Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-06-03


Illinois; Joe ~ Smith. Montana; and
James II. Strether, Jr., Virginia.
The Commencement exercises were
| carried out under similar formalities
as of previous years, except an out
standing feature was the much larger
attendance. The members of the Of
fetal party. consisting of Superinten-
dent Scales. Captain Wat T. Culver
ius. commandant of midshipmen, the
heads of the several academic depart
ments. officers of the fleet, previous
ly referred TO, and a few other in
Vited guests, occupied seats on the
official stand set up at the southeast
end of the building, with the grad
yates seated in two broad aisles i'm
mcdiately in front Then the regi-
mcnt of midshipmen. was drawn up
by columns of companies to either
side of the building, and presented
arms" as the official party passed in
front to resume seats on the stand.
Admiral Scales Presides
The exercises opened with the in
vocation prayer which was offered by
Captain Bower r. Patrick, Chaplain
of the Academy. Admiral Scales, in
brief remarks, during which he high
ly complimented the graduates upon
the successful termination of their
course of work, and the high standard
of efficiency and discipline they had
maintained, introduced Secretary Dan
iels who was givel a big ovation. Abb
stracts from Mr. Daniels address are
published elsewhere in The Capital.
Upon the conclusion of the address,
the Naval Secretary then began the
distribution of the diplomas, which
lay in pile on table nearby. The
six star" members of the class, that
is, those who had attained mark of
70 per cent or better of the multiple
of 500 for the course, were handed
their parchments first, the names be-
ing called singly. The rest were
picked up at random from the re-
ceptacle.
An almost continuous roar of APP
plause resounded through the raft
ers of the great building as the grad
yates advanced to the platform and
received their "sheepskins," and, as
usual, the ovation was greater for
some of the "favorites," particularly
those who had attained distinction in
the professional branches and along
athletic lines.
They're "Out OF The wilderness"
With the benediction pronounced,
the graduates virtually owned the
tuilding for a time Assembled in
single file. they went through the
time-honored serpentine march over
the spacious floor, all the while sing
ing Out of the wilderness and there's
no more rivers TO cross until they
reached the northwest entrance of the
building, where, in the meantime, the
Academy band had assembled, and
following its strains. all hands join
ed in singing Aud Lang Syne.
Then a rush for "cits" followed the
customary rush to quarters TO SHIFT
into civilian clothing, the underclass-
men too, having their inning in the
meantime, especially the ''plebes~
who made a rush for the sacred pre-
cincts of Lovers Lane" permission
/ 10 traverse which is denied them after
an old acadmey tradition, until they
have completed their first annual ex-
aminations. The graduates soon were
to he seen about again, mingling with
their girl friends. parents or rela-
tives. as the case might be. They are
10 have only a short leave before
| oarding the ships Of the Atlantic
1 feet now here, to take them