Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-19
GRADUATION GOWNS.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Of this school among the educational in
stitutions of the country its action will
schools in which pupils cannot afford ex-
travagance
The colleges and private schools began
hoidlns elaborate commencement exer-
cises and the public schools adopted them
by degrees. increa sing their elaboration
as they added to the school curriculum
Many public high Sc ools now provide a
higher course of study than did the small
coleses rev years ago, and the longer
the course OF study the more important
became the commencement. In most col
ieses the cap and gown obtains In favor
FOR graduation. In some respects this is
an advantage, as it is simple and digni-
fed in appearance and, by its uniformity
heightens the effect of the graduation ex-
ercises. From an economic standpoint ii
Is also desirable. The classes, by order
ing In quantity, obtain the lowest prices
possible for each graduate, and il obyi-
ates the necessity of a graduation dress
Caps and gowns may be purchased nv
the students for from SIS to $50 apiece.
In the largest colleges they arc usually
purchased some time during the senior
year. and are fire.
Caps and Gowns auentIy worn sew
Are Often Rented f fore months ,ha be be-
mencemept. In many schools and small
err colleges the caps and gowns are rent
| ed for the commencement exercises. and
! costumers are doing a rapidly increasing
business IN this respect The cap and
gown lately has become very popular
| with small high schools, even though the
coliese graduates resent its being used
| py these lower institutions
Many high schools in different cities are
wrestling with the problem of dress suits
Tor the boys of the graduating class.
certainly the elaborate graduation toilets
| OF the girls call for corresponding for
maiity for the boys, although the ma
Jority of students in the public schools
come from homes where dress suits are
not considered absolutely necessary to
! the happiness OF life. Strict convention
slity also prohibits a schoolboy from
dressing in the fashion of a mature man,
so the Tuxedo is frequently called into
play Tor his purposes. Many a boy who
does not desire to own evening clothes
ana objects to wearing hired ones is en-
barrassed when the majority of his class
adopts them. For this reason the day
| time commencement, when only sack
coats are permissible. is especially popu-
lar with the boy graduates. In num-
Der OF cities high school bows afe or
gained into military companies and have
uniforms. When this is the case most of
them prefer to wear their uniforms. As
the seniors are generally officers. and
possess dress uniforms, they are in this
-,
Tor their uniforms are a mark OF distinc-
ton they are only too proud to wear.
Under any circumstances, boys have
less trouble over their clothes than girls.
That they have sufficient vanity to study
the effect of their appearance at this
critical moment of their lives was re-
Gently demonstrated by a Pennsylvania
boys high school class. Red and black
had been chosen for the class colors so
on commencement day twenty-five young
! men marched upon the stage wearing
black suits and patent leather pumps ac-
companied by neckties and hosiery of a
brilliant scarlet. AS they seated them
selves upon the stage each graduate
carefully adjusted his trousers i'm such a
way to give the audience the benefit
of his red hose. The applause indicated
that the boys had made hit. The fac
ulty of the school had been informed
that the class would wear plain black
suits. The introduction Of a scarlet note
at the last minute could not be prevented.
| Under the best possible conditions. the
| commencement exercises of the public
high school are
Expenses a Tax an expense which
on Many Parents. tsn unon NAM
parents. There are engraved invitations
| to be issued, frequently theater or opera
house must be rented. besides many other
incidentals which differ in every locality.
| If some Of the students in the class re-
| ceive handsome floral offerings, 1t is hard
| for those who do not, and the same
| is true of commencement presents. AL
| though many people feel that an invita-
| ton to a commencement. like wedding.
calls for a gift In acknowledgment, the
| DESTINATIONS display of presents. IL sent
| to the graduates a. the exercises. has
caused more than one school this year
J to put the words presents are not de-
| sired" on their invitation cards.
Many schools nave. prohibited flowers
being sent. Sometimes the school author
| tiles make these regulations, but more Of
| ten 1t Is done by the graduates them
selves, who are being educated to consider
good taste in these matters. One class
| issued notice to its friends that those
who wished to send flowers were request
ed to send nothing more expensive than
q tWenty-five-cent bunch of sweet peas
This led to a demand for sweet peas,
which the local florists we're glad to LII
and. as there were no members in the
class whose friends could not afford to
spend so small sum as a quarter upon
them, the sweet pea commencement was
voted great success.