as the vice president Of the board OF
Commissioners. He took occasion to re-
mark that for many years past he had
heard on all sidesSthat Mr.. Ross was the
most popular man in the District Of Column
bia. OF his personal knowledge. Mr.. Mac
farland added. he could now testify to the
same end.
Mr.. J. P. M. Halves. jr., wearing a ca
diets uniform, removed the diplomas from
the stand one by one and handed them to
Commissioner Ross. Principal Davis called
the names of the graduates in turn and
each received diploma from the hands OF
Mr. Ross. AS stated. an ovation was ac-
corded each of the young ladies and gentle
men.
The Graduates.
Those who received diplomas were Annie
Eleanore Alcorn, Mary Augusterfer, Emily
Isabel Balster, Paulina Anna Beckman.
saraf Letia Booth, Ida Louise Browne,