COMMENCEMENT AT STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, LA.
The exercises of commencement week began on the morning of Sunday, May 20th, with an interesting address to the Christian associations by Rev. A. S. Jackson, D.D., of Dallas, Texas.
On the evening of the same day President Oscar Atwood delivered the Baccalaureate Address. The close attention which this address commanded showed how well chosen was its theme and interesting the presentation of its ideas.
On Monday the Industrial and Grade work was exhibited. Specimens of practical work in wood done by the young men and boys in the shop, articles both useful and beautiful from the sewing-room, together with fine drawings and written exercises done by members of the different grades, made up this exhibit.
The value of this branch of the university's work cannot be overestimated. The training given is of the most practical kind. Young men have been enabled, through the industrial education received at the university, to work at the carpenter's trade during their summer vacation, and thus earn the means necessary to take them through the following year of study. At the present time one enterprising young graduate, as a result of this very training, is putting up with his own hands the building which is to shelter the school he is founding in Southern Louisiana.
In the sewing-room the young women and girls, besides acquiring a knowledge of mending and darning, learn to cut, fit and make all kinds of garments. Fancy work is taught them after they have learned the more useful kinds of sewing.
Monday afternoon the Rev. Chas. R. Dinkins addressed the literary societies of the university, and on Monday evening one of the most interesting programs of the whole commencement season was presented—namely, the class-day program.
It was in these exercises that the love of the graduating classes for their Alma Mater, and their appreciation of her faithful and efficient instruction found fullest expression. We have known of schools where class-day was made an occasion for ridiculing the Faculty, students and instruction of the institution. Not so at Straight; class-day there is one of the occasions when the delightful relations that have existed between teachers and students, and among the student body, are revealed.
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT GRADUATING CLASS WITH PRESIDENT, STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY.
A short address by the President is followed by the class oration, well composed and ably delivered. Then we listen to an entertaining paper which gives us the history of the class. We review with the young historian its hardships and its triumphs, and conclude that, like all other classes whose history we have heard, it has had a remarkable career. The prophecy is a spicy bit of humor, and reflects much credit upon its writer, a dainty little miss, as bright and interesting a prophet as we shall meet in many a long day. A young man now steps forward upon the platform, of whose purpose in so doing we are not quite sure. The president of the class soon clears up our doubts, however, by requesting President Atwood to come forward. It is evident that this is a surprise to the head of the university. The young man makes a short speech of presentation and hands to the president a gift from the graduating classes. The singing of the class ode closes this part of the evening's exercises, and the college class now presents an excellent program consisting of an oration by the president, a history and a well-written poem.
One cannot help remarking upon the dignity and good taste which characterized the exercises of Class-Day. We doubt whether any class in a Northern school could have made a better showing.
COLLEGE PREPARATORY AND NORMAL GRADUATING CLASS, STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY.
On Tuesday afternoon the graduating exercises of the grammar department were held. On Wednesday evening, when the graduating classes received their diplomas, the other students received certificates of the work they had done.
The alumni of Straight held their annual business meeting on Tuesday evening.
The commencement exercises on Wednesday evening formed a fitting climax for a week so full of interest and inspiration. These exercises are held at Central Church because it can accommodate a much larger audience than the university chapel, and in the evening, because this hour permits many to be present who, on account of their work, could not attend commencement during the day.
Long before the hour appointed for beginning the exercises, all the seats were filled and all the standing room in the church utilized, and the air was alive with whispers, low tones and the flutter of fans as the audience waited, with the best patience it could muster, for the opening numbers of the program. When President Atwood rose and announced the first number, all sounds ceased, and the great audience gave close attention to that and all the twenty-one succeeding numbers on the program.
The program was one of which the university may be justly proud. The orations of the graduates from the college course on "The Mission of the Scholar," "Aims and Ideals," and "Does the Constitution Follow the Flag?" would have been considered exceptional in any of our Northern colleges, for their thought, expression and delivery. The three graduates from the theological department did credit to their teacher, Rev. G. W. Henderson, D.D., in their contribution to the program, and the sixteen students who were graduated from the normal and college preparatory courses likewise acquitted themselves with credit. The music of the program was furnished by the students, and consisted of piano solos and duets and choruses. The performers deserve much commendation. The presentation of diplomas formed an impressive close to the evening's program.
To have seen these students is to believe in the work which the American Missionary Association is doing in the South, and to become a promoter of that work; it is to have faith in the ability of the negro to become a useful citizen; it is to catch a glimpse of the true solution of the negro problem, and to see that the satisfactory solution of that great question is being worked out, not by our legislators, but by devoted Christian men and women, like President Atwood and his corps of teachers, who are giving the best years of their lives to the service of the Master in the Southland.
The graduating class is the largest in the history of the university, thirteen young men and twelve young women. Ten of these reside in New Orleans, and twelve are from different parts of Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas. Seven completed the college preparatory course, nine the normal, three the course in arts and three the theological.