The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1919-06-04
l22 GRADUATED
AT COLLEGE
FINE ADDRESS BY HON.
mo. VI. PARKER, OF NEW
ORLEANS MONDAY.
FOR AMERICANISM
Fine Class of 122 Young Ladies
Are Graduated-Address by
President Whitfield Before
Delivery of Degrees.

With a virile plea for Americanism
and a closer application of education
to the practical affairs of life, Hon.
John NJ Parker, Of New Orleans,
spoke to the graduating class of the
Mississippi Industrial Institute and
College Monday morning at 10
o'clock
1t was the thirty-fourth annual
commencement of the institution and
class of l22 young ladies We're
awarded degrees and certificates from
the various departments of the col
lege. In a brief address to the class,
preceding the delivery of diplomas,
President Whitfield paid glowing tri-
butte to the character Of the personnel
and the scholarship of the class, de-
-claring that it was one of the finest
the institution had ever sent out into
the State.
The auditorium was filed to ca
pacity, mostly by visitors from all
sections of Mississippi, who had come
to Columbus for the commencement
season. Parents of members of the
graduating class were given places of
honor in the auditorium and the grad
yates were seated on the stage
AS the professional was played the
~nAa1 sxaAo Aa o,nlsknx,s,,,..
and took seats on the rostrum. A
vocal selection was rendered by Misses
Pate, Gill, Brunson and Briscoe. This
was followed by duet by Mrs. J. L.
Walker and Mrs w. M. Sparks.
President Whitfield introduced Mr..
Parker as native-born Mississippian
and took occasion TO pay tribute to
his unselfish and sacrificing service to
the nstion during the war period and
referred to him as politician who
had never held office and who stood
four square for the highest and best
4 things in life and in the affairs of the
country and his native Southland.
Mr. Parker's address was intensely
practical. 1t was virile plea for a
better defined Amerieanism and for
vigorous and prompt action in deal
ing with those clements that make
for destruction in the life of the ma
tion. He declared that education was
the basis and foundation of all pro-
gress and development and his ad-
dress was strong appeal for the
practical application of the theories
of education to the practical affairs
Of life.
He told of the changes that the ma
tion had undergone in the past few
years and as a result of the war, and
referred to the great leveling infiu-
ence of the war and the splendid re-
suits that would accrue from this in
huence. He told of the noble and pa
triotic part the women of the nation
played in the war, and emphasized
the value of their splendid co-opera-
tion in all activities and movements.
He closed with an appeal to the
individual to come into a full and
proper appreciation of his part in the
nations development and in all of the
affairs of life.
His address was interspersed with
frequent applause, and he made fine
Impression on all who heard him.
Before the delivery of the degrees,
President Whitfield addressed the
graduating class briefly. He said that
il was an occasion of joy and regret
to him; joyous one for the splendid
record the class had made, for its
high character and noble ideals and
aspirations; and one of regret because
Df the breaking of the ties that had
bound the members of the class to
him and the institution through the
four years of their college life, and
their going from the institution He
appealed TO them to carry to their
homes and their communities the
deals of life and the benefits of edu-
eation which they have received from
ne institution. He wished them God
peed and Joy and happiness all
through life