New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-06-24
City College
Graduates $50
In 18th Glass
Women Receive Diplomas
and Vocational Degrees
Are Granted for First
Time in Schools History
5000 Crowd Great Hall
As Prize Awards Made
for Scholastic Honors;
French Minister Speaks

the College Of the City of New York
was held in the Great Hall on st.
Nicholas Terrace yesterday morning.
An audience Of more than 5000 filled
every seat and jammed the aisles as
$50 members of the graduating class
were presented to President Mezes to
receive their diplomas. Thomas w.
Churchill, chairman Of the board of
trustees, presided.
For the first time in the history of
the city's free institution of learning
women were among those so honored
and for the first time degrees were
conferred upon candidates from the
schools of technology and business adj
ministration.
THE granting of these vocational
degrees is the fulfillment Of a
prophecy made by the founders of the
college in 1847," President Mezes said
THE people were promised an institu-
tior which should be SO organized that
the course of studies to be pursued
would tend to educate the pupils prac-
tically, and particularly to qualify them
to apply their learning to advance the
operation Of the various trades and oc-
equations in which they may engage"
Address by M. Casenave
The principal address, which was de-
livered by Maurice Cascnave, Minister
Plenipotentiary and general director of
French government services in the
United States, dealt with the sacrifices
his country had made in the war and
the policies she is now following. The
speaker declared that France was con-
secrated as the champion Of liberty
equality and fraternity in Europe, and
had fought in defense of those ideals.
Trustee Charles H. Tuttlc admins
tered the ephebic oath of loyalty to
one another and to the city to the $50
graduates. The taking. of this vow
taken over from an ancient Athenian
custom. The graduates already had
been admitted to the alumni body at a
ceremony earlier in the morning.
Samuel Rosenblatt was the only can
dldate to receive his degree magma cum
laude. The gold and silver medals for
the students who rank highest in all
the studies Of the year were awarde ed
respectively to Harold Paul Seligsor
and Edmund Burke jr. Forty-two other
prize awards were announced by Mr.
Churchill Ten graduated cum laude.
Cost of the War
After outlining the cost of the war
to his country NJ. Casenave expressed
the confidence of his nation in Ger
-many's ability to pay. aa
And there are signs" he continued
that she begins to understand that
she must. The present German gov
eminent has acknowledged the justice
of our claims and France is ready to
accept the word and the signature of
Germany. Last week for the first time
since 1914 a member of the French gov
eminent consulted with member of
the German government on the subject.
This is the most momentous event since
the armistice."
AS to Americas stand on European
affairs, he said: 81 think l am safe in
saying that we in France look forward
confidently to your taking part COM
mensurate with your strength and
wealth in the task of assuring peace
to mankind"
M. CaSendVe mas JuSC returned 1TOHl
trip through the devastated region
and drew graphic picture of the
progress which has already been made
in it's rebuilding.
GAS soon as the French peasant of
northern and eastern France left the
trenches" he said, che brought back
his family to these places where he
fought and where his old home had
been destroyed. With remarkable
common sense these men began at once
to pillow their fields again before re-
building their houses. The family
home is now wooden house or tin
hut, or even dug-out, but the field,
creating the riches which will enable
him to rebuild a comfortable house, is
cultivated.
Everybody is willing to work and
is working hard. The result has been
that a steady increase in exports took
place throughout the year 1920. In
1920 France reduced her adverse trade
balance by over 10,500,000,000 francs,
and in the first five months of this
year France has reversed an unfavor-
able trade balance of 7,800,000,00
francs into favorable trade balance
OF 365,000,0OO francs. This remarkable
result is evidently due to the restitu-
ton of Alsace-Lorraine, a very rich
and productive country, to the favor
able crop of last year, to the abundant
supply and the reduction in the price
OF coal, but it is due also to restric-
ton in purchases Of luxuries."