Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06
JUST AS 1T USED TO BE.
Reflections of an Old Graduate at a
Commencement

This is the season of the year when we
get vivid reminders of the time when. arm
ed with the formidable sheepskin. cour-
ageously set forth TO take a fall out of the
world" remarked a Washington man whose
name has a part of the alphabet tackled on
to the end of it whenever he appears on
public program. but who on other occasions
is known only as a steady, level-headed
business man.
Il went out with my wife and the youth
full progeny who bears our name to a
commencement exercise the other evening"
continued the old graduate in a reflective
mood. land / found that human nature and
commandments have changed but very lit
tie since my own earlier experience as a
diploma fiend / had a sort of mania for
graduating and it was one of my chief
sources of enjoyment. l finished a high
school a business college, prep. school
and a university. before | was cured of the
habit but when | attended the commence
ment program the other night ii sent the
old sensations tingling through my veins
and / felt like getting up on the platform
again in a bran new suit, with ribbons
pinned onto the lapel of my coat, and tear
ing off one of those oratorical vibrations
that used to make the earth tremble IL
thought with its rumblngs.
"A young man stepped to the front of the
platform just as | used to amble out and
turning on bias. launched forth on his
speech He. at least. was carried away
with it. for he had proceeded but short
distance in the 'magnum opus when he
threw out bunch of fingers to the right
side and then gave the left arm com
prehensive swoop in the opposite direction
Presently he came up with both hands to
the front and the absent minded musician
in the orchestra grabbed his horn and was
apparently about to start OF on "Hiawa-
tha." at the all together sign of the
speaker.
1.-The reaching outward and upward for
higher things was duly emphasized with
realistic gestures and the floating billows
of time were played up with proper wav-
ings 1t was like old story.
"And then young lady came out with
Dolly Warden courtesy and began panto-
mime of Rock of Ages. or something else,
while she got on the usual 1ehnys son mas
truly said and the to you dear teachers,
and all those familiar phrases that origi-
mated with the first commencement on rec
ord Then came the words of 'au revor.
but not farewell TO our dear classmates.
and fine expressions of loyalty to the be-
loved alma mater. and l dropped OF into
such deep reflection that l began to get
nervous thinking III was my turn next W
speak and gesture
"At about this point in the proceedings
NV Youngster gave a little awakening snort
and a wiggle and my wife gave me punch
under the arm. with the whispered admom-
ton that wasn't attending a church serV-
ice and l came to. ! must confess 10
little sigh escaping me as realized that the
proceedings on the stage were all over TOT
me so far as my participation in them
was concerned. Nothing but memory LETT
for the old man now. and in a few years the
young folks who the other night spoke SO
cheerfuily and hopefully OF entering tne
battle against the world viii be occupying
seats in the audience and dreaming. as /
was of the days OF diplomas and ribbons
and bouquets when everything lay at their
feet and all seemed bright down the little
lane that led to real life