The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-20
HIGH SCROOL GRADUATES
Exercises of the COiored Divisions
at the Academy of Music.
An Interesting Programme of Music,
Orntion., md Addresses-DipIoma
farIand - Timely Advice to the
Class by Rev. William v. Tracewel

furnished music for the occasion, and after
sn opening overture, TO the playing of
Herberts march. The Viceroy," the grad
uating classes marched to their places on
the stage.
Among the prominent people present
upon the stage were: r. H. Terrell prin-
cipal of the High School; S. H. Richard
son, 7. H. Wright, Robert Sterling Brown.
S. F. D. Cook, Superintendent of Colored
Schools; Rev. William V. Tunnel, Rev.
J. l.. Thomas, and Mrs. u. q. Francis.
The exercises were in charge of Rev.
Sterling Brown. one of the members OF
the Board of School Trustees, and the fol-
lowing was the programme:
Overture ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. SchlepeSrell
March, The yiceroy'. ...................H Herbert
Invocation.
Naise, 1.-The Amer .....-.-.--.--.-..--Her Herbert
orstion, 'our Need of Business Schools.
Patrol, '.s.negambian'' ................-.. Rosey
Grafton. Education. the Nurse OF Liberty,
.................... Julia Elizabeth Gray
81 Two-stcp, Troopers Review ...........-. Iyers
Grafton THE Humble Origin of Great Men,
..... Benjamin Franklin Hailstorks
Music, "Idyll Hearts and Flowers" ........ Tobani
by Hon H. ID. +. Mcfarland.
President Bead Of Commissioners District oil
Columbia.
Two-step Drum Major. Henry
Address by Rev William " Tunnel.
Yalse, "Calanthe' HOFFMAN
Benedicton.
March, Singing Girl ...................Her Herbert
The Students OratiOns.
The Grafton Of Joseph T. Thomas was
listened to attentively, and at its close
was generously applauded. The speech
was a strong plea for business education
as practically taught in the high school
of the District of Columbia. 1t was well
written and well delivered.
Miss Julia E. Gray's Grafton entitled
Education the Nurse Of Liberty" was
statement of the true end and purpose
ii education, defining it as sound mind
in a healthy body. Then 1t was shown
that popular education only can develop
in man and teach him to maintain the love
OF liberty. The Grafton closed with
strong appeal for the education OF women
as matter OF Justice.
The Grafton of D. F. Hailstorks was a
brief review OF the lives Of some Of the
worlds great men, showing in each in
stance mentioned that soldiers, statesmen,
orators, and poets have sprung from hum
BILE origin. II was appreciatively received
by the audience and generously applauded.
Commissioner Macfariand before con-
ferring the diplomas upon the graduating
class, spoke briefly of his pleasure at being
present and sharing in the exercises. He
said, in part:
For the first time since 1880 am not
attending the National Republican Con-
vention. have stayed behind in Wash
fngton to attend these commandments
and to lend my presence and my interest
to the educational work in our city.
confess that as / reviewed the cohorts Of
Colonel Chase and Colonel Carson when
they left for Philadelphia the other morn
ing l FELT some tinges of inconsistencies.
but / have recovered from that, and
Will say that am repaid doubly for what
] have seen in the commandments of our
public schools.
Il am here to wish you young people
godspeed in the battle of life, and to wish
you and your race the blessings of liberty.
: enlightenment. and success"
Congratulations for Graduates.
Rev. William v Gunnell, in his address
to the graduating class, said in part:
I'VE congratulate you on your presence
on this platform this evening. Your
presence here is Itself a certificate of
achievement, success, and victory. 1t
attests good attachments, department. and
character. Ii is On earnest, We trust, of
future growth, labor. progress, and re-
ward
We congratulate you upon your appar-
ent healthfulness. Your proper success in
life will depend in a large measure upon
your strength OF body. j need no. remind
you that If you are ccnstitutionally weak
YOU are seriously If not fatally Handicapped
in the struggle for existence. The sckly
individual may sometimes accomplish
much, but the odds, let me tell you, are
desperately against weak race. ! do not
believe that the negro race is weak, or that
it lacks physical vitality. yet the statistics
of mortality in this and other large cites
should make us pause and reflect. They
are abnurTnally high: they are disagreeltly
significant, and they raise questions which
We must answer. What the causes are We
must find out, and then We must remove
them. II 1t is ignorance OF the laws Of
health, We must enlighten the race. II it is
unhygieuic environment, We must remove
these environments. II II q poverty We
must strive to better the material cordi-
tion. In the last analysis We must make
the aggregate of these statistics of mo. tai
fty less. In SO far as each individual may
guard his own health and increase his
longevity.
Again we congratulate you that you
have learned the high, the difficult the in
dispensable art of thinking. At no time
since emancipation has there been greater
need of the clear eye the disciplined in
tellect, and the developed power Of thought
and statement on the part of the race than
now. Whatever the motive, our capacity
was never more seriously questioned than
now. You are on trial TO demonstrate your
capacity to take on the higher things of
education. This you will do not by mere
assertion. not by idle defamation, but by
actual achievement and tangible attain
ment. We are not ashamed of our past
and present record. We know 1t and the
fair minded everywhere admit that we
have done well, considering the obstacles
the antagonisms, and the conditions we
have had to overcome. But what We have
done is only the beginning of what we
must do. We are in contact with a race
that has made its way in the world by its
3ndomitable energy and genius for hard
work. j can give you no better advice
than that of Stanley. who said OF one of
his aides that he took fierce Joy in hard
work. You will meet criticism but IL
should be with good nature, and not with
an irritable spirit. Keep your spirit sunk
and meet all opposition and criticism with
something OF the iollity of your plantation
iorefathers.
Ito you young gentlemen let men say
of you, His life was gentle and the ele-
ments SO mixed in him that all nature
might stand up and say to all the world:
This was man
And of you young ladies', le; the
world say with Wordsworth:
A perfect woman. nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, and command
And yet spirit still and bright
With something OF angel light.
The Graduating Class.
The members Of the three courses Of
the graduating class were as follows:
A S.,..-