Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-06-14
LARGE CROWD At
THE OPERA HOUSE
Commencement Exercises
of St. Mary's Academy
Yesterday Afternoon.
DIPLOMAS RECEIVED.
Rt. Rev. D. J. OConnell Presents
The Same-Prize for Scholarship
Equally Awarded.

Surrounded by hosts Of friends anc
honored by the presence of the Bish,
op of Richmond and number of cter.
gy, q large clas from the academic
and commercial courses went forth
from st. Mary's yesterday equipped
for life's struggle not alone by a
finished education, but also by those
womanly graces land virtues thhE
mark the convent graduate, dis;in-
gushing her always from her less fa-
vored sisters. 1t was the forty
fourth annual commencement and
Lannon'S Opera House was filled with
representative audience, among
whom, CONSPICUOUS by the gold medal
each wore, were the members of st.
Mary'S alumnae, come to live over
again their own happy experiences
and to wish God speed no the class
Just going out from their Alma Ma
ter whom they will welcome among
their ranks at the annual reunion OF
Alumnae in October. There is ever
q sameness about commencement eX-
ercises; and yet as one sees the tair
ycung graduates with all life's ambl-
ton and youths helpfulnes sgazing
down the long vista Of years that
stretch before her, one is thrilled with
feelings nowhere else eXperlencecH
and commencen,nts take on differ
ent meaning each year one witnesses
them.
Seldom could a fairer sight be
seen than was presented yesterday IN
Lannon's Opera House when st.
Mary's two hundred and fifty students
appeared on the stage to present their
annual commencement exercises, in
which not only the five graduates
gave evidence of the culture for which
St. Marys is distinguished but even
the smallest child, appearing for the
FIRST time in public showed the train
ing to which she so gladly rsspond-
ed.
Promptly at 8 o'clock, the exercises
opned wit haf chorus Lovely June,
hv the senior vocal class. 1t was a
noteworthy introduction to we'll
rendered program and displayed the
careful work done in voice training,
LES Rameaux" by Helen Waddy, Ca
mile DeLane, Mary Kelly, and Pear
Harrington introduced the instrument
tai music and the young musicians
were well received. Then followed s
charming operetta "The Rose ant
Pearl" in which one hundred Of th'
Younger pupils participated, and /
;s safe to saw, that never was bette
work done by the juniors and minlm
of St. Mary's. The scene was laid II
forest where band of fairies rule
nv their Queen, Fortuna, which wa
ably personated by Winifred Bayne
was sporting in dance and song tn
idle hours away. They hear the loui
hoarse cry of Vala, queen OF the
witches, and, knowing that the beau
t;ful Florinda, is in danger, the!
haste away to find the rose and pear
that will ward of fine witches ev
power; meanwhile, the lovely fio
r]nda, n sweet role sustained by Eul
Pucket.,,a appears, and soon succumu
"a Vala's baneful influence, eNerte
with the aid of her band OF witches
Yoringal, her brother, which role Les
sic Kreiger ably took, comes seekn
her, but she no longer recognize
him. until with the aid of the falrie
the rose and pearl is found and Vala
mower is at an end. The role OF tt
witches queen was splendidly carrie
hv Genevieve Welch. The costume
of fairies and witches were st'1klng
appropriate, while the grace of NOV
ment and sweetness Of voice Of II
young performers easily MADE II
number one of the best.
The instrumental selection walls
from Moskowski was ably render
by Pearl Corl, Katherine Petty, Kat
ryn Brill and Elizabeth Hart, aft
which the FIVE graduates, Miidr
Reardon Goods Julia Virginia Do
sey, Pauline Agnes Hellmuth, a