Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-10
WOMAN IN CLASS or 1889 TO GET
SWARTHMORE SHEEPSKIN IN 1915
Mrs Rebecca Webb Holmes Mother of Two Boys one of Them
ipHigh School, Modest in Discussion of
Prospective Honor.

| When the young men and women VIII,
/ put in four years Of more or less har,
I study at Swarthmore College step for
ward to take their bachelors sheepskin
| at commencement next week. woman
who began her college work with tn,
class of 1889 will be sitting somewhere ot
the platform waiting for the "Hs' to b,
called. That is, unless Mrs. Rebeccs
Webb Holmes, the mother OF two boys
who Is the belated graduate is overcome
by modcsty and decides to wait for 4
quieter moment before becoming a certi-
fed Bachelor Of Arts.
II Is likely that Mrs. Holmes will walt
AN this publicity" which envcloped her
when someone learned she would Rradu-
ate with the class Of 1915 this year. has
reduced Mrs. Holmes to an almost lm-
penetrable scclusivencss. Besides being
the mother Of two boys, one of them in
high school Mrs, Holmes is the wife of
Professor Jesse Holmes. Of the chair of
Biblical Literature and Philosophy at
Swarthmore, and maintains an active
interest in woman suffrage. Furthermore,
she keeps house.
Another newspaper man" Mrs Holmes
exclaimed, appearing on the veranda Of
her home on College row, within sight Of
the Swarthmore campus.
well. I don't know what they all see
In my graduation. Imag gine coming all
the way out here to ask about IT," She
chose a chair quieted TEDDY Holmes"
the fox terrier, who greets visitors with
loud barking, which is much worse than
hts bite. Mrs Holmes declares, and pre-
pared to be interviewed.
~ know just what you want she as
serted anticipating questions and reclt-
ing rapidly
II am to graduate with the class Of
1915. I started with the class Of so. I
live here with my husband, Dr. Jesse
Holmes. He is professor Of Biblical liter
ature and philosophy. | have two sons.
The eldest Is Herman, 10. Robert the
younger. is 10 years old. Herman is in
High School 7 did not find graduating
very hard work"
There" she said. smiling. 81 hope
you know all about me and the gradu-
alton" She rocked Contentedly. and
Teddy Holmes. the fox terrier. standing
In the sun, wagged his tail and grinned.
dog fashion. 81 think I'll go on with my
mending," said Mrs. Holmes, and lifted
some work from canvas porch swing
nearby. Bees swooped over the veranda
rail and settled, droning. in a flower box
beside the swing. But Mrs Holmes was
interrupted again.
Did I keep II schedule and study so
many hours I'm the evening and send the
boys off to school before | went to coll
leEe and all that" she asked II am
sorry to say I did not. | had only two
hours day in class, and there was only
one morning a week when | had to leave
before the boys. | don't see how you can
possibly work up schedule that fol-
lowed. II really was very easy work.
There isn't anything TO make fuss
about
II studied biblical literature; yes bib
lit the students call il, with my husband
and had a course in public speaking
with DIR. Paul NJ. Pearson OF course
/ was In my husbands class. Did / ever
funk when he asked me question in class?
No, ! did not l always knew my lesson"
Mrs Holmes stitched steadily as she
answered, and rocked in ner chair, while
Teddy Holmes snapped at flies.
You guessed it," she said to another