Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-07-14
JOTTINGS BY THE WAY.
BY Charles Scanlon.


II was graduation day at the Uni
versity. The students and others were
massed on the main floor | stood in
the gallery with hundreds of others
10 watch 4S3 young men and women re-
ceive their diplomas Science, art,
music, metallurgy, pharmacy, law,
medicine, dentistry and other depart
ments were represented, while three
distinguished men received the honor
AIRY degree of LID, which is the high
est degree conferred by any university
in America.
The men largely outnumbered the
women in most of the departments,
but women were represented in prac-
tically every school, and when they
passed the Chancellor TO receive their
degrees the audience generally cheer
ed louder than at other times. This
was especially true in the case Of
few negro girls and sometimes with
reference TO negro boys. Theirs had
been hard struggle, the future was
uncertain. The audience knew this
am applauded the courage and per-
severance and sacrifice which the d.
ploma represented,
This company of young men and wo-
iliSh many anu SOuU-
tries as we'll as conditions and expert
ences in life. For some the way had
been easy because parents or others
had succeeded in business and were
able TO finance their education without
sacrifice. Others were from home and
families which could scarcely spare
the help or the young people and the
income they would be able to earn, to
CO pnthinn nf hn
tuition, clothes and incidentalS.
AS each group headed by its Dean
passed in review to receive the di-
plomas which were the certificates OF
achievement and would help them to
secure but not to hold positions. | felt
a thrill of inspiration as thought
of the possibilities of their lives. To-
day they are boys and girls, tomorrow
they Will be men and women upon
whom will rest the responsibilities of
home and church and state. They
will be at the heads of families, the d.
rcctors of large industries, trainers OF
law, the teachers Of youth, leaders in
religion, discoveries, inventors, artists,
musicians and what not. Some Of
them will disappoint those who made
sacrifice to give them opportunity.
otleTS VIII SNCGGI tIlC expectation
their most hopeful friends.
But it is not really these at all thai
| started to write about, but those who
did not graduate, that day or any other
day, from that school or any other.
Two of these stood near me in tho
crowded gallery. One was "A frail
woman with thin gray hair, plainly but
respectfully dressed. She was watch
ing with eager eyes and glad heart
some youth in whom she was interested
ami to whom she had given oppor-
tuntics which she herself had never
enjoyed. Weary with the long pro-
gram. she sat on a step, but her in
tcrest and enthusiasm never waned UNI
til she was on the main floor and
greeted the object of her interest.
A man stood near me who asked in
the most innocent and earnest way
what these young people had been
studying. OF course, | could tell him
only in the most general wav. and this
he evidently did not understand, for
again he said: "Well, Just what books
have they been studying? ?" and again
told him as simply and kindly and
as briefly as ! could.
Finally as a large group of students
arose % follow their Dean to the plat
form his interest and excitement were
quick red, and he said to me with
rridc. My son is in that group" He
watched him receive his diploma and
hen IKE his seat
The father was evidently a work
ing man, rs indicated by both his
clothing and his speech His hands
were calloused with toll. His gram
mar was not perfect but his heart was
true and warm.
1t was this plain man who had made
POSSIBLE the graduation of his son from
the University. like to believe that
the boy will appreciate and honor his
father and never be unworthy Of the
sacrifice which the father made for
him. | trust that in no company how
ever learned or eminent or we'll dress
"a will he ever feel ashamed of his
father. hut docn in heart love and honor
him for the sacrifice which he had /
gladly made to give the son oppor-
tunitics which he himself had never
enoyed
| did not see the mother and do not
know whether or not there were broth /,
erS an1 sisters to share the iov of the
occasion. but left the hall with song
of praise and gratitude in nv heart
for those who did not graduate but
who made it possible for others to do
so.
a thrilling and fatal accident oc-
CURED last SUNDAY at Moundsvile. w.
Va, near Wheeling when a large
fcmbing airplane, in charge of two
army officers, Lieut.. G. r. Mcivc ard
Lieut.. T. II. Danton, crashed into
crowd The plane had risen only
short distance from the ground when II