Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-12
HONORS TOYOUNGLAWYERS
TWENTY-NINTH COMMENCEMENT OF
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY.
Degrees Conferred UpOn Long List of
Students Address by Mr..
Wayne MacVeagh.

A very large audience assembled in the
New National Theater last evening to wit
ness the ceremonies connected with the
twenty-ninth annual commencement of the
law department of Georgetown University.
Principal among the decorations was an
immense floral scroll, inscribed: Law De-
partment, Georgetown University" On
either side of the scroll was an immense
hanging basket of flowers, each of which
was Illuminated with numerous small cleo
trio lights. Among those on the platform,
besides those upon whom degrees were
conferred, were Rev. John D. Whitney S.
j., president of the university; Wayne Mac
Neagh, former Attorney General of the
United States and orator of the occasion;
Commissioner H. B. F. Macfarland, Sena-
tors McComas of Maryland and Hawley of
Connecticut, and Mr.. Z. H. Roberts, treas
urer of the United States.
After the rendition of several selections
by Haleys band, President Whitney made
a brief address. He extended an earnest
welcome to the audience, compimented the
members of the class on their ability and
faithfulness and stated that while there
were no graduates this year, caused by the
extension last year of the course to three
years, the degree of bachelor of law would
be conferred on two of the young men and
that of master of law on a number of
others. The president further stated that
beginning in October next the law course
would cover a period of four years, and
that the fourth year class would be in
structed in the history and development Of
law, admiralty law and several other kim
bred branches. The professors who will
have the matter in charge will, he said, be
men not only of national but Of interna
tional reputation.
Address by Mr.. MacVeagh.
Mr.. MacVeagh was introduced to the au-
dience by Senator McComas as patriot,
a scholar and a statesman. Mr.. McComas'
words ELECTED loud applause, and on COM
Ing forward Mr.. MacVeagh was given an
ovation.
When the applause had subsidized suffi-
cfently to allow the orator to begin his le-
marks Mr.. MacVeagh spoke of the agree
ableness with which he could welcome the
members of the class before him into the
ranks of the legal profession. He urged the
young men to remember that they were
then taking the first serious step of their
lives and recalled to their minds that the
record of history showed that when the
university at Athens. hundreds Of years
ago, conferred its degrees on graduates in
law 1t obligated them, does Georgetown
today, to devote themselves to the public
welfare. He urged those to whom his re-
marks were especially addressed to live up
to the full measure of their opportunities.
1t Is much to be good man. Mr.. Mac
Veagh said; ut is much to be good law
yer; II Is much to be good citizen, and 1
urge you to strive to become all that have
named"
The speaker told the students they must
not. be discouraged by failure.
1.-The bar of my native state" he said.
began under the most unpromising cir
cumstances. Upon appearing in a case in
court the attorney was compelled to make
oath that he was not to receive any rec
ompense whatever. 1t was this fact. no
doubt" continued Mr.. MacVeagh, some
what ironically, that accounts for the dis
interestedness of Pennsylvania lawyers
down to the present day."
Laughter and applause followed the rela-
ton by Mr.. MacVeagh of a story about a
New York lawyer who had told friend
that he intended to sail for Europe on a
certain date. The day following the de-
parture of the steamship the friend and
the lawyer met in New York, and the
former asked how 1t was the attorney had
not started on his foreign trip, as he had
said he would.
Did you not" the lawyer is said to have
answered. hear of the death of Mr.. So
and So yesterday"
II did" was the rejoinder, but what is
that to you?"
WELL if 1 had gone" the lawyer quickly
replied. This children would have succeeded
to their fathers estate"
Interest i'm National Affairs.
Mr.. Macveagh told the young men that
1t was their duty to take part in national