Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-18
THROUGH H|GHSCHOOL
Large Number q of Graduates
Receive Diplomas
AT CONVENTION HALL
COMMISSIONER MACFARLAND
PREs1DEs OVER EXERCISES.
Address by Justice Shepard Of District
Court Of Appeals-The Prize
Winners.

| The climax of the commencement period
| for 1903 of the public school system of
Washington occurred last night, when sew
| eral thousand people assembled in Con-
vention Hall to witness the exercises at
| tending the graduation of the classes from
| the Central, Eastern and Western High
| Schools Commissioner II. B. F. Mac
| farland presided and made a brief intro
! ductory address. and the 100 graduates
| fro mthe several high schools received their
| diplomas from the hand of Commissioner
| John Biddle. Associate Justice Seth Shep-
| ard of the District Court of Appeals de-
| livered the address to the graduates and
! the award of scholarships was made by
| Mr.. A. T. Stuart superintendent of schools.
| A splendid musical program was furnished
| for the occasion by. the United States
| Marine Band Orchestra, under the leader
| ship of Lieut.. Santelmann.
The scene presented in the immense hall
| was at once both notable and inspiring.
| In the center of the west side of the hall
was a large stage at least one hundred
| feet long, to the front of which We're
seated the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia the members of the board of
| education, the principals of the schools
and their assistants, number OF local
cIergymen and numerous invited guests of
| prominence in educational circles. both in
| this CITY and elsewhere. In the rear of the
stage the graduates We're seated under
canopy of white, while suspended from
the ceiling over the stage were three de-
signs each composed of the colors OF the
respective schoois-white and dark blue
for Central white and light blue for the
Eastern, and green, red and white for
the Western. Across the front or the
stage broad streamerS of canary and pur-
pie extended hiding the view of the rear
of the stage from those occupying seats
in the front of the hall The platform
was banked either side by immense
clusters of palms and tropical plants, and
from, all parts of the ceiling and about
the walls were suspended flags, banners
and gaily colored bunting.
The Graduates Appear.
While the audience was being seated the
orchestra played a number of pleasing Sc
lections. and when it struck up the strains
of the High School Cadets the process
sion of graduates marched into the hall
from the main entrance, the young ladies
leading the procession. The line turned up
an aisle to the left before it reached the
platform and continued on its way TO the
middle of the hall, when the procession
came directly down-the center aisle to the
stage where the lines parted. and the
graduates marctnd onto the platform from
either side, and took their places IN the
seats reserved for them in the rear Inc
arrival of the graduates was the signal Tor
loud and prolonged applause and many
narent's heart sweiled with justifiable pride
as his or her son or daughter appeared IN
the triumphal march,
When the applause had subsidized Commits
sioner mcfarland introduced Rev. James
H. w Blake, who offered the Invocation,
following which; the orchestra prayed
minuet,, "Celebfe,,' BY Paderewski, and MT.
Macfarfand then spoke briefly. - ., ~ :.
Mr.. Macfarland's Remarks.
The Commissioner said in part
hUt have
not come here tonight to celebrate that
dav although the patriotic setting of this
scene would be most appropriate for such
an occasion This is the last and largest
| of the public school commandments. It
closes our year. 1t Is impressive ana IN
spring in itself in this splendid array OF
| graduates in this splendid audience Oh rel
| atiyeS and friends. We are all mere pm
marily because these graduates are mere,
| to congra tulate them and wish them "el
| for 1t is their night, the culmnation Oh
| their public school career, anu tne pesti.
ming of their larger life. But we see De
| hind it the whole of the great public schooi
| system of the District of Columpla, IN
which nearly one-sixth of the population -
| found from year to year. IL Is our sred.
est interest. 1t stands first IN the amount
| of appropriations in the District budget
| but it stands first more signlncahty II, oul
| hearts and minds g 1t Is the crown OF our
public institutions and the guarantee VI
their perpetuity. 1t is worthy the deVouon
| of all the public servants who labor in It,
| most of them for an INADEQUATE Viohes re-
ward, and it IS worthy the Ii.eles. vi 80
cry citizen of the District Those VINO nave
children in the public schools appreciate
| this, and they are the vast majority Oh .ie
public But there ought not to be one IN
| telligent man or woman IN the ha.io ud
capital who is not interested in Its pubic
| schools We can all be proud OF our
| schools. proud of their teachers anu tr MI
| scholars and of their practlcal results. we
md
and Improvement of old buildings, IN oroer
to accommodate the entire school popula-
ton. and we need more teachers anu pet-
ter salaries for all teachers lnese 'n t.as.,
we may reasonably expect TO secure from
Congress in the near future EVERY cru
zen can help US secure them, ana we 'iuSl
that every citizen will do So
Following the address by MI. MaciaI idhu
Mr. Todhunter of the Marine Band played
a cornet solo, which called forth enthusl-
astic applause from the audience ana elicit
ed an encore.
Justice Shepard's Address.
In introducing Justice Shepard the presld-
ing officer said 1t was most appropriate 'has
the young men and women VINO were 10 80
out from the public schools to become
active citizens should be addressed by one
so competent to speak on cltlzehsmP anu
the duties entailed by that relation
In the beginning of his remarks Justice
Shepard referred to the origin of the race.
and said that every forceful. dominant race
had some ruling passion. The ruling pas.
sion of the Romans was for expansion or
empire that of the Teutons was for per-
sonal liberty. In the Roman conception OF
government the state was all. and the citi-
zen but a member of the state. while with
the Teutons the state existed for the indi-
vidual. With the Combination OF Roman
and Teutonic races,et the speaker said. the
law and order principles of the former act
ed a tempering sirestraint upon a too
radical Interpretation Of the principles OF
the latter race and the combination had
| its fruition in the American race The Idea
| of personal and religious liberty has al
ways been a ruling passion with Americans
| The racial spirit of individualism made
| England great, and the same spirit led the
American pioneers. westward. and has con-
| tinued to point the way for American prog
ress " s2iq
Menace to ,Country's Prosperity.
After discussing.i briefly the development
and progress of the United States and the
| American race, Justice Shepard turned his
attention to the dangers to be guarded
| against by citizens of this republic. He de-
| ciared that the dangers to this country lie
| largely in the tendency toward too rigid
| organization and the greed for wealth and