Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-21
UPWARD AND ONWARD
High School Graduates Receive Their
Diplomas.
GREETED BY A LARGE AUDIENCE
The Exercises Held Last Night in
Convention Hall.
MIR. MACFARL AND PRESIDES

MIR. MCFARLAND PRESIDES
CAS- the official head of the city l call
upon you to be true to her. She is worthy
Of your love and devotion. She has been a
tender mother. She has cared for you.
protected you. educated you. And now you
must strive to repay her by loving interest
and noble living
Mr.. Henry B. F. Macfarland. president of
the Board of District Commissioners. ut
tered the words, and they we're addressed
last night to the graduating class Of the
Washington High School from TIE Central.
Eastern and Western sections. The COM
mencement exercises were held in Conven-
ton Hall. which was thronged with bril-
liant audience. numbering between four
thousand and five thousand people. A daz-
zling electric briliance filled the vast audi
torium. enhancing the bright coors of sum-
mer attire so profusely apparent in the
great gathering Of FOND mothers. fathers
relatives and friends.
The exercises were carried out on the
same interesting and elaborate scale that
has marked the final feature of High School
life In Washington for SO many years The
United States Murine Band. under the d.
rection of Prof William II. Si.nteImann
was present and contributed many excel
lent selections to The program of the even
ing. Two exceptionally interesting s,d-
tory in character, by Commissioner Mac
farland. and the second, the GRAFTON of the
occasion, by Mr.. Fred f. Wines of Illinois,
assistant director of the United States CEN
sus. The award ot diplomas was intrus,e cd
to Commissioner John W. Ross while Su-
perintendent w. b. Powell announced the
award of scholarships and a patriotic essay
medal.
Handsome Surroundings.
The gaunt and bare hail had been trans
formed into a scene of brilliant color
through extensive floral, Tag and banner
decorations. A large stage, with elevated
seats for the graduates. and accommod,a-
tons for a number of especially invited
guests, had been constructed hear the CEN
ter of the west wall, and draped with white
and blue bunting. the High School colGrs
y canopy of the same colur> was stretched
above the STAGE and surrounded by Amer
lean flags and bunting designs. Long strings
of signal flags and peunants reached ojt in
all directions Directly beneath the canopy
was a design in immnrtelles. the letters
w. II. S. 1a~' being in blue against II
white background. Surrounding the foot
Of the stage, and placed at intervals along
the front of the GaiS, We're palms and pot
ted Giants.
Countless incandcsccnt bulbs studded ,ae
ceiling like so many Stars pinning back the
curtains of night. lnterspcrsine the lesser
i1m!naries were a large number of power
fui are liitnts. shining like planets of great
er magnitude in ;he general constella don
o. electric bodies. The audience was early
in arriving. The seating arrangements
worked out beau fully, and the ushers
undergraduates Of the high school and all
in uniform, Were fully capable of handling
the thousands present
Director San,elmann's National Capital
crntcnnial march, Il catchy composition.
written in anticipation OF the forthconlins
Ct.i, IN hold IN, oil
rated the musical program. While the au-
GienCe was being seated a number of Sc
lcctions Were rendered by the Marine Band
each being loudly applauded and encored.
Entrance of the Graduates.
When the familiar strains of Sousa's
High School Cadets" We're heard, there
craniug of necks. for it was well
known Tins martial air called for the en-
trance of the graduates. Down the center
aisle they came. The girls, by right of sex
and beauty, held the place of honor. and
us.tntily goWned in white, they preceded
their stronger classmates, who appeared
more sunpar IN convention dress suits. or,
in The case of officers of the cadet corps. in
til" uniform Of their rank. A OF ap-
plaI:se swept the audience. As the stage
reached me hitherto double file divid-
ed, ana the platform was mounted by Il
single lire of students from steps placed at
either end.
Already seated upon the stage Were the
District Commissioners. Rev. Donald G. Mac
Leod. Rev. j. G.. Butler. Supcriniende at
W. b. Powell of the public schools, Mr.
j. w. Whelplry. president of the board Of
school trustees; DR. Francis r. Lane, di-
rector of high schools Principal Hughes Of
The Central School. Principal johnson of tho
Eastern and Miss Westcott, principal OF
TIE Western: Miss Elizabeth Bryant John
ston of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. who later in the evening was
u fer Il gold medal. and a number %
other school officials. and ladies'
Rev. Donald c. Macleod offered ferviG
ard eloquent Invocation. IN which he prayed
among other things that the Lords bless
ing might be upon the graduates of the
evening and The schools of Washington.
Padercwski's minuet by the Marine Band
was enthusiastically received and an en-
core demanded.
Commissioner Macfnrland's Greetings.
Commissioner Macfarland was very happy
in his greetings. He said that during the
past week he had made "a tour of the pub
lie schools. He had been through the
grades through the High School, including
the business section, and the Normal
School, and although without diploma or
degree, he felt he was one of the large
family gathered in the hall Mr. Macfar-
land congratulated the graduates, one and
all; DR.. Lane, the director of the high
schools. and the faculty. He also took oc-
CdSioi 10 pay a compliment TO PrOf. San
telmann of the Marine Band, saying he felt
assured that upon such an occasion as
that of last night, Mr.. Santemann was the
only really popular orator. The Commits
sioner also declared he would repeat what
he had said at the graduating exercises of
the Normal School, that it was a hard
task to turn his back in speaking, either
upon the pretty scene presented by the
graduates upon the stage, the brilliant
audience in front. Mr.. Macfarland said
he was clearly in the predicament of tne
lover who exclaimed how happy he would
be with either We're 't'other dear charmer
away" He Snally adjusted matters wisely
and happily by half facing both audience
and graduates.
Commissioner Macfarland continued:
Be a good man, my dear, said Sir Wal
ter Scott, as he lay dying to his son-in-
law. Iockhart There are no better words
to be said TO you mel bers of the gfa uaiug
class tonight. Be a good man. Be good
woman Be a good citizen. Be good, my
dear, and let who will be clever: do noble
things, not dream them all day long
knowledge puffeth up, love buildeth up,
and after all the great thing is character.
To stand in your place, to do your duty,
to serve your city in all truth and honor
this is the best result that come from
ali your preparation for the strife of life.
LAS the official head of the city l call
upon you to be true to her She is worthy