Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-26
DISCUSSES AMERICAN GIRLS
JOHN BARRETT DELIVERS AD-
DRESS AT COMMENCEMENT.
Graduates of Fairmont Seminary Re-
ceive Diplomas-Present Glass
Colors to the Patroness.

| Il defend the girl who marries a foreign
| title for love of the man she weds. but I
| believe the American girl who marres
solely for the sake of the title should be
condemned
| The foregoing sentiment uttered by John
| Barrett. director of the bureau of .Ameri
| can republics. during an address al the
commencement exercises of Fairmont
| Seminary, Fairmont and 18th streets. last
evening evoked hearty response from the
American girls present in the way of
vigorous applause. even if the young
| men present were not quite so enthusiast
| tic
MANY international marriages. Mr..
Barrett said. have turned out disastrous
| ly but for that matter so have many
marriages in the United States. Yet there
| are hundreds of international marriages
| which have turned out happily. Tn
| fortunately, we rarely hear of these and
| 1t is only the other description that is
| brought wildly before us.
| 1T Is the duty of every American man
to win the hand and heart of the Ameri-
can girl but if he cannot succeed he
should not begrudge the foreigner who
takes the prize"
I Makes Most Of Topic.
| Mr.. Barrett's topic. The American Girl
and Her Worldwide Influence" seemed
appropriate for the occasion. and with
| diplomatic instinct he made the most Of It.
| This is the day of the American girl
the speaker remarked. 'the day when
| truly the influence of the American girl
| is worldwide. whether in her home. the
| embassies or titled families of Europe:
whether In the missionary fields of China
or the educational work of South Ameri-
ca. Wherever she MAY be found the eyes
of the world are on her.
Mr.. Barrett paid high tribute to the
American girl and the American woman.
| and declared his opinion on the subject
| of international marriages in no uncer-
| tain terms.
| The sneaker predicted that the coming
century will be the golden age for women.
ct is no exaggeration to state that
this century shall he wOmen's. he de-
clared. During it's approaching years
they will reach power and influence in
every phase of life never before believed
possiule. The American girl of today will
be an American woman when women Will
| have more to say in the shaping OF the
social. economic and political fabric of
/ this world than the most hopeful of her
| sex ever wished.
Must Qualify for Responsibility.
This IS right, but no woman would
retain a position thus acquired unless
she had qualified for the responsibility
by the training that comes in her young
err years. and there are no obstacles be-
| fore her which she cannot overcome as
a result of such training. This does not
mean an unwOmanly woman or manly
woman. 1t does not mean a boyish girl
| or tomboy. 1t simply signifies a girl or
a woman who. while keeping to herself
| the qualities and chara cterstics of her
| sex. which dearest TO both men and
women. at the same time comprehends
THAT her activities and opportunities are
widening and hence bring greater respon-
sibility."
Mr. Barrett reminded the American
girl that in her hand lies the work of
shaping the ideals Of the American boy.
aal closed with an eloquent tribute TO
the American mother
Features of Program.
The program was opened with musical
selections by the Lent-kaspar trio. Rev.
Ross Fishburn offered prayer. which was
followed by cello solo. After Mr.. Bar
rett spoke Anton kaspar gave violin
maZurka.
The presentation of the class colors to
the patroness Mrs. John A. Logan. by the
class mascot Mary Elizabeth Dover was
followed by the presentation of the flag.
in which Cora Virginia Eldridge. Helen
Stinson Nicely and Louise I.evings Warren
participated. The Lent-kaspar quartet
followed with musical numbers, after
| which diplomas were awarded by Princi-
pal Arthur +. Ramsey The exercises
closed with a henediction by Rev. Mr..
| Fishburn.
Names of the Graduates.
The following received diplomas: Chris
tine Cole. Georgia: Olive r. Collins, New
| York; Cora Virginia Eidridge. Arkansas;
| Norine Anita Heffron. Texas; Nancy
Stuart Hover, New York: Sara Haigh
Jones. North Carolina; Berenice Elliott
Lum. South Dakota, Dorothy Margaret
| Matcham, Pennsylvania; Florence Martin.
Tennessee: John Marguerite Mimms. Ken
lucky; Ellen Grace Mcbride. Pennsyl-
vania: Helen Stinson Nicely, Pennsylvania:
May Vance Patterson, Ohio: Anne Eliza
| Reid, West Virginia. Marguerite Ashley
Short. North Carolina: Louise Levinss
Warren, Minnesota; Mary Vesta Wood
| Mississippi; Lucille Galloway RUSSELL Ar
| kansas; Marguerite Spears, Tennessee.
I'm THE W0Rl n nE HnclETY