THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, EMPORIA, KANSAS. 117 



WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT. 



The week commencing June 9th was given to tlie closing exercises of Wash- 

 ington University of St. Louis, Mo.^ On Monday evening the Art School gave 

 an exhibit of the work of the past year, including drawings from the antique both 

 in color and black and white, drawings from the nude and draped model and geo- 

 metrical drawing. 



On Tuesday and Wednesday the closing exercises of the Smith Academy, 

 the Manual Painting School and the Mary Institute were held. 



The commencement of the College and Polytechnic School and the Law 

 Department was held at Memorial Hall on the evening of Thursday, June 12th. 



There were fifteen graduates, six from the College and nine from the Poly- 

 technic School. The degrees conferred were Bachelor of Arts, four; Bachelor of 

 Philosophy, two, Civil Engineer, four; Engineer of Mines, four; Dynamic En- 

 gineer, one. 



The theses of the graduates in the professional schools were quite up to the 

 usual standard and were devoted to the treatment of some technical problem in 

 the different branches. 



The past year has been a very successful one in the history of the Universi- 

 ty. The present Freshman class is the largest ever matriculated, and the next 

 promises to be still larger. 



During the year a Professor of Dynamic Engineering has been added to the 

 corps of professors. 



The facilities for work have likewise been greatly increased in the departments 

 of physics, drawing, descriptive geometry and practical astronomy. 



It is the aim of the University to send out good men and not many men. 

 By lowering the standard the classes could easily be doubled or trebled. In the 

 future this standard will be constantly advanced rather than lowered. A very 

 determined step was made in this direction by the action of the faculty during 

 the past year, which provides for the granting of the professional degrees only 

 after five years of study, instead of four as has been the case heretofore. 



The faculty and directors of the University expect to continue this plan of a 

 high standard. By this means they expect to attract not the greatest number, but 

 those who are most earnest and thorough. 



THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, EMPORIA, KANSAS. 



At the State Normal School, Emporia, Kansas, Rev. Dr. Cordley delivered 

 an able Baccalaureate sermon and Dr. Edwards, late President of the Illinois 

 State Normal University, the annual address : subject, 



1. No addresses are made at the Commencements of this institution except tlie orations of 

 the students (and there is a strong disposition to cut tlaem off), so tliat we must give it a some- 

 what different notice from tlie others. 



