Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-09
STUDENTS CONGRATULATED
ADDRESS By MIR. JOHN w. ROSS TO
GRADUATING CLASS
Program of Exercises at the Annual
commencement of Spencerian
College.

SOIIege.
The program of the annual commence
ment of the Spencerian College. which had
not been concluded when The Stars report
closed yesterday, included several enter
tanning numbers. Mr.. Charles Edwin
| Smith. Salutatorian, gave a description of
| twentieth century opportunities awaiting
his class, and said that he was glad he
was born in time to be member of it.
Miss Mary Alice Skinner, salutatorian rep
resenting the night classes, declared that
the precious evening hours devoted to
| quiring skill and practical ability consti-
tuted the sole personal wealth of the stu
dents. The valedictorian, Mr.. Charles Lucien
Bovee, spoke the useless waste of time
by young men studying arts, science and
classics, with no particular end in view,
drawing a pathetic picture Of the old par
entS at home suffering all kinds of priva-
lions in order that their sons might have
every opportunity to keep up their course.
In presenting the class of 1901 Mrs. Spen-
Ger gave a sketch of the manner in which
a university man who had opened bust
ness college gave her a piece Of his mind
on her theory of education and her meth
DDS. Cut down your curriculum, said he,
cut out civics, ethics, science Of wealth,
social and moral culture, art of expression,
etc, and give your young people business
from the word go. Their parents want
their services and wages, and want them
quick" 1t was impossible for her to get
in a word edgewise, she said.
In introducing Commissioner John w.
Ross, who delivered the principal address,
Mrs. Spencer said: This District is the
wonder of the nation for being a violation
in government of every known principle Of
the republic, yet proving to be the best
governed territory in the world. While our
chief executive continues to give to rule
,,ohy nhr1 hn
makes our interests and welfare his own,
who is beloved by every man, woman and
child, we shall ask for no change In our
form of government"
Mr.. Ross Address.
Mr. Ross address to the graduates was
as follows
LAS l look upon this beautiful and brill
liant scene, prepared in honor of these
young people. who assembled, with their
friends and relatives, to receive certificates
of their proficiency in their studies, !
IMPRESSED with the belief that the occa-
| sion demands not an address, but simply
word Of congratuation
THE class Of 1901 is properly the subject
| of congratulation for many reasons First,
because it has been their privilege to be
| trained by Mrs. Spencer. There is some
| thing in the personality of the teacher
which impresses itself upon the character
of the pupil. and which exerts an influence
as lasting life itself.
These graduates are fortunate in hav
ing been associated with one of high char
acter of great experience in her work and
Of enthusiasm. 1t would be difficult to eS-
innate the number of men and women OF
this and other communities who have be-
come successful and influential, in no small
degree by reason of the fact that under her
tutelage they We're not only carefully
trained in business methods, but were also
directed toward lofty ideals and to an hon
orable conduct of affairs in their business
Lon deemed successful who
build up extensive enterprises and who &C
cumulate wealth. From the standpoint
of the material results attained they are
successful and useful. But compare with
the results attained by even such laudable
endeavors those which follow the work of
the capable and conscientious teacher. She
deals with that which is after all the most
important factor in the affairs of this
world. namely, human character. The
great buildings of the business plant will
in time crumble and decay; the wealth ac-
cumulated will be dissipated, but the iniu-
ence welded on plastic minds by the
teacher, the character she moldS, the noble
thoughts which she inspires. these cease
not with the lives of the pupils; they be-
come an immortal force which asserts it
self in guiding other lives forever.
School Life in Washington.
Second. / congratulate these young
people that their school life has been passed
in Washington. To the youth who wishes
education to reside In the capital city. He
is in a community where the average of
| intelligence is high; where representative
men may be met not only from the states
of the union but from all of the principal
world powers. The student here may wit
ness the many meetings Of the national
scientific societies and of the great con-
ventions which have in view the improve
ment of existing conditions. Our city at
tracts the general student and the man
who devotes himself to special lines of
scientific research. Universities. libraries,
art galleries and association with the many
cultured people here who have achieved
success in science, in art and in literature
combine to make our beloved city the
| seat of advanced and elegant learning. In
deed, it may not be unfair to assert that
Washington is slowly but surely assuming
| its rightful position as a new worlds CEN
| ter of Intellectual life. These are among
the reasons why parents everywhere con-
| slider it well to have their sons and daugh-
| tiers trained In Washington.
"A recital of these advantages Of life IN
Washington and our own knowledge or Its
charms may explain why It is that senator's
and representatives willingly submit to re-
election for term after term, accepting
| cheerfully isolation from their homes and
business interests, sometimes for the great
er part of quarter of a century. 1t Is not
| necessary to infer therefrom the love on
their part Of prestige and power. May we
not attribute this sacrifice of their interests
on the altar of official duty rather to the
fact that, having once known the delights
of life at the capital, they submit to sue
cessive returns simply as preteXt for liv-
ing again and again in beautiful Washing
ton?
Finally. I congratulate them because
they are 1901 graduates. They are more
fortunate than any who have preceded
them. The world grows wiser and better
every day. They will. as business men and
women be privileged to avail themselves
of inventions and of affiliations of natures
forces of which their fathers had no CON-
ception.
MAY they all be swift to take advantage
of the opportunities which the new
fury will afford; and may all live lives
which will reflect credit upon the business
college which today confidently presents
them to the business world"
The list of graduates was printed in The
Star Of yesterday.
DE-. George H. Gilbert n Hereto.
DR.. George H. Gilbert, professor of New
Testament literature and Interpretation in
the Chicago Theological Seminary. has
his noSitipn nv the