The times., 1901-05-23
FOURNEW WOMEN LAWYERS
The Graduation Exercises of Wash
ington College of Law Held.
senator Mason, Whose Daughter
Ruth Was One of the Fair PIeaders
to Receive Diploma, Delivers
nm Hddress-Tyyo other Speakers.


Ruth Was One of the Fair PIeaders
to Receive Diploma, Delivers
m Hddress-Tvyo other Speakers
The Washington College of Law last
night, at Luther Memorial Church, gave
diplomas to eight graduates. seven of
whom were women. The interest that the
law school for women has aroused in
Washington, and the many friends that it
has. though only i'm the third year of its
existence. was evidenced by the large au-
dience. nearly filling the entire body of
the church and the galleries
on the platform standing as sponsors
for the institution. were Judge Shepard.
of the Court of Appeals; Judge Stanton
J. Peele of the Court Of Claims; Judge
c. c. Cole. II. Clay Evans Commissioner
of Pensions: William T. Harris, Commits
sioner of Education; William b. King,
Senator William L. Mason of Illinois. the
Rev NJ Ross Tishburn, the Rev. John
Van Schaicll. jr: Mrs Ellen s. Mussey
dean OF the college; Judge =. c. Foster
Prof. Emma NJ. Ginctt, Prof. w. J. New
ton, Prof. j. Nota McGiH, Prof Jackson
Raiston, Prof. Theodore Ion. Mrs J.
Ellen Foster. OF the faculty; Mrs. Nanetta
B. Paul. Miss Flora j Ramona. Mrs. Mar
garet c. Lohr Miss Gertrude E Leonard
OF the alumnae, and the eight candidates
for degrees-AIrs. Emma Reba Bailey.
Miss Caroline 1. Greisheimer. Miss Helen
Francis Hill. Mrs. Margaret Lora Coope
Edwin Carpenter Dutton, Miss Ruth
White Mason. Mrs Catherine l.. North
and Mrs. Josephine c. a. Page. On either
side smaller platforms had been erected
on which was seated the undergraduates.
The graduates wore flowing gowns and
tasseied caps. The color of the college is
nile green. and the capes of the gowns
were lined with silk of that shade. making
a most beautiful effect. The platform was
banked with palms and cut flowers and
in the centre of the gallery above was the
college nag in green with W. {. l.. in
purple letters. and a mace terminating the
staff. Haley's band furnished music dur
ing the intervals between the speeches.
After an invocation by the Rev NJ Ross
Fishburn, d. D.. pastor of Mount Pleas
ant Congregational Church +. c. Foster
introduced Senator Mason as the presid-
ing officer. MIR. Foster traced the brief
history Of the college, and told how it
had had it's rise in the effort made by a
brilliant woman to get a law education.
Knocking at the door of law schools. she
found herself rejected. and finally was
Of Ellen Spencer Mussey who took her
as pupil. This pupil brought others, and
gradually the scheme of a college was
evolved. which had now graduated eleven
students, and was just about TO graduate
eight more. He prophesied a great fu-
ture for the womens institution.
Senator Mason's remarks. in his usually
suave and humorous vein, took the form
of advice to the graduating class. He
urged them to make a special point of
keeping all engagements, and to take
care they did not form any they were not
sure they could keep. Make all your pa
pers the best you can, and then fire them
into court" he said IF they are wrong
the opposing lawyers will demur, and
will help you to perfect them. Above all
things don't demur yourself-try to be
on the right side Of the case and stand for
what is fair. never doing anything of
which you conscience does not approve.
W hen you think your side is right fight
to the end desperately, but never be
tricky or take an unfair advantage. II
does not pay. Don't believe anything IN
til you have all the facts, ana then hunt
for more facts. Be absolutely fearless in
the defence of your client, and don't
think that money is the whole thing"
William T. Harris. United States Com
missioner of Education, spoke on ''Wo-
men in the Professions and gave sta
tistics to show that the number of wo-
men taking the law courses in colleges
had increased 500 per cent since 1876. He
thought the great benefit that women got
from the law training came from their
absorption through contact of the con-
servative, deliberate, and calm spirit of
the Roman law. which made them more
fitted to be good and helpful citizens. Ed
win G. Dutton, the only man in the gradu-
atinS class, presented to the college, in a
neat speech, the college flag
The next speaker was William b. King
who took up the question of "A LAWYERS
professional etiquette involved in taking
up case known to be wrong. He came
10 the conclusion that especially in crimi-
nal cases, as the lawyer was the only
man between the accused and the gal
lows. the lawyer should take anything Of
fered him and defend the case, citing
many notable precedents IL. support of
his position. As regards civil cases. he
in pressing a suit for damages when |
there was evidently no claim for them, or
any such things that he knew were mani
festly wrong.
The presentation of degrees by the
Dean. Ellen Spencer Mussey. followed. OF
the eight candidates, Emma Reba Bailey,
Caroline /. Greisheimer, and Helen
Frances Hill received the degree of Mas
ter OF Laws, having taken one year of
work after graduating as Bachelor of |
! avs. and having presented theses. The |
candidates who received the degree of |
Bachelor of Laws were Margaret Lora |
Coope, Edwin c. Dutton, Ruth White |
Catherine l.. North, and jose |
The exercises closed with a benediction |
by the Rev J. Van Schaick, jr., of the |
Church of Our Father.