Evening star., 1940-03-03
Western High Alumni
Mark Schools 50th
Anniversary
Principal Newton and
Wife Share Applause
With Instructors

Wife Share Applause
With Instructors
Almost a tenth Of the 1885 boys
and girls who have graduated from
Western High School since its es-
tablishment half a century ago as
sembled in the Mayfower Hotel
last night for an alumni dinner in
celebration of the schools 50th an
niversary.
Many former students who have
gone far in business, the profess
sions, politics and the military serv-
Ice paid tribute to faculty members
credited with maintaining a match
less school spirit through the years.
Chief among those to receive the
congratulations of their former pu-
pills was DR.. Elmer S. Newton, vet
eran principal of the school, and
Mrs. Newton. They shared applause
with gray-haired men and women
who had taught three generations
Of Western pupils.
In welcoming the 750 guests whose
tables filled the floor and balcony
of the hotel ballroom, DR.. Newton
expressed qualification that such a
large number of graduates had
turned out for the celebration.
He read messages from numerous
others now scattered to various
parts of the country, along with
congratulations from a dozen COL
leges and universities on the occa-.
sion of Westerns 50th birthday an
niversary.
Messenger Boy Sings.
One congratulatory message was
a singing telegram" from Western
High graduates now at West Point.
The messenger boy drew a generous
round of applause after he stood
up to the microphone and bravely
sang, Hop along, dear old West
ern, hop along"
Prior to the opening of the for
NAL program guests mingled in the
lobby and about the dinner tables,
renewing old acquaintance with
former classmates and instructors.
The alumni, young and old, thronged
about the tables where elderly men,
bers of the faculty were seated.
Another faculty spokesman was
, Nine. Blanche j. Bimont, who has
taught French at Western for "a
years, and returned to France 36
times to polish the perfection of her
accent.
Several Speakers.
Alumni speakers included Rear
Admiral Joseph K. Taussig, COM
mander of the Fifth Naval District
at Norfolk, of the class of '95;
Ernest G. Draper, member of the
Federal Reserve Banks Board of
Governors. class of '02; Mrs. Marie
Peary Stafford, daughter of the late
Robert E. Peary, polar. explorer.
class of '13; Kenneth Ceilings, war
correspondent, class of '16, and
Fulton Lewis, jr., radio commen-
tator. class Of 20, who acted as
toastmaster.
Admiral Taussig confessed to his
former CLASSMATES that boys back
in 1895 probably were much like
those of today. To prove his point
he recalled climbing into the belfry
to muffle the bell in rage SO he
and his fellow conspirators would
have an alibi for being tardy-
they never heard the bell, he said.
In more serious vein he assured
the guests that Western High School
probably had the highest ranking
in the country in graduates who
have won commissions at Annapo-
lis and West Point.
More Craftsmanship In Business.
Mr.. Draper, on the program as
q spokesman for business, declared
the country needed more states
manship in business and industry"
He expressed the belief that unem-
ployment and other economic prob
lens might be solved when business
works out its own reforms in the
public interest and is freed from
the sort of Federal supervision
which destroys the profit motive.
In a jesting mood, Mrs. Stafford,
who was born in the far North, and
who was introduced last night as
the "snow baby" declared the desig-
nation irked her and she had been
trying to live it down for years. IF
] were little and cute" she said,
''I wouldn't mind"
The former Western student said
she was the wife of a "Westerner,"
the sister of another, the cousin of a
third and the mother of two more
She added she felt qualified to say
that the schools fine spirit is kept
alive not so much by the graduates
as by the faculty whose inspiration
continues through the years.
La Toilette Recalls School Years.
Senator La Toilette said he re-
called his days at Western with
pleasure undimmed by the fact that
at least one of his teachers regarded
him as doubtful" graduate. Dur
ing senior year, he said, his father
bought an automobile, and some of
the teachers found him useful as an
errand boy. 7 ..
II sometimes think I learned as
much running errands as did in
the class rooms" he declared.
The Senator was the last speaker
on the program-"the cleanup
position" he called it.. He recalled
a story of the late Clarence Darrow
who was introduced for an hour and
q half. and when he finally rose tc