Evening star., 1950-06-14
By james J. CuIIinone

By james J. CuIIinone
They turned out the lights and
locked the doors at Central High
School just before midnight last
night and another fragment of
"old" Washington fell into the
well of fond recollections.
The school died and was writ
ten off the records after diplomas
had been handed to the 1913 boys
and girls of its last graduating
class.
In the darkness just before
dawn the big red brick building
with its windows and doors framed
in white stone became, officially,
Cardozo High School.
No bells tolled the passing of
the city's oldest high school, but
tears flowed freely from the eyes
of young and old in the crowded
auditorium and heart strings of
! its graduates in distant lands re-
SpOnQeQ acnlng1y.
Since it was founded 10 years
ago Central High had graduated
some $1,000 boys and girls and
had entwined itself deeply into the
life of the city.
Audience Joins in Song.
"Ours not to blaze untrod way"
sang the young students last night.
Old men and women who had
found romance and happiness in
high school joined in from the au-
dience. Some wept unashamedly
as the music of the old school
song, "Tenax Propositi" scared
high on the notes of fresh young
voices.
"Ours not to blaze an untrod
way,
Through woods that hide
THE light of day,
For Central's vanguard long
ago
MADE smooth the road on
which we go,
With many victory,
With many victory. -"
Trophies Line Corridors.
In many cases lining the broad
wooden-f1oored corridor outside
the auditorium reposed the tro-
phies of bygone years. Battered
footballs bearing the white paint
ed word Champions" silver cups
and bronze tablets galore-all
brought back to the school
through the years by muscle
weary but proud and happy boys
and girls who played their hearts
out on the basketball, baseball,
swimming, rifle and all the other
teams that Central sent out to
compete with younger schools.
And there were the trophies
brought back by the triumphant
cadet companies. And there was
the plaque bearing the names of
162 sons of Central who gave
their lives in two World Wars.
In the auditorium the voices
rose again in song.
Here's to old Central,
Here's to her name,
Here's to her teams
THAT have gone down in fame,
Here's to the old school,
'Her girls and boys,
Here's to old Central,
"Her sorrows and joys,
"Old friendships wane,
But Central shall stand. :"
Corning Makes Brief Talk.
''The spirit, the team work, the
things that are just and good in
our school will live on" bravely
declared Glass President Robert
Mackie.
Supt. of School Hobart M.
Corning, who graduated from
Central in 1907, wasn't on the
program, but he appeared on the
stage to make a brief speech.
Il came to see the last COM
mencement of my own high
school," he said.
In white cap and gown pretty
Elizabeth Anne Eilers, class his
torian and salutatorian, fought to
keep her voice from trembling as
she spoke her brave words:
Some say Central is dying,
but we, the last class, say no.
For she will live forever in our
hearts and souls and blossom
forth in the kind of lives we lives
because of what she has done for
u.s."
Certificates Awarded.
The school traced its history
back to 1880 when the Advanced
Grammar School for Boys and
the Advanced Grammar School
for Girls merged-a daring ex-
pertinent in those days-to become
the Washington High School at
Seventh and o streets NV. It
soon became known as the Gen.
trail High School.
| DR.. Ruloll Strattan. SO, Of the
class of '87. was on the platform
last night and was handed
certificate of distinction and many
kind words.
j "They spelled my name wrong,