Evening star., 1936-05-17

commentator, who covered the occa.
sion, summarizes the achievements of
the youthful orators with this state
ment: THE selections were extremely
judicious, the elocution equal to that
in our best colleges and the original
productions specimens of much genius
and taste"
In this the natal month Of the
great Washington, we note that Graf
ton Tyler. who later became one of
Washington's prominent physicians,
would have been awarded the palm
by the press for his eulogy on the
Father of His Country had the de-
cision been theirs, since this was the
notice given his efforts: But the
latter was certainly one Of the most
manly, condensed and powerful speci-
mems Of eloquence to which have
listened at any Of the exhibitions Of
our literary institutions"
Man of Commandin Presence.
Present-day pupils in the secondary
schools of the Nations Capital, strug-
Cling with the classical languages,
might do well to thank their stars
that their efforts do not have to be
crowned by orations in either Latin
or Greek perspiringly delivered at the
closing exercises of their school year
during the month Of August.
Dr. McVean was a man of large
stature and Of kindly, though COM
manding. presence. For a quarter of
a century his life was allied quite
as closely with Sunday school activi-
ties as 1t was with his daily academic
labors. Every year there was union
Sunday school celebration of all de-
nominations held on the Fourth of
July. For weeks previous there would
be preparation for this event, with the
final assemblage in the "old Presby.
terian Church" From there, led by
DR.. McVean, the Sunday school pupils
and their teachers would form in
lines four abreast and 60 singing on
their way to nearby Parrots Wood.
portion of which is now part of
Oak Hill Cemetery. Those of George
town, who were ineligible to attend
the picnic. apparently turned out to
see and hear the singing ranks
march by.
After prayer and speech making
by Georgetowns most prominent citi-
zens, the picnickers were free to
amuse themselves as they chose. with
picnic baskets vieing in the quantity
and quality of their full to overfiowing
contents. Soon after DR.. McVean's
death these yearly assemblies were
discontinued.
| AS dominic, school man, and as
| a natural executive and business lead
er, the imprint of this sterling man
was left upon the Georgetown of which
he became so inherently part, no
easy achievement then or now. His
was the rounded life extolled by the
ancient Greeks in whose language
he so excelled. Precept in the school
room was ever carried out in public
example. Abjuring his pupils that serv-
ice to ones fellow man was the duty
of the educated, he himself served
Georgetown as member of its Board
of Common Council and Aldermen
and as the president Of many benevo-
lent associations. His influence upon
national thinking was shown in his
defense of the American Colonization
Society, an organization which was
founded to transport members Of the
! colored race to Liberia with the in
tent of colonizing them and of provid-
ing for their education and well being
Towns Business Suspended.
Upon DR.. McVean's death, just az
ter he had passed his 50th birthday,
his fellow councilmen of Georgetown
suspended the towns business for eight
days and wore mourning crepe upon
their arms for the next calendar
month. The year following his death,
the publishing firm of Baker & Scrib-
ner Of New York in their publication,
Teaching a Science. the Teacher an
Artist" gave list of great men whom
1t ranked equally high as teachers.
1t began with Socrates and ended with
James McVean.
I like best the characterization,
Portrait Of True Man" which Miss
Sally Mackall includes in her COM
ment upon this school man Of the
eighties:
"A gentleman (after the school of
courtesy which an apostle would have
commended. -. His natural abilities
and eminent attainments as a scholar
and his great talents of government
well qualified him to preside over
any Of our colleges, but his modesty
disposed him to remain in a COM
paratively quiet and retired station
Of usefulness and rendered him little
sensible to motives Of pecuniary ad-
vantage or ambition. :. His sense Of
duty governed all his sentiments He
never feared the face OF man nor had
the world any motive or power which
could obscure, disarm or turn from
It's course his integrity"
Do you wonder that the fame Of the
school ministered unto by DR.. Mcvean
went almost as far beyond the borders
OF Georgetown as the success Of her
merchants, the benefactions Of her
philanthropists, the charm Of her
residences or the delightful sociability
Of those who occupied them?