Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
TRAINED TO BE USEFEL
CLOSING EXERCISES OF TIE
ARAEsTRoNa school.
Fifty-One Graduates Given Diplomas
-Engineers' Licenses Granted
Certificates Of Merit.

The third annual commencement exercises
of the Armstrong Manual Training School
were held in the auditorium Of the Metro
politan A. M. E. Church last night. Diplo-
mas were presented to the graduating class
Of twenty-six young women and twenty
five young men. and in addition certificates
were given to twelve other students who
had completed a special course.
Besides the graduating class the three
District Commissioners, seven members OF
the board Of education. W. 8. Montgomery,
superintendent Of the schools, the two as
sistant superintendent, John A. Chamber
lain. director Of manual training schools
DR.. John Gordon. president Of Howard Uni
versty; DR.. Pardon and DIR. Wilson B.
Evans. principal of the school. occupied
seats on the platform. Potted palms were
scattered about in abundance and the
school colors. blue and yellow, were every
where In evidence
instrumental music was furnished by the
Columbian Orchestra, and vocal selections
were given by the Armstrong Choral So
ciety, under the leadership Of Miss Har-
r1et Gibbs, assistant director Of music In
the public schools. James F. Bundy pre-
sided during the evening and the nvoca-
ton was made by Rev. Sterling N. Brown.
The diplomas were presented to the grad
yates by Commissioner Macfarland, who
also made an address. The address to the
Grimke of Boston.
An interesting feature Of the exercises
was that each of the young women wore a
gown designed and made by herself as a
part of her school work. The gowns, while
apparently expensive were not so, inasmuch
as the highest cost Of material in any of
them did not exceed S6-the added value
being the result of the handiwork of the
pupils. Another notable feature was the
presentation of engineers licenses to four
of the special students of the school; they
were issued by the board of steam en-
g1neers of the District.
Mr.. Macfarland's Address.
Commissioner Mcfarland spoke of the
value of school training as a part of edu-
cation.
THE value of the school," he said. ".s
now recognized by all. and it's building
will have to be enlarged to meet the grow
ing demands upon 1t. No one, whatever
he may think of other forms of education
can doubt the necessity which this school
meets for the training by technical study
and practice of the brain and hand.
The Armstrong graduates have the Spe-
cial opportunity and responsibility Of help
ing forward their own people in the unrest
ing march of civilization. While we are all
Americans. under one flag. we cannot ig-
more the peculiar position Of the cOlored
race and the peculiar responsibilities Of
their trained leaders They have the SYM
effort to promote the progress which can
only be secured by contributing their full
share to the economic life OF the whole
country"
Mr.. Grimke's remarks were full of advice
to the young people. In part he said
Life is strife, and those who live have to
strive. The dead only are quiet. are still
on this battlefield You are now en- route
to the seat of war. where your soldierly
qualities will be speedily tested.
The life which you are now beginning
Is no feast day. Far from it. 1t means
work. persistent. determined work. such as
men and women do who are resolved to get
what belongs to them and to keep it. If
there is any royal road to success l have
never heard of it. nor will you ever catch
SO much as a glimpse of it. The road lead
ing to it is filed with dust and stones and
thorns over which you may have to walk
sometimes with bare feet and with the
breath catching in your threats. There is
no such thing as sleeping anywhere along
that route and reaching the end where for