Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-23
HIGH SCHOOLS CLOSE
Largely Attended Exercises
at Convention Hall.
SCENE ONE OF BEAUTY
MIR. MACFARLAND's TRIBUTE 10
THE GRADUATES.
Judge Peelle Delivers an Address
Those Who Graduated Highly
Complimented by Speakers.
SCENE ONE OF BEAUTY

Now. am going to ask the graduates to
| stand up. in order that this vast audience
may have an opportunity Of seeing the
most beautiful picture in Washington"
said Commissioner Henry B. F. mcfarland
at 1870 o'clock last evening. when the
graduation exercises of the three academic
high schools of Washington-the Central.
Eastern and Western-were over. and the
1S9 members Of the classes. seated In tiers
on big platform in Convention Hall. had
been almost buried in flowers.
The young ladies and gentlemen carried
out the Commissioners wish. The Marine
Band played 1.-The Star Spangled Banner"
and then every one of the 5000 persons on
the floor arose. and the speakers. school Of
f1cials and members Of the board OF educa-
ton. who were on the platform. arose also.
1t is certain that all agreed with the man
at the head Of the District government IN
his appreciative remark on the beauty OF
the scene. 1t was happy time for grad
yates. relatives and friends. The event.
which has always been regarded as the
greatest commencement of the year IN the
public schools, was in every respect as
splendid as it had been In the past, ana
many thought 1t was far superior.
Considerably earlier than o'clock, the
time for the exercises to commence. pep
pie began to pour into the hail. and were
rapidly seated by the detachment or dlSh
School Cadets In dark blue and white uni
forms, who were detailed for that purpose.
Shortly before the time for beginning Inc
lights which had been only paruahy
lighted were turned on In force. revealing
a magnificent scene Around the arches OF
the great roof incandescent bulbs were ar
ranged, and in parallel rows. running north
and SOUTH were great arc lights, Whiie
suspended from the beams were American
aoc in,
quantities Of bunting In other colors over
the heads of the graduates. who were seat
ed in rows reaching nearly to the roof, was
hung a pure white canopy. bordered IN
front with festoons Of the various school
colors. The speakers and guests OF the
occasion occupied seats on the platform In
front of the lowest row Of graduates
Those Who Were Present.
Those present on the platform were: Com
missioner Macfarland. who presided: Com
missioner H L. West and Commissioner
John Biddle, the members Of tho board OF
education, Gen. H. v. Boynton. ]. Holds
worth. Gordon. J. F. Bundy. E. s. Parker
Mrs. H. L. West, Mrs. John F. FRANCIS.
Dr. Richard Kingsman; Justice stanton >.
Peelle of the Court OF CLAIMS. anG ens
speaker Of the evening: Rev. Albert Evans
of the Metropolitan Presbyterian Church;
Judge William Lee Chambers. Dr. ); b
Van Meter of the Woman's College or BAL
timore; President John Gordon OF ho"alo
university; Dean H. L. Hodgkins OF the
George Washington University: superin-
tendent A. T. Stuart. Assistant supeTin-
tendent Mrs. I. G. Myers. Director OF fhs,'
Schools Percy NJ Hughes. Principal M.
z Swartzell and Miss Phoebe Holmes OF
Eastern: Principal E. M. Wilson and mrs
N Hoeeesperger of Central; Miss n: =.
Westcott and Miss Katertne Reea % w 80
ern. Principal Allan Davis OF the BUSINESS
High School. j. B. Chamberialh' oiie - ooa
81 manual training: Dr. A. P. Fardon. heV.
u W Blake, Rev. Charles h Butter.
NJ r, Mayo. Miss Elizabeth Bryant
Johnson. Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey ana
nj ~ march of the graduates took place
ofter the Marine Band led by Lieut.. san
telmann had played several lhtroooc e.T,,o
SELECTIONS. Sousas popular march: Inc me
High School Cadets" was prayed loI ING
nroce.sion. which wound through the alstes
en the floor. and mounted the stage IN TWO
lines from either side. AS the last TWO
took their places the audience purS' Ai''o
prolonged applause
r Commissioner mcfarland introduced Rev
Albert Evans who made the invocauOh'
praying for the blessing OF the Lord on lIe
graduates the speakers and exercises oI
the evening. MI Macfaridho hi""1 '
opening address
Mr.. Macfarland's Address.
"It is a hundred years" said Mr. Mac
farland. ."since the foundation OF our puo-
lie schools was laid in Washington by the
act of the city councils. The centenhiai
celebration may be formally held next
wear. the anniversary Of the organization
of the first board Of trustees under that act
nv the election of Thomas Jefferson. then
President of the United States. as their first
president. But there can be no peter cei-
ebration than the commandments Whlch
close tonight with the largest or all For
thase coca siOns show what has been done
In the century in and for our pubic scnoois.
These graduates are the latest frult OF that
great tree which has grown In the ten
decades from such small SEED. we nav se
rea son to be glad and proud not only IN
these latest results, but in the contributions
made every year in the past to the citizen
ship and the common wealth OF the ma
tional capital. Popular educatlon mas sun
its opponents. and particular features OF 1t
have severe critics. But 1t Is generally &C
copied now as Indispensable and needing
only to be perfected. Certainly it Is I'M
people generally. 1t Is the greatest interest
OF the national capital. the one calling for
the largest amount of money. and one for
which taxpayers most cheerfully pay.
THE United States. government, although
II owns more real estate here than the tax
payers paid nothing toward our public
schools until 1873. but since then 1t has
paid almost as much as II 1t were tax
payer owning a similar amount of real es-
tate and its contribution has also been
cheerfully made. In the short time Of my
public service twenty three public school
buildings have been completed. at cost Of
81 .1S1 $50 and the total number now in use
all over the District Is IA. The last four
annual appropriations on account OF main
tenance alone aggregate over six and a
half million dollars. The presence of this
great audience shows in another way, as at
the other commandments, the deep and
strong popular interest. How could it be
otherwise, when nearly one-sixth Of our
populati ton is actually in the public schools?
These graduates. representing all sections
Of the community, have the cordial con-
CALCULATIONS and goodwill of the Commits
sioners and of their fellow-citizens as they
go on to college or to the normal school, or
to step out at once into active life"
Justice Peelle Speaks.
When the band had played another Sc
lection. Mr.. Mcfarland presented Justice
Stanton ]. Peelle. whose address was re-
ceived with great enthusiasm. Justice
Peelie said in part:
II shall be able to mention only a few
things and those briefly and without dis
cusston.
Some Of you young men and women
may go further and take a college cour Sc,
while others of you. and l presume the
greater number. will at once enter upon
the various activities of life and thereby
acquire that practical knowledge of at
fairs for which your training fits you But
whether you take a college course or .,op
with the High School your life in a large