Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-16
MARITIME SPEAKS
TO c. v. GRADUATES
italian Ambassador Lauds
Virgil as 104 Students Are
Awarded Degrees.

After Ambassador Mobile Giacomo de
MARITIME Of Italy had called attention
to the striking likeness between this
age and the one in which the poet
Virgil lived" 104 students of George
washington University were awarded
their degrees last night at the Fall con-
vocation of the university in Memorial
Continental Hall.
The ,convocation was for the purpose
Of comforting of degrees by President
Cloyd Heck Marvin and lin recogni-
ton of the bimillennial celebration of
the birth Of Virgil"
Brings MussOlini Greetings.
The address of the italian Ambassa-
dor was devoted entirely to a discus
sion of Virgil, his work and to its effect
upon the modern world. He also de-
livered the following message from
Il appreciate, Mr.. President, the oc-
casion offered to turn my thoughts TO
your university, Industrious, rigorous dis
cipline in studies and for the glorious
name of George washington.
1.-The United States are celebrating,
with particular understanding OF the
Virgilian soul, the second millennium OF
the greatest poet of Romanity, whose
immortal verses have survived through
the centuries and who still speaks 10
the young of daring and SteadfaStness
IN adyersity. of love of mother earth
and of devotion to the fruitful works
Of peace.
II am particularly pleased to extend
On this day to you. Mr.. President, my
greetings to the atheneum over which
YOU preside and through you to all the
scholars of the great. American Nation."
declares Poets Work Unfinished.
"virgirs work is not finished" the
italian Ambassador declared. IT tell
Won, ladies and gentlemen, as surely as
YOU are listening to my voice, the IN
iiuence of Virgil, the noble and benef1-
cent idealism which begins family In
the EcIoQues or pastoral poems. glows
in the Georges and reaches the tull
spIendor of its fire and power IN the
Aeneid. cannot attain its climax until
the thing all honest men are hoping
for becomes solidly established. l mean
world peace; a world peace established
on mutual understanding ana human
love" S
cvss ideals are laying hold upon men as
never before" President Marvin declared
In his charge to the graduates. The
decadence of the old and varying forms
of autocracy does not prove them cor
rupt but rather that there Is general
consciousness of their futility IN repre-
senting the new feelings and aspira-
tions among men. Restlessness Is
everywhere. It is the rising Of great
hope and the gathering Of strong de-
termination that should bring exulta-
ton to those who believe in understand
ing among and opportunities for men.
Stresses Need for Social Ideal.
s'The need in this hour, as in other
periods of strong social seeking, Is for
4 definite social ideal that Is true both TO
the experiences of the past and the
hopes of the future. It must be no in
vention of moralistss but the irresistible
logic Of history through which VIII be
manifest the aspirations OF the common
man. Such an ideal, inevitable, Is the
spirit of democracy to be carried to the
uttermost parts of the earth by the uni
versity. particularly our university. Our
traditions are wrapped close TO those
who serve our Government, to those who
are attempting 60 give their lives to the
end that there may be International I'M
Outstanding, and to those, working, who
would train themselves to be Of more
service to society. Ideals Of public serv-
ice form the traditions OF our institu-
ton. Because OF them, the eagerness
Of our students and the environment in
which they educate themselves, our
graduates understand the aspirations
and feelings of those who sacrifice to
the end Of better citizenship.
THE apostolate of democracy IS made
up Of men who have sacrificed for
others, Of world-tempered men who can
pass from city to city and from nation
to nation to the end that men shall be
aware Of their provincialisms, and, put