The Washington times., 1902-05-08
CLOSING EXERCISES
At KENDALL GREEN
Graduates Given Diplomas at
Gallaudet College.
MANY DEGREES CONFERRED
Remarkable Exhibition of the Ability of
the Users of the Sign Language to
Keep Pace With the Speech of Flu
ent Speaker.

Yesterday was graduating day at Ken
dali Green. The closing exercises Of Gal
laudet College are probably the most nov
ell and interesting of any similar exer-
cises in that the graduates are either
deaf or dumb and the portion of the ex-
ercises that appeal to them is entirely
in the sign language. Because OF this
reason and because of the many friends
of the large graduating class the little
chapel en- the green was crowded to its
utmost capacity when Rev. Ulysses G. B.
Pierce. pastor Of All Souls Church,
stepped to the front OF the platform
shortly after o'clock and invoked the
blessing OF the Almighty upon the exer-
who were about to embark upon the bat
tic Of life. President Roosevelt, as pa
trcn, ex officio, of the college, sent re-
grets at his inability to attend. owing to
the pressure of business, but stated that
he hoped to be present On some future
occasion.
Upon the platform were seated Presi-
dents Greene, of Columbia University,
and Rankin, of Howard University; Rev
DR.. William Hudder, the eminent hymn
ologst of Lcndon; Mr. F. d. Morrison,
principal Of the school for the blind at
Baltimore, where the blind of the Dis
trict of Columbia are cared for and edu-
Gated at the expense OF the Government;
DR.. c. W. Ely, of the Frederick Deaf
Mute College; Associate Justice OF the
Supreme Court David ]. Brewer; the
Swiss Minister. Mr.. J. B. Pioda; the ven
cradle Senator Hawley, who is member
of the board, and many others.
The chapel was tastefully decorated and
there were flowers in profusion. Fol-
lowing the invocation the exercises con-
sisted Of the delivery of essays by mem-
hers OF the graduating classes as follows:
''The Man Without Enthusiasm Ezra
C. Wyand of Maryland; Realities"
Slava A. Snyder. Ohio; The Watchwords
of the Age" William J. Geilfuss, South
Carolina; "A World Language" George
G.. W. Andree. Michigan; 'Wtat Sound
Means to the Deaf" Frieda W. Bauman,
Illinois: The Frontier: Its Influence On
American Character" John II. Clark,
Utah.
Diplomas Presented.
Then followed the presentation of the
candidates for degrees, which were con-
fered 5y President Gallaudet with few
well chosen remarks. Those receiving
diplomas were:
Master OF arts-Normal Fellows, Gussie
Howe Greener, B. Phi, Ohio State Univer-
sity; Bertha Cildersleeve Paterson, y. B.,
Ohio State University; Harry F. Best, a.
B., Center College, Kentucky; Frank o.
Huffman. A. B, Wake Forest College,
North Carolina: Claude r. McIyer. Phi. b.,
University of North Carolina.
bachelor of arts-wilhelm Ferdinand
Schneider. Horace Rernard Waters, Eliza
beth De Long. Ezra Clayton wyand,
George shafer, Nellie Vail Hayden. Cyril
Andrew Painter, William John Geilfuss,
Roy Culver Carpenter, Murray Campbell,
Mary Ethelburga Zeil, William Morris
Strong. Bessie Barry McGregor, Sarah
Goldstein, Frieda Wilhelmina Bauman,
and Thomas Yeamon orthern.
Bachelor os science-John Houston
Clark. Arthur otto Steidemann, and George
Gregor William Andree.
Bachelor of philosophy-Lester Grant
Rcsson and William Marshall Lawrence.
Bachelor of letters-Slava Alexandria
Snyder.
Justice Brewers Address.
The address of Justice Brewer was
bright and witty. and created laughter
and applause among the pupils, as it was
into the sign language by Prof.
Gallaudet. In fact. this remarkable exhi-
bition of the ability OF the users of the
sign language to keep pace with the
speech of fluent speaker was one OF the
most fascinating and interesting features
Of the exercises.
The benpdirfiDD wnS DrOuOmDPnd he
John NJ. Schick. the pastor of the church
attended by President Roosevelt.
At the conclusion of the exercises DR..
iudder. who is great student of the
methods employed in England and else
where for the education of the deaf-mutes.
expressed surprise at the extent TO which
he education of these unfortunates had |
been carried in this country. There is in
England. he stated, no institution similar
% the one at Kendall Green. and there is
10 provision for the higher education of
his unfortunate class of people.
Exhibit of Art Works.
In connection with the graduating ex- |
,rcises there was an interesting exhibit |
II art work, such as china painting, cleo |
roplating. and other lines of art as ap- |
llied to industry, all the handiwork of |
ne pupils oil the college. Inc ne" iHStTu-
nent for the development of hearing, the |
was also on exhibition, and |
attracted much attention. This nstru-
nent is one of the most recent produc |
ions of the aurists, and is attracting much |
attention both here and in Europe. The |
in New York has sent a |
lumber OF them to Europe, including one |
hat was recently ordered to permit Queen |
Alexandria 10 listen to the music at the
coronation of King Edward. The instru- /
nent is. of course. worthless in cases of
otal deafness, but where the hearing is |
mpeded the most remarkable results have
been attained. President Gallaudet states,
md il was only after very careful test.
hat the instrument was purchased by the
ollcge at a cost OF $500.
STEA0Y WORK.