Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-04
ABOUT BANQUET BOARD
Joint Function of Alumni and
Graduates.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
AFTER-DINNER SPEECHES BY
PROMINENT CITIZENS.
Mr.. Henry E. Davis Serves as Toast
master-Responses to Toasts-
List Of Guests.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

The joint banquet Of the Alumni Associa-
| ton and the representatives Of the law.
medical and dental departments OF the Ma
| tional University at Rauschers last even
ing was an occasion OF unusual signifi-
canoe in the history Of that educational
institution. Never before had the annual
banquet followed the graduation of such
large classes as were given diplomas last
Saturday evening, and never before had
the outlook for the three schools been so
| filled with hope for the early realization Of
the ambition Of the founders Of the fnstitu
ton to make 1t one OF the greatest educa-
| tional factors of the country.
The joint banquet Of the Alumni Associa-
ton and the three departments Of the uni
versity was in accordance with policy for
promoting a feeling of fraternity among
graduates Of all the classes, and the events
plan. The large banquet hall at Rausch-
ers was filled last evening, and all that
hountiful repast and speeches laden with
wit and wisdom could do to produce an en-
joyable time combined to make the occa-
sion success.
Mr.. Henry E. Davis of the faculty pre-
sided and acted as POSTMASTER, his telling
shafts Of wit doing much to enliven the
around. The first speaker called on was
Mr.. George A. King, who was asked to re-
spond to the toast. The National Universe
ty.' Mr.. King said he had just read Wash
ington's eighth and last annual message to
Congress, sent to that body in 1916, recon-
| mendng the establishment in the District
of Columbia of a national university, and
setting forth, among it's advantages, the be-
lief that it would insure the permanence of
the union. Its primary object as desired
by Washington was instruction in the sci
| ence of government. When Mr.. King COM
| pared this purpose with the charter of the
National University with its broad, liberal
| provisions committing it to no sect nor de-
nomination. to no political party and to no
| section of the country, he found in it the
| fulfillment of WaShington'S ideal of a ma
| tional university. He urged his hearers
| as alumni of the university to help make it
in magnitude what it already is in its plan
| and execution-an institution Of national
scope and grandeur The institution he said,
| having the future in its grasp is the one which
| knows how to take advantage of the rich
stores Of learning gathered in this city, and
of the experts in the various legal and
| scientific branches of the government. This
| the national university has shown that it
| knows how to do. Already students from
Porto Rico are enrolled on the books of the
| university, and he believed that it would
! not be long before other students from the
most distant possessions of the United
States would be here to equip themselves for
| their new obligations and privileges under
| the American flag.
The sentiments advanced by Mr.. King
| brought forth frequent applause, indicating
| firm belief in the future progress and de-
ve,opment Of the institution on the part Of
every alumnus member of the faculty and
| lately graduated student.
MI. Carusi's Address.
Mr. Davis then called upon Mr.. Eugene
| Carusi. who has the unique distinction of
| being the only survivor among that band
I H.
University. Mr.. Carusi. dean of the
faculty, responded to the toast THE Fac
ulty of the Law Department" He recount
| ed the struggles of the university in it's
early years and congratulated those who
were interested in its success on it's Splen
did achievement during the past year,
when it had graduated more students than
ever before in it's history. The students had
come from all sections. and the class grad
uated by the law school was larger than
any law class ever graduated by school
south of Philadelphia. There had been
times he said. when the promoters of the
university had deSpaired in its early days
| In view of discouraging circumstances but
they had achieved success by persistent eff
fort. During the past two years the cur
riculum of the university had been added
to- it's library had been enriched and the
faculty further strengthened.
The toast 1.-The Faculty of the Medical
and Dental Departments was responded to
by DR.. William Mercer Sprigg He referred
to the progress of these departments of
the university organized so much later
than the law school. They had made
it possible for the institution to become a
university in fact. The legal department had
held its thirty-third annual commencement,
while the medical department had been es-
tablished but eighteen years. The medical
department required a course Of four years
before comforting the degree Of M. D. Its
standard of efficiency for it's graduates was
high
In its first years the President of the
United States ex officio chancellor of
the university. but since Harrison's admin
istration it had elected it's chancellor. This
year there were seventy students in the
medical and dental departments, and while
that was but small number, and one that
would be increased as the years pass, yet
their earnestness in their class work was
most gratifying and counted for much in
the ultimate success of the university.
The Several Departments Represented
The law. medical and dental departments
were toasted separately and graduates of
each Of those departments of the classes of
19O1-O2 responded. Mr.. ]. w. Bell of the
law department spoke Of the success that
was sure to be in store for many Of the
graduates of a university that did its work
so well as the National The last class that
mad been graduated was not only the lare-
est. out 1t was the best equipped Of any
class that had ever been turned out with
qualincations for the practice of the law
Their effort would be to make their prac-
ice so honorable as to reflect a lasting
credit on their alma mater.
DIR. r. N. Finch spoke on the medical de-
Tartment. The conditions that had pre-
vailed In the university, he said, were such
as TO nave made their four years Of study
more pleasure than q task. 1t could also
be said of this class that the efforts of
the faculty had made it the best equipped
class that had ever gone forth into the
world. No better medical school could he
found in the world than that of the Ma
tional University.
DR.. c. L. Odor paid just tribute to the
deneai department. He was glad to see
that the three departments were brought
together at this annual banquet. The adj
vantages of such association would be seen
In the future. He spoke of the rapid strides
that have been made in dentistry during
the past few years. The dentist of today is
surgeon requiring extensive knowledge
of medicine. The American dentists are
known all over the world as the leaders In
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