Evening star., 1940-02-18

SCIOOt.
vention Hall, there was presented at
the Curtis School an informal pro-
gram that, so it is said, "for excel.
lence could hardly be rivaled." This
entertainment was held in the large
class room, formerly Curtis Hall, and
was intended as "a farewell exhibi-
ton of talent"
Miss Westcott, Principal.
Miss Edith c. Westcott, the first
principal of Western, built up a
school that compared with any high
school of the District, and upon this
particular occasion she was right
fully proud of her boys and girls
whom she was naturally very much
interested in, and who, undoubtedly,
had an affectionate regard for her.
This worthy woman is said to
have been the first to introduce into
Washington schools the gymnasium,
the lunch room, periodical confer
ences with parents and finally the
Parent Teacher Association. From
a class Of 81 pupils in 1890, she left
a school of 800 scholars and 25
teachers, after serving Western for
"a years.
1t was during the latter part of
Miss Westcott's administration that
this school was severely damaged by
fire, which occurred on April "a,
1914. It was an early morning
blaze, first being noticed shortly
after midnight. Chief Wagner,
known to many Washingtonians Of
doubtful age, was there with all the
fire-flghting apparatus he could
muster, as was Fire Marshal Nichol-
son. A shortage of water favored
the fire and retarded the efforts Of
the Fire Department with the re-
suit that considerable damage was
done before the blaze was got un-
der control.
Quarter Century Service.
DR.. Elmer S. Newton, who sue
ceeded Miss Westcott as principal,
and has filled this position so ac-
ceptably for about quarter of q
century, is a very delightful gentle
man to meet, and through his good
offices the writer was able to meet
one of his assistants, Miss Irene
Rice, who proved obnging and help
full.
DR.. Newton entered the public
school service as teacher Of chem
istry and served in this capacity
some years before being promoted
to his present post. He is an alum
nus of Amherst University, and q
classmate of the late President
Calvin Coolidge and Dwight Nor
row.
During the half century that
Western High School has been In
existence, many young folk have
been graduated, who later achieved
distinction in the many activities
of life. Naturally, we, Of WASH
ington, are always proud of our
fine men and women, and we like
to single them out, not only for
home consumption, but also that
outsiders might see the kind Of men
and women whom we turn out
from our public schools, of which
there are no better.
OF course the list Of distinguished
alumni here given is not complete,
and If time permitted ever so many
other names could well be added, all
equally as honorable and distin-
guished, but the following limited
number must sufilce for the time
being:
Ruth M. Stauffer, head of the de-
partment of English of the District
of Columbia public. schools; Robert
L. Haycock, first assistant superin-
tendent of District of Columbia
schools; Sibyl Baker, director, Com
munity Center activities of the Dis
trict of Columbia; Herbert e. Win
lock, director emeritus, Metropoh-
tan Museum of Art; Thomas Hart
Benton, Missouri, famous artist;
Robert M. La Toilette, jr., United
States Senator, Wisconsin,; Mrs.
Winifred Mason Huck, former MEM
ber Of Congress from Chicago;
Frank Havener, member Of Con-
gress from California; william Rad
ford Coyle, former member Of Com
gress; Ernest G. Draper, member
of the Board Of Governors Of the
Federal Reserve Board; George L.
Harrison, president, Federal Re-
serve Bank of the New York dis.
trict; Robert v. Fleming, president,
Riggs National Bank; Harry G,
Blanton, Federal Judge; Eastern
Missouri district, st. Louis; Elmer
Louis Kayser, dean Of university
students and professor Of European
history, George Washington Uni.
versity; Serge Korf1, fellow Of Car.
negie Institute, working In cosmic
rays; Admiral Joseph K. Taussig.
United, States Navy commandant.
Fifth Naval District, Norfolk; Adj
miral Bruce L. Eanaga, u. s, n.
once advisory chief Of STAN to min
lister Of marine In Peru: Mai. Gen.
Thomas Holcumb. commayadsnt
United States Marine Corpe:
Charles w. Pimper, president, Sc
curtty Storage Co.: Marjorie Kinnan
Rawlings, awarded Pulitzer Prtse Ia
fiction, 1883; Fulton Lewis, r., news
commentator, and sylvia Meyer.
harpas& with the National Symphony