Evening star., 1902-02-12

winch the school 1nStructS its pupils,
comparison with the quarters allotted the
commercial schools Of other cities and
calculation of the practical return which
the community receives from public bus
iness school well conducted and well
housed. With that in hand the committee
has seen every official on whom rests the
least vestige OF responsibility for the pub
lie schools, every citizens association In
the District. and more than half the men,
bers OF Congress whose residence in the
capital has extended over two years.
In all Of this action, to quote one of the
distinguished guests Of last night, the COM
The result found expression in Commission
er Macfarland'S address. "It is the unani-
nous desire of the District that the Busi-
ness High School shall have suitable
A Notable Gathering.
The meeting was numerically and social
ly the most brilliant alumni gathering in
the history Of the local high schools Near
~ all the young people who attended were
In formal evening dress. They easily out
numbered any alumni meeting ever con-
Quoted by any one Of the other schools
They had chosen for their assembly hall
one or the most beautiful ball rooms in the
city and had had it appropriately decorated
At the front they had placed chairs for the
Following officers Of their association and
the special guests Of the evening: Mr.
ton; Mr. Charles A. Jones, the secretary;
Mr.. Paul E. Sleman, chairman of the com
m1ttee which has conducted the agitation
Tor the new building; DR.. F. r. Lane su-
the city; Gen. George H. Harries chair
man OF the committee on high schools Of
the board Of education: Representative
James L. McCleary of Minnesota, chair
man or the House subcommittee on Dis
trict appropriations; Prof A. II, Stuart.
superintendent of the District school sys-
tenn; Mrs. Henry Litchfield West, a men,
per or the committee on high schools of the
BOARD OF education: Mr.. Henry B. F. Mac
farland, president Of the board Of District
Commissioners
A program Of what MI. .Macfarland called
polite vaudeville preceded the speech
making 1t began with a song by Mr. VIII
H. Conley, which evoked the widest hand
clapping from the alumni and convulsed
the guests of the evening To the music of
aonn q ia',er M Gay p popular song, Coon, Coon,
own. Of which the following are the last
stanZa and the refrain:
''You asked the good Commissioners
For home for the Business High;
You We seen your dreams through piRe smoke
VI that hallOwed bye and bye,
And when you try to clnch them
To grant the coveted boon
You get Macfarllnd's soothing syrup
VI soon, soon, SOOn
Soon, soon, soon,
Done heard dat word befo'.
Soon, soon soon,
Don't want dat song no mo-;
SooE soon, soon,
Say 1t again an deren be row;
We want Business High School,
Want 1t now! Now! Now!''
Miss Matte " Wade and Mr.. Jasper
Dean McFall also contributed musical num-
bers. Mr.. COnley gave two or three i'm
personations The last number to this por-
t1on OF the program was a brief mono-
logue "ApropOs of Nothing" by Mr. Lee
D. Latimer.
The Testimony Of Graduates.
President West then directed the atten-
tion Of the assemblage to the serious pur-
pose Of the meeting.
1--WE all unite.' he said. 'fn testifying
that the course Of training has proven to
be practical, and that the influence of the
principal and teachers OF the school has
been decidedly beneficial. This success Of
the association I believe to be due more
to the fact that 1t has a definite unselfish
and practical aim than to the Individual
ity Of any of it's members. The object of
the organization Is to promote the general
welfare Of its members by stated reunions
and organized efforts.
by it's organized effort much good has
been accomplished. Sixty-eight graduates
Of the school have been assisted to secure
positions for which they were specially
qualified, and 1t Is seldom that graduate
is out Of employment. In addition to this
many have secured advancement, and we
believe that we are raising somewhat the
value Of the alumnus Recently I person
ally heard a man apply to us for STEM
ograDher and typewriter. who offered
salary double what he offered three years
ago when he made a similar application.
During the past year much effort has
been spent to secure a proper understand
ing Of the necessity Of increased accom-
modations for the Business High School.
This work has been done largely through
the committee on school interests, of which
Mr.. Paul E. Sleman is chairman. The de-
votion Of this committee, and especially OF
Mr.. Sleman, has been remarkable. Even
IL We secure this year the appropriation
citation will continue, and I look forward
to the day when 1t will occupy even a
greater place in the community, and urge
each graduate Of the school to continue to
give ii cordial and substantial support"
Commissioner Macfarland's Address;
Mr. West then introduced Mr.. Macfar-
land, who spoke earnestly in behalf of the
new building project, saying in part:
1.-THE unanimous desire Of the District
that the Business High School shall have
suitable building is the best evidence that
the community appreciates the benefit of its
business education. We differ about many
things, including the personal property tax,
but we all agree about the Business High
School. This means that in its short life
the school has more than justified its exist
ence by its results. You are its jewels you
graduates who have made its reputation in
this community. You have repaid and are
repaying all that you received from it in
the honor and praise which you bring upon
1t.
"The fact that the Business High School
graduates quickly find places in the busi-
ness life of the District. and as promptly
find promotions; the fact that so many Of
you. although 1t is only decade since the
first Of you graduated, have already
achieved prominence: the fact that you are
distinguished by character as well as cul-
ture, give the school the confidence and
support of the people. The community rec
ognizes that 1t Is rendering definite. practt-
cal and valuable service. II It's graduates
were not trained by it they would have to
be trained by the less accurate, less eco
nomical and less satisfactory method of
actuel business experience as raw begin
ners. Many OF the recruits OF business must
of necessity take this unsatisfactory means
Of preparation, but the community prefers
that an increasing number of beginners In
business shall come with the best prepara-
ton such as you have had.
1.-The .COmmiSsloner1 and the citizens of