Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-16
ST. MARY'S ACADEMY Y
Closing Exercises-Splendid Programme
Award Of Gold Medals, Diplomas
and Prizes.

anu EIiLCSs
After days of continuous ram, the
heavens on Tuesday evening smiled be-
nignly upon the forty-second annual
commencement OF st. Mary's, when
under clearing skies and with the good
wishes of friends and teachers, class
of ten young ladies, bidding farewell to
school days, stepped from the sacred
nortals OF the classroom into the great
school OF life and with high hopes OF
the attainment of youths ideals, took
their places among the ranks OF that
great body of noble women that yearly
augmented is growing up about their
Alma Mater to bless her name and 40
honor to her teaching st Mary S
Aumnae. 1t was commencement day
NJ the Academy, aud, as usual, each
wear, long before the hour named Tor
theopening Of the programme Lannon's
Oncra House was filled to the doors by
the patrons and friends OF the nstltu-
tion whose sphere of usefulness yearly
Grows with its student roll which III
1q09-191O reached nearly three hun
dred. Promptly at $50, the curtain
went up and the senior vocal class be
gan the opening chorus, Summer
Fancies. " with Theresa Waters accom-
panist. The sight OF one hundred
beautiful southern girls attired IN
snowy white with the harmonius set
ting of stage in which stately palms
graceful ferns and June's fairest bios
SONS were mingled, was an artistic
one and as their sweet voices rose ana
fell in measured cadence that spoke
voice training OF uncommon merlt,ohe
could not but wish that their lives, as
on this happy day, might be ever lnll
of music and song and flowers, The
graduates, Misses Maria Theresa
Waters, Of Washington; Mary Audrey
Murphy and Marie Estelle Gaines, OF
Alexandria Maude Elmira Allensworth,
Of Manassas; Catherine Mary DAILY, Il
Washington, and Mary Madaline Byrne,
of Alexandria, then entered and took
seats upon the stage. The Cuban
Dance" by Pearl Corl, Anita Howard
Virginia Downey and May Gaines was
a splendid instrumental number. 1t
was followed by the salutatory, Let
There Be Light" " in which the young
graduate. Marie Estelle Gaines, made n
nlea for the diffusion of knowledge.
Her sweet poem closed with hearty
welcome to the assembled audience.
Mendelssohn's Spring Song" with
Katherine Kell, Emily Johnson, Della
Phillips and Marguerite Field at the
piano was an artistic musical number
that showed talent and study Margaret
Wood then gave the pretty prologue to
to the cantata, In Grandma Land,
which brought the minims to the fore
as entertainers. Attired as grandmaS
in solemn grey with caps and kerchlefs
they went through their song or reclta-
ton with an ease OF manner that would
do honor to their elders. The play In
troduced sixteen little misses who attir-
ed as colonial lords and DANES danced
the stately minuet with grace and dig
nitv of movement that suggested the
days of Washington and Sallle Fairfax
in the old historic Carlyle house. 1t
was beautiful number that elected the
hearty applause it deserved. The trio
II waited for the Lord, an adaptation
from Hymn of Praise" by Mendel-
ssohn. was a splendid selection OF part
singing that made a delightful change
in the programme. 1t was ably rend-
cred by X. Brill, NJ Gaines, X. Kell,
NJ. Ball, l. Hoffman. V. Bittle, X.
Waller, L. Wilkinson. and V. c. Wag-
gaman.
Catherine Mary Days essay,
Loyalty is Royalty" " was decidedly
one Of the best literary efforts OF the
evening. 1t was dissertation on
that Characteristic yirture Of the noble
| LOYALTY. It's clear well rounded periods
showed Miss Daily writer Of no ordi
nary ability and attested her claim tc
the elegant prize in composltion-a
COPY Of Longfellow'S poems, which
was later conferred upon her.
"Pique Dame Overture" with Nerni
Bittle. Pauline Hellmuth, Madalln(
Byrne and Mildred Hellmuth at lb'
pianos was sprightly number ably exc
cuted,
The Virginia drill showed execellent
work along physical culture lines tht
large class OF young participants, psint
the cOlors OF the state-blue and buff
went through series OF intricate move
ments with 4 graceful precision tha
eyinced careful training Joined L
painstaking practice. Then followed
march Hongroise," full of abandon
and martial spirit, which was splendidlS
rendered by Ethel Dix, Magdalen Ball
Edna Brill and Christine Waggaman
Maud Allensworth' essay The Morn
ing Star of Liberty, " was a poetic trib
ute 10 Washington which displayed
literary talent and elocutionary ability
for she recited it with expression ant
dramatic power that added greatly Il
its intrinsic worth Her effort wa
warmly applauded The Quartette, tn
old yet eyerloved Annie Laurie, sun
without accompaniment, was TN
piece of vocalization in which the fou
parts blended with perfect sympath
! and harmonious beauty. 1t gave ampl
scope for the clear tones OF Katherin