The Washington times., 1936-06-03
NOW
Girls Graduate
at Cathedral
STIRRING
BY HELEN EssARY

dral, singing their school hymn
more than 100 young girls, pu
pills Of National Cathedral School
The light from the stained glass
windows fell softly on them. They
looked very young and sweet and
composed in their simple white
dresses and their white academic
caps. Their leader, a senior, car
ried . great cross.
Parents and friends watched
the procession slowly passing, and
felt emotionally stirred.
They vaguely remembered the
years that had gone by since a
June Commencement Day wa
personal. And wondered W h a
the hurrying times would do to
their daughters.
They were happily saved from
too intense philosophy, however,
by the sudden cheering thought
that it couldn't be possible that
these decorouS maidenS marching
to religious song were their own
harum scarum everyday children.
Little sisters and brothers IN
the audience wore starched white,
sIickly brushed hair and their
very best company manners. Such
deportment obviously was re-
uuired by their relationship to
the students.
The school graduates were the
last in the line of procession.
They, also, we're in simple white
dresses. Their guimpes Of net
had high-boned collars reaching
to the ears. Their gowns were OF
heavy white cashmere.
The a1umnae following the
graduates were distinguished by
their purple caps. The teachers
were in black robes and black
caps.
And the bishcps and clergy wore
the gorgeous robes Of their office.
The cathedral was again q
beautiful setting for dignity and
ceremony and added this event
to its long list Of religious and
patriotic occasions.
The Bishop Of Delaware, Phillip
Cook, made the address to the
graduates. It came at the end of
q religious program and the sing
ing Of hymns and the "Te Deum"
by the students.
The Bishop was a big handsome
man with q clear voice and a
gently dramatic manner. His
daughter, Adeline Cook, was that
pretty blond girl who walked last
IN the line Of graduates.
The Bishop advised the grad
ustes to take as their text for
life "Give" and not "Get." Giving
was the creed of today, he said.
The artist, the writer and the
sculptor tried to give to the world
some Of the beauty they had dis
covered. The physician gave
health, the lawyer justice, and the
merchant service.
An innovation in this years
graduation was the awarding of
certificates to the juniors. Both
diplomas for graduates and GER
tificates were received in silence.
{, There was no applause within the
Cathedral walls.
After the Recessional was over
and the singing students had
marched out into the Cathedral
grounds, friends and relatives sud-
denly appeared with flowers and
congratulations.
The daughter of the Bishop of
Delaware rushed up to her father
and gave him big hug. She said
he had made a fine speech and
now he must meet all Of her
friends.
In the group in the church and
garden I saw Mrs. Henry Wallace,
wife Of the Secretary Of Agricul-
tlre, whose daughter is a student
at the school: Mrs. Edward B.
Meigs, Mrs. William Meredith,
Mrs. Dean Acheson, Mrs. Jouett
ShouSe and Mrs. Elliott Thurston.
Jean Morgenthau, daughter of the
Secretary of the Treasury, is also
g student at the school.
DR.. w. Sinclair Bowen, who con.
tinueS to be deeply interested in
"his children" after they are
grown up, was also at the Com
Ynencement. And many out-cf-
town guests, relatives of the board
ing school students.
And now q few lines from
letter about the end of a school
term at Chateau Brillantmont in
Lausanne, Switzerland:
Yesterday they gave all Of us
Q day off for our trip to the mar
CiSSuS fields. Every spring in
certain parts of Switzerland the
narciSSuS grows wild like clover.
Everybody takes an annual
climb to the mountains to pick
the flowers.
although 1 had expected to
be thrilled, the flowers were
even IOvelier than I thought. 1t
seemed like we were in a field
Of snow that smelt like heaven.
Eve lay down in the middle
Of the flowers and looked
around. Off in the distance
S.r@a HokA Gnno~o S,,-~o-nJoS