Evening star., 1901-09-25
Exercises at the New Dent and
Webb School Buildings.
IMPRESSIVE PART OF THE CHILDREN
Sang America and Gave Salute
to the Flag.
ADDRESSES AND FEATURES
"My country, it's Of thee,
Sweet land Of liberty,
nH fhan L sin -


OF thee sing
In childish treble, with a patriotic vim
| that would have been creditable to chill
dren Of a larger growth, the words Of
America" rang out from scores Of lusty
little throats today. Under a roof over
which f1oated the starry emblem that SYM
bolizes America, now hanging at half mast
in mournful memory OF a beloved President
and within walls hung with the same in
spring banners, the boys and girls who are
to be the men and women Of future Amer
lea sang the song.
The occasion was the formal opening Of
| the new Dent School building at I'd street
and South Carolina avenue, overlooking
the beautiful slopes of Garfield Park. The
| hour set for the program to begin was IL
o'clock, but owing to the necessity for
Commissioner Macfarland to attend an i'm
portant board meeting with his colleagues
1t was nearly an hour later before they be-
| gan. Awaiting Mr.. Macfarland were DR..
Kingsman, Mr.. Gordon and Mrs. Francis
OF the board OF education Mrs. Kingsman.
Miss Boynton, daughter of General Boyn-
ton. president Of the board, and several
other friends of the institution.
DIR. Kingsman's Remarks.
DR.. Kingsman. who presided. announced
that the occasion was the first Of its char
acter in the history of the District school
| system. 1t had been decided to maugurate
all new buildings henceforth with appro-
pirate exercises. He then proceeded to
briefly sketch the career OF the late Mr..
Josiah Dent. in whose honor the building
| had been named. Mr.. Dent, he said, was
born in Charles county, Md. in 1917. and
| educated at Charlotte Hall, a famous acad-
| emy. He studied law and went to St Louis
| to practice his profession. At the outbreak
| Of the civil war he returned east and made
his residence in the District. Eventually
| he became President Of Lfnthicum Instt-
| tute, which is designed for the advanced
| educa ton of youths who are unable to pur-
| sue a collegiate course. When the present
| form of government for the District Of CO.
! lumbia was established in 1878 Mr.. Dent
| was appointed a member of the board OF
| Commissioners and its president. He
served altogether five years. After his re-
| tirement from public life he continued his
| residence here for several years and then
removed to Berkeley Springs. W; Va,
| where he died in October, 1892 at the ripe
| old age of ninety-three.
W When DR.. Kingsman concluded the
scholars. who assembled in pretty group
America" All knew the words, all knew
| the tune. and all sang with a vigor that
was inspiriting.
| COmmissiOner Macfarland's Address.
When the last note died away Commis-
sioner Macfarland was introduced. Little
| hands clapped rousing welcome, and after
expressing thanks for his reception Mr..
Mcfarland said:
1.-The opening Of the Dent School. named
for an eminent citizen Of Georgetown. Jo-
siah Dent, who was one of my honored pre-
decessors in office, is an occasion for con-
graduation. On behalf Of the government
of the District of Columbia 1 congratulate
the people of this neighborhood upon hav-
ing such fine building for the education
of the children, and the teachers and pu-
pills upon beginning their labors in it. I
| am very sure that the work that will be
done here will be in the spirit of the man
whose name the building bears. a patriotic,
high-minded gentleman. 1t is a great pleas
ure to know that our public school system
is now in better condition than ever before.
1t is the most important interest in the
District, for 1t comprehends not only the
present but the future About one-sixth
of the entire population of the District is
in the public schools, and it is the seed Of
the citizenship of the century. The Com
mlssfonerS, solicftouS for all the interests
of the District are naturally most solicit
tous for this. They are gratified with the
good work Of the board of education, The
superintendent, the supervising principals,
the teachers and with the steady improve
ment In all parts Of the city. They are glad
that Congress has made it possible upon
thelr recommendations for them to furnish
better buildings and better facilities of
every sort for the work that is to be DONE
and confidently expect larger appropria-
The Commissioners remarks were round
ly applauded and then the clear, powerful
soprano voice Of Mrs Schade effectively
rendered The Star spangled Banner"
nounced that an important engagement
had detained Gen. Boynton. who had in
tended to speak, and that illness prevented
the presence of Superintendent Stuart, who
was also to have made an address. The
little ones gave the salute to the flag
while that emblem was upborne by a
sturdy little youngster and then in time to
the children returned to their class rooms
and after getting their belongings, march
ed out homeward as happy as youngsters
can we'll be.
At the Webb Building.
The participants in the exercises were en-
tertained at luncheon by Supervising Prin-
cipal Freeman, Miss Bellings and the teach
ers. and then proceeded to the Webb build
ing. at 18th and Gales streets northeast,
where similar exercises were conducted this
afternoon Gen. George II. Harries recount
ing the career Of the late VIM. Webb, for
mer Commissioner of the District in whose
honor the building was named.
In the course Of his remarks at the Webb
building Mr. Macfarland was plainly af-
fected.
William Benning Webb was one of the
leading lawyers of Washington and presi-
District Of Columbia" he said in part "He
was my friend and my preceptor in law, as
well as my predecessor in Office It is,
therefore, a peculiar pleasure for me to be
here at the opening of the public school
which Is to honor his memory. Remember
ing his love for children and his deep in
terest in the cause of education, and es-
pecially in our own public school system, 1
feel sure that 1t was especially appropriate
for the Commissioners to place his name on
this building. May 1t be an inspiration to
the teachers and pupils through all the
years to come"
Insurance Union Incorporated.
Articles Of incorporation of the Wash
ington Insurance Union were this afternoon
placed on record. Edwin L. Cockrell,
Thomas ]. De L.ashmutt. T. Fletcher Dem
mis-, Frank Flynt, Charles M. Gardner, VII
liam G. Green, John w. Holcombe Regt-
nald Munson and Scott Ashby Wolfe are
the inCOrDOratOrS