The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-12
COmmencement Exercises
 Ar He HilIman Hospital
Chenoweh Reception and Cotion Attended By Brilliant Gath ering-Mrs. David Thompson to Be Gracefully Enter
 tained-News of the Day In Society
BY MYRTLE MILES.

'
 There is distinct social interest attached to the celebration of the com mencement exercises last evening at the Hillman hospital. The entire third floor of the building was used for the entertainment, patients on that floor having been removed for the oc- casion to another department so that they might not be disturbed
 The exercises took place in the am phitheatre, where the decorations were in accord with the festivities of the evening. Palms and other growing plants were interspersed with clus- ters of roses to adorn the rostrum on which sat the young women who have successfully completed their course of study and received diplomas last even ing.
 The appearance of the building, the improvements that have taken place recently in its various departments as well as the excellent facilities for the care of the sick reflect credit upon the management of the Board of Revenue. cir policy has been most generous and the nurses who are the persons most familiar with the conduct of af- fairs are enthusiastic in their appre- citation. It was thought by many that with the change of regime the hospital would be brought down to the poor house level but instead it was placed on a broad, generous basis, all re- quests for improvement receiving a ,4., o.1 no hospital is one of the most attractive ediflces in the city and 1t was through the board that means have been pro- vided for keeping it's appearance pleas ing. Walks and pavements have been added during the past year, thus adding to the comfort as we'll as beauty of the premises, and fire escapes were built a few months ago. The present class is the first to be graduated by the Board of Revenue, the first whose diplomas bear the seal of the Board of Revenue, the young women having entered upon hospital work two years ago. Dr. R. M. Cunningham, with his accustomed grace and eloquence, de- livered the graduating class address.
 The graduates include Miss Donie Wood, Miss Olive Bell Holt, Mrs. Bes- S16 BOyu, MISS jennie carney, MISS All nie Crosse. Miss Louise Callahan, Miss Pauline Embrey and Miss Maud OBryant.
 Miss Louise Goldman delivered the valedictory. She said
 To come to the parting of the ways" Is. ,oftimes a serious occasion to the graduating class of the Hillman Hos pital Training school, it is a solemn event.
 
 projecting ourselves into the future ly- ing before our wondering eyes (with ever widening horizon), 1t seems befiit- ting that here we" "set up a stone" to mark this, the eleventh day of May, in the good year of grace 1909. Looking back over the years of our training we can but smile as we think with what airness we began to climb I the Hillman difficulty, and then later, | how the footsteps Jagged that must | tread the path that lead to this, the hour of our graduation. l We almost shudder when we see now how dense was the ignorance that yelled the potentialities of our chosen l profession from our holden" eyes! But we recall as well the thrill that cleo 1 trified us when the uniform was don l ned that marked the probation period forever past Then when the select | DdnQ was duueu lO lile SdP anu lic luli | insigna of-a senior was ours. There were "ups and downs" but onward led the road that brings us to this longed-for occasion; though "A feeling of sadness comes OCT us that is akin to pain,- And resembles sorrow, only as the mist resembles rain."
 When we realize we have reach ed | the borderland, and the parting of tn 0 ways-as well as the happy fruition | of all our hopes of this we may be assured that the fruitage of the flu ture will be in proportion to the seed l lsown-nourished-d the years of l training.
 As we stand together at this hour. perhaps-not With reluctant feet, where the brook and river meet" may we resolve ever
 | "To bear a lily in our hands For the gates of hell cannot withstand | One touch of that magic wand" In behalf of the class I would ex-