The Washington times., 1906-06-17
Five Hundred Happy
Grads Get Diplomas
Wednesday Evening.
Al CONVENTION HALL
CentrA, eastern, and West
ern Schools Take Part in
Combined Exercises.

About 500 Washington High School
pupils viii pass from the portals of their
schools on Wednesday for the last time
After their graduation exercises at Com
vention Hall on Wednesday night thew
will take their places in the swelling
ranks Of the alumni and their high
school days will be but sweet remem-
brance.
In years to come they will look back
upon the day that they received their
oipIomas from the hands OF the District
commissioner as the beginning OF the
epoeh which meant success or failure
One OF the largest classes that has
ever gone from the Washington public
schools will be sent out by the high
schools with the godspeeds Of the Com
missioner and the blessings of thous-
ands of parents assembled to witness
the finale Of years Of steady effort on
the part OF their sons and daughters.
Representative Burton Orator
The commencement exercises are
scheduled TO be of the greatest proper
tions ever held in the schools. For a
month the Board OF Education has been
ousy selecting speakers for the occa-
sion. After the consideration of more
speakers
from various parts of the country il
was decided to invite the Hon. Theo-
dore Z. Burton.of Ohio, 10 make the
address Of the evening. Mr.. Burton.
who has established a reputation as a
speaker during his years in the House
OF Representatives, late yesterday aft
ernoon consented 10 occupy the rostrum
at the commencement
What is considered one of the most
beautiful sights offered the citizens Of
Washington will be presented at Con-
vention Hall Wednesday evening. when
the big class. two by two. begins its ser
pentine march to the stage. on which
the entire class. together with the off,
Gals OF the school systems OF the Dis
trict, visitors from schools of other cit
les, and representatives of the colleges
which offer scholarships to the local
schools will be grouped. The long pro-
cession will be headed by a young lady
and young man from the class at the
Central High School. followed by their
colleagues. Then will come the classes
from Eastern and Western
All in Holiday Dress.
Radiant in their holiday attire with
the glow of impending honors hot upon
their cheeks, the army of grads" will
march 500 strong before an admiring
audience Of thousands and from the
moment the first strains of the Marine
Band playing the High School Cadets"
fills the huge auditorium the young
ladies and their escorts will be supreme
Nothing will be too good; no applause
sufficient 10 express the admiration of
the multitude rising in tiers of seats
and craning necks TO get a better view
of the sea of laces and dainty femin-
unity dotted here and there with an
island Of black, marking the location of
a group of male graduates.
The diplomas will be presented by
Commissioner West. The pupils will
pass from their seats on the stage and
receive their diplomas from the hands
OF the Commissioner, and pas back to
their seats The scholarships will be
presented to the students who have won
them by competitive examination, by
Superintendent of Schools A. T. Stuart.
Twenty Free Scholarships.
There are about twenty free scholar
ships. which are offered by such coll
leges as Lehigh. Washington and Lee,
George Washington, and Georgetown,
aside from a number OF medals offered
by societies The Daughters Of the
American Revolution will present the
young lady submitting the best essay
upon any topic relating to the history
Of the development of America with a
gold medal. Four scholarships are OF
fered by the Phoebe Hearst School.
This number was increased last year
from one to four. on account of the
excellent ability shown by the young
lady who won the free tuition to the
kindergarten institution in 1904.
Presenting the Flowers.
The sight which brings thousands to
their feet and causes parents and vIsi-
tors alike to leave their seats IS the
picture presented by the stage. when. |
after the presentation of diplomas. a. |
CORDS of blue-coated and white-trousered /
cadets invade the stand with bundles of
flowers for the happy graduates. 1t has
been the custom since the exercises were I
established to send flowers to the fsv-
orites on the stand. and it is rarely II
ever that each graduate fails to secure /
at least one cluster of American Bean {
ties. When the flowers have beer. Dre-
sented the color picture is one not soon
forgotten