Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-12-15
Girls, Just Think of IT. to Have
TO Wear 81 Dress at Graduation

proclamation issued by the faculty of
the Washington Irving High School,
New York city, to the effect that n
student not keeping the cost of her
commencement finery within a pre-
scribed amount will not be permitted
to take part in the semi-annual COM
mencement festivities.
The wishes of the faculty were made
known to the students in the following
terms:
THE chairman of the coat room COM
mittee will designate two or three of
its members to act with her in notify
ing all intending graduates that the
movement begun by a few girls two
years ago, when the Washington Irving
High School proposed dollar dresses for
graduates, has spread so generally
through the United States that the
teachers are resolved to take a firm
stand against expensive graduation ex-
e~rcises.
THE committee will be glad to ad-
wise any girl regarding the suitability
of any gown she may bring to the
school for graduation night for the
purpose of ascertaining whether it is
- unity Will NiC otiiOOl > lQdd III
simplicity and Responsiveness.
In the case of any girl who in the
opinion of the committee is not gowned
in accordance with this policy the conn
mittee will recommend that the prin-
cipal give her a diploma or certificate
at h Twelfth street building and hat
she be excused from participating in
h graduation exercises, which will
/ he hold or ono Of The In roe,. Iir1, aaI--.
buildings"
The message is well worth repeating,
reading and pondering. 1t is one for
which every thinking mar and woman
will commend the faculty of the New
YORK School 1t Is another step for
Nard in the democracy which should
be h prevailing element in our public
institutions of learning. During the
four years of the school course these
girls have studied side by side on a
footing approaching equality as closely
as society and human nature will per-
NIT. According to the ruling Of the
FACULTY this equality will be MAIN
line until the students have severed
their connection with the school in an
official capacity.
Rave you ever attended commence
ment exercises where next to a girl
radiant in satin and lace was an
other looking uncomfortable in a sim
Fle muslin gown? If the vision in
satin and lace happened to be the one
In whom you are interested you prob
ably had no eyes for the figure be-
side her. II, on the other hand, it was
the latter little graduate you had
come to see complete her course with
honors you did not feel very kindly
toward the girl sitting next to her.
on knew how faithfully your friend
IA worked to complete her course.
and 1T didn't seem just that she should
be outshone on the occasion she had
SO eagerly anticipated.
And perhaps in that class there were
three or four other girls q know there
We're in my class. whom pride had
Kept from being present. They could
not afford pretty frocks, so they gave
up the thought of joining their class.
mates in their ina celebration. Prob
ABLY the excuse was illness. Most
likely the excuse was a stern reality
before the close of the evening.
A uniform frock would solve the
problem. The cap and gown of the
college student which may be borrowed
from graduates or undergraduates. if
necessary demands, does away will.
competition in dress. Under the long
moving gown the expensive material
worn by the m~illionaire's daughter is
one with the simple frock of the stu
dent in moderate circumstances
And may we hope that with the uni
tormity in dress the gradually disap-
pearing custom of showering the era din
ates with flowers may become a thing
of the past.
Again we congratulate you, faculty
OF the Washington Irving High School.
and you, sweet girl graduates, who
nave had an opportunity of receiving
their instruction.