Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-14
Splendid Programme Rendered at
Forty-third Commencement
Yesterday Afternoon.
BRILLIANT AUDIENCE PRESENT
One Hundred Beautiful Girls Dressed
in White, Amid Flowers and Palms
Made Impressive Sight.

Yesterday, the heavens smiled be-
nienly upon the forty-third annual
commencement of the Academy when
under fair skies and the good wishes
of teachers and friends a class of nine
young women, bidding ferewell to
school days, stepped from the class
room into the great world for which
their years at st. Mary's were meant
TO prepare them. 1t was commence
ment day and as usual Lannon's OPP
era House was we'll filled with many
patrons and friends of st. Mary's
when ut three o'clock the curtain rose
for the opening chorus, Mendelssohn
Spring Song" by the senior vocal
class. The sight of nearly one hun
dred beautiful girls attired in snowy
white amid the artistic stage setting
where palms and ferns mingled with
June's forest of roses was an inspiring
one and as their young voices rose and
fell in measured cadence that spoke
careful voice training, one could not
but wish that their lives might be ev-
er full of beauty and music as on this
fair commencement day.
"Pasouinade" by yGottschalk with
Kathryn Brill, Helen Corbett, Bessie
Davis and Myrtle Campbell at the pia-
nos was splendid introduction to the
instrumental selections by St. Mary's
most advanced students and it was
warmly appreciated.
One hundred Juniors and minims,
graduates to be within the next de-
cade, then entertained the audience by
charming operetta, "The Flower
Nymphs Surprise" in which the lead
inc parts Aurora, Queen of the dawn,
and Apollo. king Of the sun, were
splendidly taken by Leslie Cox and
Thelma Longfellow. The graceful
movements and sweet voices Of the
children, trained to degree that
would do credit to any stage, won for
them the prolonged applause OF an ap-
ipreciatiue aadienca; WHO voted the
number the best ever given by the
Young students of the school
The seven graduates in the aced-
emic course, Christine Josephine Wag-
gaman of Washington, and Geneva
eve Rosina Crilly, Eva Margaret
Crily. Mary Katherine Quinn, Mildred
katherine Hellmuth, Helen Catherine
Nupent, and Mary Lillian Hill of this
city then entered and took seats upon
the stage. Each bore beautiful bo-
met of the class flower sweet pea and
the class color scheme was carried out
in the lavender blossoms and gold RIB
hon that entwined them. A spirited
piano ouartette, "Mazurka de Con-
cert" by Bohm was then rendered by
Lillian Hill, Mildred Hellmuth, Mary
Quinn, and Pauline Hellmuth, after
which Christine Waggaman and Cen
eyieve Crilly gave the salutatory, IN
sweet verse ably rendered Miss Wag-
eaman dealt with youths Dreams
while Miss Crilly followed with an
equally good poem on life's realities
"I q Troubadour" from Verdi by Thel-
mn Lonefellow and Eleanor Nugent
was followed by "Gipsy love song
with Katherine Waller as soloist. Miss
Wa)ler's rich contralto voice was well
odapted to this charming SELECTION
from"the Fortune Teller and she was
ably sustained by other vocal pupils
of the school.
"seigeszug" from sortorio by Mar
ousrite Derig, Helen Waddy, Cam
ile DeLane and Ernestine Hayder
was very ably rendered, after whicf
Eva Crilly and Mary Quinn gave 1ns
class poem. "The Thirst of the Soul,
a sweet suggestive dissertation on 'ns
many ambitions that stir mems SOUS
and the inability of things mater'a
to satisfy the cravings of the near
created for the spiritual and the di
vine.
"Valse" from Durand by Christine
Waggaman, Genevieve Crilly, Annie
Sawyer, Sue Florance, piano quar-
tett that displayed musical talent wa
followed by semi-chorus, Hymn O
Faith" the solo parts taken by kath
ryn Brill, whose clear soprano voice o
wonderful range and sweetness is q
even welcome addition to st. Mary
program 4 chorus, "The FaiRie
Revel" by the seniors with piano an
Continued on Page Three.)