The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-03
.HONORS FOR
FAIR GIRLS
als.Diplomas and Degrees
toWoman's College Students
EXERCISES AT ACADEMY
Pretty Scene and Most Interesting Fea-
lures Mark the Close Of an Excel
lent Session-Fine Address
by Or. Cecil.

The last acts in the woma,,'s College
commencement of 1903 were played last
afternoon and evening. The curtain was
rung down. the lights turned off. and the
Of as having passed from the portals Of
their alma mater to the big world which
lies outside of and beyond It,
The comforting Of diplomas, medals and
degrees and the delivery of the annual adj
dress by Rev DR.. Russell Cecil, of the
Second Presbyterian Church. ut the Acad-
envy of Music yesterday afternoon were
impressive and interesting to the last
dc gree a very large audience filled the
building, and the curtain rose with DR..
Nelson. the principal Of the college, the
degree students, tho trustees. Dr.. Cecil
DIPLOMAS AWARDED.
The orchestra burst into harmonious
strains. and the applause was spnntane-
Gus and sincere. Rev. Or. Cooper. Of the
First Baptist Church. made the opening
prayer. Then. after few remarks from
DR. Nelson. the dean OF the faculty, Pro-
fessor G. B. Garrett, delivered tho dipo-
mas to the students who were entitled to
them. The young ladies filed to the front
Of tho stage, stood UP In their pretty
white gowns. received their diplomas and
their flowers, then passed out to occupy
the boxes and loge chairs to the right
or the entrance. The boxes opposite were
filled by Mrs. Nelson. Mrs. Gambler and
members Of the faculty. Friends OF the
graduates occupied the upper boxes.
The awarding of medals came next Or.
Whitsitt OF Richmond College. presented
college to Miss Mabel Walker. of King
and Queen, for the best poem published
in the Chisel. Tho remarks with which
DR.. Whitsitt graced his presentation were
exceedingly we'll Judged and appropriate.
Mr. Frank P. Brent delivered to Miss
Of Caroline
the medal given by Mr.. John Garland
Pollard for the best essay contributed to
the Chisel during the past year. Mr..
Brent considered authorship In Its true
sense the finest Of the arts and eloquent-
~ pointed Miss Bowie to Homer. Dante,
Shakespeare and Ralph Waldo Emerson
as worthy exemplars of youth.
The elocution medal, donated by Mr.. ].
D. Crump, president of the Board OF
Trustees, was presented to Miss Ruth J.
Turner, OF Emporia, Va. by Mr.. D. G.
O'Flaherty in some especially neat and
we'll turned sentences, which fell most
aptly on the ear.
The medalists were all remembered
most handsomely In floral offerings by
their friends and admirers.
The degrees were next handed DR..
Nelson by Mr.. c. B. Garnett. The Doctor
in his turn bestowed them upon tho
graduates saying some kind and pleas
ant thing to each one as he did so. Tho
giving out Of the degrees was the signal
for flowers, roses white and roses red:
carnations. sweet peas. baskets. bou
quets and showers, SO that the line OF
graduates had the stage in front OF their
seats well heaped with fragrant mounds.
DIR. CECIL'S ADDRESS.
The final feature was the delivery OF
the annual address. q masterpiece OF
sound philosophy and splendid rhetoric
on the part OF DR.. Cecil. Then the or
chestra's glad strains were heard again,
and the girls went slowly out from the
scene OF the greatest triumph OF their
young lives.
At the reception, which was held In
the college parlors last night. Dr. and
Mrs. Nelson. the faculty and the gradu-
ates received the many visitors who came
to offer congra tulations and to, say good