Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-01
COMMENCEMENT

The last week of school passed al
teo quickly for Patricia and her friends
Carried along on the wave of excite
ment attendant upon the graduation
festivities they had little time to dwell
upon the dSsconcerting thought tina.
they were soon to be separated, scat
tered from one end of the country X
the other
The final examinations were over
The Miners. who were members of the
senior class, rested secure in then
laurels with Peggy Talley standing al
the top as vaiedictorian. Elizabeth
Stanton was awarded a scholarship il
music. Frances Elliott, III spite Of hei
preoccupation over her approaching
marriage. came through with saaas-
factory average, She had composed the
rousing music for the words of the
class song written by the president.
The closing days OF the term were
given over entirely to entertaining the
seniors. The poStnan staggered in
under daily weight Of packages con-
tanning gifts for the graduates. Piles
OF wrappingS awaiting the attention of
Alfred marked the doors OF the seniors,
Within. the rooms presented the APP
pearance Of imminent chaos. Trunks
had been dragged out Of the store
room. and stood waiting TO be loaded
down with feminine trsppis2gs Miss
Print was helpless in the face Of The
clutter.
why must you girls take all of your
things out of your closets at once IL
you aren't going to pack them?" she
asked Peggy in discouraged tone.
We'll, you see. we can't pack every
thing until the last minute because
ET.1an rxsc IN
wear Every time I put anything in I
am sure TO have TO dig it out again"
But then why can't you leave them
hung away until YOU do know"
We just seem TO have to practice
getting them all in. I don't really see
how any Of these trunks are ever going
TO close One could always Jump on the
old-fashioned kind. but what are we
To do when a wardrobe simply viii not
meet!'
Miss Print threw up her hands in
despair. experience having taught her
that ii was the same way each June
All can say is that hope no guests
enter any of the bedrooms"
The enc and only hotel was taxed to
more than Its capacity with visiting
mothers. fathers and sFnattering Of
sisters, brothers, uncaes and aunts. The
overflow were forced to commute to
and from the outlying villages.
There was no attempt at organized
routine Even the school chaperons
were sheIved now that vigilant parents
had arrived to oversee proceedings. And
view them they did with an indalgent
eye and complete parental enthusiasm
and applause. As is the way at such
times, they all agreed that never had
there been senior class which pre-
sented such amazing talent and clever
ness.
They outdid themselves in enter
tanning the girls. The days were
crowded with luncheons, tea parties
and dinners wherever there was an inn
OF tea house which gave promise of
nourishment
Rolls upon rolls of films were ex-
hausted In the frenzied attempt to pre-
serve these happy memories for future
"reminiscences
Elizabstfs was Tire prominent figure
o. the musical. playing DeBussy and
Chopin with that old standby. the Pre-
lude" Of Rachmaninoff. Small wonder
that the composer rues the day on
which he wrote it, so often has it been
dsshguEed. Elizabeth, however, did it
justice. She was called back again and
again, sErlotf1ered In flowers, flushed
with the intoxication of applause.
Class night was a somewhat con-
fusing n1ingIing OF vaiedictory and salu-
tatory essays, songs. prophesy and his
tory The history was resented in the
form Of vaudeville stunts which touched
upon the high lights in the years
events. All very clever and amusing
There were lantern slides depicting the
members of the class in their infancy,
greeted with howls Of mirth from the
audience. Congratulations were all but
exhausted. More flowers, more ap-
paause.
The uproarious note of comedy sub
sided into the sausfed expectation of
baecalaureate Sunday The services
were held in the Presbyterian church
with the kind old rector propoundfng
the usual words OF wisdom and advice
to the young listeners, who heard him
with a solemn attention. trying to grasp
the disturbing fact that they were about
10 embark upon a mysterious future