Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-06-14
PREPARATORY
COMMENCEMENT.
PRIZES AND DIPLOMAS AWARDED
GRADUATES
Who viii Be Full Pledged COllegianS
Next Year-The Prospective
Glass of 1905-PrO-
gram of Exer-
CiSeS For
Week.

The commencement exercises of the
Preparatory School of St. Johns College
were held this morning in the chapel at
Mcdowell Hall, and were witnessed by
a large number of friends and relatives
OF the preparatorians.
The first and second preparatory
classes marched into the hall to music
by the Naval Academy orchestra. The
exercises began with prayer by the Rev.
w. w. Van Arsdale, pastor OF the First
M. Z. Church. The president of the
graduating class, Mr.. H. b. Wilmer, de-
livered an address of welcome, after
which followed the competition for the
prize defamation. The contestants with
their subjects were: J. r. Pennell,
Future OF America" Bernard Carter,
"The Polish Boy" H. Messenger, THE
Employment OF the Indian in the Ameri-
can War;" 7. A. Symington, "Horatius
at the Bridge" H. B. Wilmer. The
Future of the Philippines" Duncan
Walton, "The Conflict with Roderick
Dhu;" A. b. Cecil, "The Growth of the
United States" H. p. Graham, Banner
of the Union.
The boys all acquitted themselves ad-
mirably. The judges were the Rev. c.
Ernest Smith. of Baltimore, the Rev.
George S. Bell, and Judge J. p. Briscoe,
of the Court of Appeals. The judges
decided in favor of Mr.. A. b. Cecil, first
prize. The decision met with universal
favor, and the winners were loudly ap-
plauded.
The address to the graduates was de-
livered by the Rev. c. Ernest Smith,
ID. D.. of Baltimore, rector of ST.
Michaers and All Angels Church. DIR.
Smith spoke in happy vein and held
the marked attention of his auditors.
He said in part alt has been asked why
the end of term, or the graduation from
a school or college should be styled the
commencement Boys think that all
that is past is of no account, and that it
is the commencement of fun and vaca-
ton. | used to think so when | was a
boy, and boys are boys. all the world
over. alt is said boys will be boys,
like TO correct this and say: let them
alone. and boys will be men.
The speaker paid compliment to the
young graduates of the Preparatory
School, all OF whom he said. gave promise
OF excellent specimen of manhood. He
spoke of opportunity, which he said was
a solemn subject, because anything is
solemn which passes away. He referred
to the renowned "Dooley" as his friend.
and quoted from Mr.. Dolley on "Oppor-
tunity," which he says comes TO all men.
To some it knocks at the door, and if it
can't enter on the first floor, goes up
stairs and Snding the man IN bed,-Op-
portunity awakes him. To others, op-
portunity knocks at the door, and hits
the man on the he ad with a club.
DIR. Smith discredits the idea that op-
portunity comes but once. He believes
it comes repeatedly to some. and comes
with all sorts OF invitations. He does
not think with the great poet that There
is a tide in the affairs of men, which
taken at the food leads on to fortune"
but which il neglected our lives are
bound in shadows and in misery. He
does not believe we are always miserable
because of having neglected the f,a op-
portunity. DIR. Smith told the boys that
on graduation they held the key to all
professions, and could get anyone of
them; "but," he said, when once in
YOU can't get out" With older persons
who had chosen their life's work, he said
it was different. 1t is not easy for
them to change to some other preferred
profession. Older people are like fish
cast upon the shore. They are left on
the sand. and glad to get into any of the
little pools around.
Opportunity is yours today" said Dr.
Smith, "as you grow older, opportunities
become less and less. The world does
not want old men; something has gone
out of them. They have had the mis-
fortune to grow old. and their opportuni-
ties are all gone" He spoke of Carnegie
and his gift to the Scotch Universities.
and said Carnegie had better getout ads. /.
in all the newspapers "Wanted-Boys.
DR.. Smith said Carnegie ought to be