The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-06-07
Winthrop Com
mencement

l
sion Of Winthrop College at Rock Hill
came to a close tuesday night when
graduating exercises were held in the
college auditorium. Diplomas and
certificates were presented to 25S
graduates and students pursuing spe-
cial courses. This is the largest grad
uating class in the history of the col
lege.
The address before the graduating
class was delivered by P. P. Claxton,
United States commissioner of educa-
ton, of Washington, D. c. Mr.. Clax-
ton, who is an eloquent speaker, hold
ing the close attention of his audience
throughout his address, set forth a
few Of the present-day, needs in edu-,
cation. He declared that the body
should be trained as: well as the mind
and quoted statistics showing how
the failure of such large number of
men under draft age to- qualify physi-
cally for''military service might have
meant the downfall of this nation had
the enemy outnunbered the American
soldiers: to- a greater extent. While
the body should be built up. the mus
cfes deyeI0pedand a high physical
standard maintained in order to sue,
cesSfully cope with the tasks, of life,
the careful cultivation of the mind
should not be neglected, the speaker
stated. Physical training and mental
training, should go. hand in hand.
Each is handicapped without the
other.
The most important thing today,
Mr.. C!axron declared, is the education
of the masses. The government Of
this democratic country is upheld by
the masses and its stability depends
upon thir knowledge and ability to
think clearly. Crime, he stated, can
be greatly reduced in this nation by
educating the child away from it, and
poverty, crime and unrest will last as
long as the masses are uneducated.
The presentation of diplomas and
certificates was made by DR.. D. B.
Johnson, president of the college. In
a brief address before presenting
their diplomas to the graduates DR..
| Johnson reviewed the work Of the
college during the past year and told
of few of the plans for he corning
session. He stated that during 5
period 22,792 country girls and .yo-
men have been enrolled in canning
clubs, poultry clubs, home demon
stration clubs and war garden clubs.
The work on the new dormitory which
was started last January is now rap
! idly progressing and DR.. Johnson an
nounced that it will be sufficiently
completed when the fall session opens
| to accommodate 40 students, which
will enable the college to accomno-
date all Of the high school graduates
who heretofore have been turned
away for lack of room.
The college now has on hand s101,-
500 to be used in the construction OF
Y. w. c.. A. building, DR.. johnson
stated. Work on this building was
not begun last year because of the
ruling of the war industries board
prohibiting all construction work eX-
cept that which was vitality necessary.
Mr.. Rockefeller has agreed to extend
the time limit within which this
building was to have been completed
under the conditions of his gift, II
months, or until September II. 1920.
The A. Markley Lee scholarship
which is awarded each year to the
junior who completes the work of her
class and who is judged by the fac
ulty as excelling morally mentally
physically, was presented last night
to Miss Marie Tedder Of Dovesville
Honorary scholarships were awarded
| to three juniors. Misses Helen Bailey
Lila Foy and Pauline Marion; four
sophomores, Misses Louise Geddings.
Ella Stout, Clara Hammond and Hell
en- Derrick: and five freshmen. Misses
Mary E. Blackman. Alice Wells, Sarah
L. Foster. Anna Sullivan and Elise
Faye Ford.
Those graduating with honor were
Misses Grace Beard. Sarah Godbold.
Elizabeth Gooding. Cecile Hardee'
Martha Marie Sanders. Louise Simrll.
Harriet Sullivan, Virginia Thomas and
Aline Williams.