The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-06
GRADUATES OF Law.

the Washington College.
The second annual commencement Of the
Washington College of Law was held las,
night in Luther Place Memorial Church. A
class Of five young women was graduated
each being given the degree of bachelor OF
laws. as follows: Helen F. HILL Maryland;
Gertrude E. Leonard, Ohio; Ida May Moy-
ers, District Of Columbia; Jennie L. Nun
roe, Virginia, and Mrs. Nanette Baker
Paul, Ohio.
The programme of exercises was as fol-
lows: 90 -
Overture. Opera Reveries, Au Ripley:
selection, Ariel March. Milley invocation,
Rev. Stephen NJ. Newman, pastor First
Congregational Church; music. 1.-THE
| Sweetest Story Ever Told" Stultz; violin
solo. The Evening STAR" Wagner; re-
marks. Emma NJ. Gillett: music. Ken
lucky Babe" Adam Geibel; address. Mrs.
| ]. Ellen Foster; comforting of degrees.
Charles C. Cole. Associate Justice Supreme
| Court Of District Of Columbia; presenta-
ton Of Moseley Bailey medal, Mr.. Watson
| J. Newton; music. selection from the
| Singing Girl" Herbert; benediction. Rev.
j. G. Butler, pastor Luther Place Memoir
| ial Church.
| Miss Emma NJ. Gillett, In her address.
| endeavored to answer the questions: why
! are we here. and what does it mean that
| a group OF young women should receive
| the degree Of Bachelor Of Laws? Does
such a state Of things denote that which
| Is natural or that which is abnormaf?"
! Briefly and in strong lines Miss Gillett
| sketched the life of the country during
| the past century. she showed that woman's
work in the years succeeding 1900 was in
! the household making the garments of the
70 mil rfpSy ifc fNpd fnY
wants. and with no machinery to assist
her but the spinning wheel and the needle.
Herbs gathered from garden and field were
| the simple remedies In sickness. and she
| was half doctor and half nurse among her
other accomplishments. In that day the
| true strength and energy Of the women of
| the households were consumed in those
| homely but important duties.
Since then" Miss Gillett said. "a great
| change has come into human society.
Steam and electricity has wrought won I.
| Gers. and womans work in the domestic
| field has been taken from. her. She has
| been driven to clerical and intellectual
| pursuits. for the making of clothes, the
| cooking and preparing OF food. the nurs-
| ing of the family, and even the washing OF
| linen. are great industries in which she
can have no part. Hence. the woman teach
| er, preacher, and lawyer. The transition
| has been great. but step by step it has
| been forced upon woman, and she has been
driven by force to other fields of toll. along
| the line Of least resistance. If she is to
| stay at home the work is gone. and she
becomes white-faced ghost of the past
Miss Gillett then made a strong plea for
the study of the law as an ennoblng pus-
! suit for women. 1t liberal study,
and prepared her in a remarkable manner
for the larger duties of life. Though there
have been eleven graduates from this
| school, Miss Gillett thought few of Them
| are in the actual practice of law. their
studies having been part of liberal edu-
| cation.
| Senator Chauncey N. Depew was to have
delivered the address OF the evening, but
| sent word ct the last moment that i'm
| portant matters at the Senate had de-
tanned him so that he could not be presen..
His place was taken by Mrs. J. Ellen Fos-
ter. member of the bar of Iowa, of the
Court of Claims, and of the Supreme Court
of the United States.
Mrs. Foster stated that the disappoint-
ment in not hearing Mr.. Depew was to her
as great as it could be to the audience.
But despite that fact. she was glad to be
present. and under the circumstances not
reluctant to talk, for it was pleasure to
her at all times to address an intelligent
audience OF ladies' and gentlemen. Com
menting upon the address Of Miss Gillett,
Mrs. Foster declared that the wonderful
transition from the spinning wheel to this
platform had to be, for it was in the nature
of things-in the evolution of the race.
She explained that the nature of things
was that mysterious force behind custom,
law and the bulwarks of society which
works ON and on to great ends that cannot
be discerned in the present, and behind the
nature of things stands God. the creator Of
the world and the moIder Of human des-
tiny.
Mrs. Foster declared that she was glad
of the transition. and that she had small
patience with the fears ard doubts of these
who thought that woman was getting out OF
her place and assuming burdens too heavy
for her to bear. Mrs. Foster told an anus
ing and pathetic tale Of an experience she
had in the Chicago police court, which went
to illustrate the honor and high neral
standing CT the legal profession. The
speaker declared that woman was not
harmed by entering the legal profession.
The award of the Mcseley Bailey prize
was to Miss Gertrude E. Leonard, of Ohio,
with honorable mention OF Miss Ida NJ.
Meyers, of the District Of Columbia.