Evening star., 1938-12-11
Congress Adjourned for First
Commencement ut g. w. u.

on F. street between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets. Its former site
is today the heart of Washington's
hotel and business district.
The academic procession, however,
formed at the college and repaired
to the selected tf>.-ce Of convocation,
With Congress and the Supreme
Court adjourning for the day, it is
not difficult to visualize the atten-
ton it must have received along the
route of its progress.
Music Official.
Even the music was official in
character for "the exercises" one
is told, commenced with the music
of the Marine Band, followed by
prayer"
The next order of procedure was
the delivery of four original compo-
sitions by undergraduates. These
were: Responsibilities of American
YOUTH" by John Boulware, sopho-
more, of Virginia; 'The Superiority
of Grecian Over Roman Literature, :"
by John w. James, sophomore, Of
Virginia; "Timoleon and Washing
ton," by Thomas D. Eliot, junior, Of
the District of Columbia, and "The
Influence of Mathematics on the
Mind,"> ">by Baron Stow, junior, of
New Hampshire.
Next came the orations of the
three candidates for the first degree,
ir the following order: "The United
States" by Alexander Eweu of Vir-
ginia; 'The Spirit of Liberty" by
Albert Fairfax of Virginia, and
PHILOSOPHY of the Active Powers of
Man; an Grafton With Valedictory
Addresses" by James D. Knowles Of
Rhode Island.
Almost thankfully for the sake Of
that December Is assemblage Of
high Government dignatries. college
officials, fond parents and friends, as
we'll as college orators, of over a
century ago, one further CLEANS from
the columns of the Daily National
1ntelligencV of December 18, 1924:
Music at intervals between the
orations enlivened the scene"
Dinner Follows Exercises.
This newspaper comments, too.
upon "the excellent baccalaureate
address" given by DR.. William
Staughton, first president of the
institution. and speaks of the pres
ence OF the Marquis de Lafayette as
"one of the welcome guests" at the
dinner which was given to the trus-
tees and faculty by the president of
the college following the COM
mencement.
Concerning President Monroes
gratifying sponsorship and support
OF this new educational institution
IN the Capitals midst and it's
highly successful first commence
ment," the Daily National Intelli-
gencer also has this to say: ITO the
PRESIDENT, who has always honored
the institution with his confidence
and kindness, the success of that
day must have been peculiarly
gratifying, as we are sure his pres
ence was to the trustees and faculty
OF the college, who justly estimate
the liberal disposition he has shown
toward it,"
Medical School Started.
This influential newspaper of the
era concluded its account of the
och-making occasion" with this
news item: THE establishment of
a medical school at the collage
with accomplished professors and
lecturers, which is to open in March
next is a Subject of great gratifi-
cation to all who take an interest
IN the future welfare of the Dis
trict."
AS the faculty of this medical
school, later destined to achieve
national distinction and to include
upon its roster such world famous
physicians and subsequent immor-
tails as Walter Reed, Theobald