Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-29
CASTE IN u EDUCATION
SUBJECT OF ADDRESS TO HOWARD
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.
Treasurer Roberts Discusses the Theme
Eight Young Men and Women
Receive Diplomas.

I1oWdTu University were neiu idSe S'SiiiAi9
in the Andrew Rankin Memorial chapel
when eight young men and women were
awarded the degree of bachelor of arts
The exercises were presided over by Rev.
DR.. F. W. Fairfield, dean of the college and
the address to the graduates was delivered
by Ellis H Roberts, Treasurer OF the
United States. Acting President Teunis :.
Hamlin, d. D., conferred the degrees.
Three of the graduates were on the pro-
gram for orations, but owing to the recent
illness of H. Roland Miller of Columbia,
S. c., he was excused from delivering his
essay, the subject of which was
''Triumphs." Charles Phillip Ford of New
Orleans, gave an grafton on THE Inspira-
ton OF Endeavorers, and Miss Hattie
Audrey Hubbard Of st. Louis, spoke on
Sowing and Reaping"
In presenting the diplomas to the grad
yates DR.. Hamlin congratulated the mem
bers OF the class upon having hnished thelr
course In a successful manner and spoke
briefly of future conditions with which
they would meet in active life.
Treasurer Roberts Address.
The subject of Treasurer Roberts ad-
dress was caste in Education" He spoke
Of a visit he made to Athens a number of
years ago, and of the Impressions he then
formed. Among the matters the speaker
tried to investigate in Greece, he said, was
its present popular education In villages
as we'll as in the cities. The vital impress
sion, the speaker explained, came from the
criticism sharp hostile, passionate, or the
efforts to extend higher education among
the plain people.
Let us not be overproud in this coun-
try" remarked Treasurer Roberts in the
course of his address.
I'm central New York, where colleges are
numerous and bear worthy fruit. the like
theories are advanced. More than once,
thrifty men have argued in my presence
that farmers were working mischief to
their families by sending their children
away to boarding academies and colleges
They pointed to examples where parents
were scrimping themselves in the neces-
saries of life, while their sons were wear
ing pumps and silk stockings In training
for the pulpit, and students were taking
charity on the way to professions for which
they had no aptitude and were sure to lose
their self-respect and to serve as terrible
examples of barren fig trees"
Open-Door for Education.
After explaining that such hereses are
not local, and declaring that In some way
the barriers against extending higher edu-
cation will be broken down, the speaker
went on to say:
IAN open door for trade in China and
Manchuria is desirable But more vital to
our people, to all the interests of progress,
of civilization, of universal mankind, is the
open door-wide open, high as the sky-for
education and effort for every son and
daughter of America
over 100000 students are enrolled In our
colleges, universities and technical schools.
Many, perhaps majority. are paying for
their education out OF their earnings aid
savings and by loans to be paid in the fu
ture. They are creating new spheres for
themselves, are climbing over obstacles, are
aiming for higher goals Who shall dampen
their ardor? Who shall turn their steps
downward? One can sink without effort;
to get up is the hard task. Free schools, I'M
restricted education, open pathways for all.
are the keystone Of Americanism Our In
situations have not failed and shall not
fail, because they rest on equal rights to
liberty before the law, on equal privileges
in the pursuit Of happiness, on solid stair
way for opportunity and advancement for
ALL
Advantages Of Training in Washing
ton.
In concluding his address Treasurer Rob-
erts said to the graduating class:
You will hereafter appreciate more than
now the advantages you enjoy of education
here in the national capital. The voices of
the republic are ever in your ears. The
ideals of liberty and progress are always
set before you. The halls Of Congress are
a perpetual object lesson to you. The great
American came from MS plantation to lead
his people. and went back to his hillside at
Mount Vernon as an example to them. The
towering obelisk In the name Of the STAIN
less patriot, as the index finger of our his
tory and our institutions, points upward
always to the vauted skies and the starry
splendors of the unmeasured spaces, to
God, who is over all truth, wisdom, knowl-
edge
The following persons received degrees:
Charles P. Ford, president of the class
Louisiana; Hattie A. Hubbard vice presi-
dent. Missouri Fairfax Jackson, jr., secre-
tary. Virginia: Harry H. Maynard, treas
urer. Tennessee; Harriet Eldridge Brooks
District of Columbia; H. Roland Miller
South Carolina; Martin r. Powell North
Carolina, and Thomas Shaffer, Kentucky.