Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-27
GLASS OF SEVENTEEN
OF MOUNT VERNON
SEMINARY RECEIVE DIPLOMAS.
Exercises Held Today at the New Will
lard-Address by DR.. Mer-
rill E. Gates.

seventeen fair young ladies composed the
class receiving diplomas this morning at
the commencement exercises OF the Mount
Vernon Seminary, held in the large hall of
the New Willard. In the audience. which
entirely filled the large room. were many
young lady students of the school, and rel
atives and friends of the graduates, who
came to congratulate them on having sue
cessfully completed their studies and to ex-
tend best wishes to them in their future
duties of life. The decorations were in
keeping with the freshness of the morning
and the whole Of the west end of the hall
presented the appearance of an elegantly
arranged conservatory. There was a pro-
fuse display of palms, tropical plants, ferns
and cut flowers arrayed with artistic eff
feet. In the rear of the platform and ex-
tending along the full length was a row of
tall palms, while TO the front at the right
ana left of the platform were two large
clusters of palms and tropical plants with
magnificent large bouquets of white flowers
grouped against the green setting. EN-
tending across the front of the stage was
row OF ferns and on the platform near the
stand at the left was another immense
cluster of flowers and plants.
shortly after IL o'clock those participant
ing in the program Of exercises took their
Pi"SeS oii tne AFTER winch the
members OF the graduating class, preceded
by the ushers, marched up the center aisle
TO the platform, while Mr.. Harvey Murray
prayed largo movement from Beethoven.
Ihe seats for the class were arranged in
, Seml-clrcle, and the graduates, all at
tired in white, presented an attractive ap-
pearance against the dark-green back
ground.
Program of Exercises.
Selections were rendered by string quar-
tet and by a ladies chorus, under direction
of Mr.. Joseph Kaspar after which Rev. T.
S. Hamlin offered prayed. At the con-
clusion of two solos by Miss Alice Edwards
the address to the graduates was given by
DR.. Merrill E. Gates, ex-president Of Am
herst College, who spoke eloquently on the
subject THE New Education for Women
and the Old-Time Graces."
In his Introductory remarks DIR. Gates
referred to the anniversary of the institu-
ton and said the meaning of anniversaries
teaches us the value of the present. We
often miss the finest favors OF life and
their enjoyment because We do not realize
they may be had for the taking. He de-
clared We may each of US have lives just
as sweet and beautiful as We have eyes
capable of distinguishing the sweetness and
beauty in the things about US.
He spoke of the memories of school life
and said they live forever, proving source
of keenest enjoyment in after life. He said
the new life for the young ladies would be
l. to let their influences and thoughts go out
beyond the family circle for larger benefit
to the world
When God would perpetuate anything to
the race" said the speaker. He intrusts
1t to the pureminded daughters Gods way
OF sending the noblest truths down the ages
is by placing it in the hearts of pure young
women and from them it is diffused to the
world
The purpose of education. said DR.. Gates
is to set free from Sel6SbneSS nd 10
noble things. Womans place IN the world
Is becoming more important and she will
be required to cultivate larger sympathies
The comradeshp which a man enjoys so
much IN his wife is not acquired in school
by initiating the college boy or by trying to
become manly by practicing mannish traits.
Change in Environments.
There is unquestionably a change In the
environments of women today said the
speaker, land there is change in what
will be expected of her in the future which
is marked by the twentieth century The
fact that the institutions in this country for
the higher education of women are crowded
is evidence that the new woman is widening
In her scope and it means that democratic
methods must prevail. 1t is becoming to be
considered that a girl must make as much
of her intellect as her brother.
Are the old-time virtues and graces to
be lost? No. This new environment will
mean that man in his highest development
Will take on the finer sensibilities and vir-
tues of women and that woman will ac-
quire the strength of man.
He said he had much sympathy for the
weak little man who complained that
women were taking the place of men and
crowding them out of their occupations as
he had for the bold woman, who, presuming
on the chivalry of strong men, attempted to
bully them. Grace, mercy and truth, he
said. were the virtues of womanhood, and
1t is the object Of education to develop those
virtues.
Both the graduates and audience evinced
great interest in the speakers words, and
at the conclusion of his address Dr. Gates
was greeted with loud applause.
Diplomas Presented
Madame Annie Roemer Kaspar sang a
group Of songs in a pleasing manner, after
which Mrs. Adelia Gates Hensiey, the as
sociate principal of the seminary, In a brief
address presented the diplomas to the grad
yates. The exercises closed with a solo by
Madame Kaspar.
Those composing the class of 1902 are as
follows: Miss Genevieve Ainsiie Oak Park.
ILL.,; .-iss Marian Louise Aldrich. Evanston
ILL.,; Miss Eleanor Bartless Ruth Oldberg
Brown, Anna Hall Green, katherine Hill,
Florence Libbey, Catherine Cullom Ridge
ley, Elsie st. Clair Seeligmann, Washing
ton, d. c.; Miss Ruth Carey, Indianapolis
Ind; Miss Isabelle Risdon Human, Battle
Creek, Mich; Miss Florence Teresa Ingram
Miss Elizabeth Stribling Rouse, Baltimore
Md; Miss Edith Emily Latimer, Ashland
Wis; Miss Mabel Ellington Root Denver
Col; Miss Elizabeth Turner Waller, In
DIANA Pa.
An Original Play.
An original three-act drama entitled The
Duke of Devonshire" was presented by
the senior class of Mt. Vernon Seminary
at the banquet hall Of the New Willard
last evening before a large and deeply in
terested audience. The play was written
by Miss Katharine Hill, the youngest mem
Der of the class and proved very credita-
ble work from every mimi of view In