Evening star. [volume], May 17, 1936, Page B-8, Image 28

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Dr. McVean’s School Leader
Among Georgetown Institutions
Many Notables Among Graduates of
Academy Directed by Scholar Who
Took Part in Civic Affairs.
BY JESSIE FANT EVANS.
F OLD Georgetown, as a thriv
ing port, of its distinguished
folk, and of the charm of
the old residences we justly
hear much. Too little emphasis has
been placed upon the fact that
Georgetown was once one of the
school centers of the United States.
Here were established a great number
and variety of private schools for the
training of the children of the day,
both white and colored. There was
also that academy founded by Arch
bishop Carroll destined to become
world famous as Georgetown Univer
sity.
Most of these schools properly at
tained a reputation far beyond
Georgetown’s boundaries. One of the
most widely known was founded as a
classical seminary for young men by
Rev. Dr. Wylie, a Presbyterian clergy
man. It was continued by Rev. Dr.
Carnahan, afterward president of
Princeton College. Upon Dr. Carna
han's elevation to Princeton, the
school was taken over in 1820 as a
classical and mathematical academy
by Rev. James McVean. born near
Johnstown, N. Y.. in 1796.
A graduate from Union College in
1813 and from Princeton in 1819. his
■was destined to be the honored profes
sion of giving to young minds those
gleams of the inner spirit which ever
light the true lamp of knowledge. Miss
Sally Mackall in her "Early Days of
Washington” tells us that Dr. Mc
Vean was the descendant of Duncan
McVean and Grace Fraser, whose
forbear, Peter Fraser, three times
cove/1 the life of Rohprt RniCP. for
which act of bravery he was knighted.
Royal titles had lapsed in Dr. Mc
Vean's day. but this schoolmaster of
old Georgetown was one of nature’s
gentlemen who believed that through
birth and education the training of
youth was his mission to mankind.
His memory lives on in the descend
ants of the youth of Georgetown in
whom he inculcated Christian Ideals
as he trained their minds in his
academy on West street, now P street.
Enjoyed Enviable Reputation.
From the time of Dr. McVean's ac
cession to the headmastership of this
academy for 27 years until his death
on July 8, 1847. this school enjoyed a
truly enviable reputation. As is the
case with all significant educational
Institutions, the lengthening shadows
of the McVean Academy is to be
found in the caliber of its graduates.
This partial list is indicative of the
type of leadership which the school
developed. One pupil. Rev. John B.
French, was one of the earliest mis
sionaries to the Presbyterian Foreign
Board in China. Two generals in the
United States Army. Getty and Plea
sonton, were its graduates. Miss
Nancy Getty, a teacher on the staff
of the Wilson Teachers' College, is
one of Gen. Getty's descendants. Ad
miral Semmes and Francis M. Gun
nell, surgeon general of the United
States Navy, were always proud to re
late that they were among Dr. Mc
Vean's “boys.”
This feeling of pride in the school
of their boyhood days was shared by
many other graduates, who became
ministers of the gospel, physicians,
lawyers and men of distinction in the
service of our National Government
at home and abroad. Rev. B. F. Bit
tinger at the centennial celebration
of Presbyterianism in the National
Capital on November 25, 1895, refers
to the McVean Academy graduates
then living as Henry C. Cameron,
professor in the University of Penn
sylvania; Elijah R. Craven, secretary
of the Presbyterian Board of Pub
lications: William A. Butler, eminent
jurist of New York, and that learned
justice of the District Supreme Court.
Alexander B. Hagner, both beloved
and revered by his contemporaries.
Dr. McVean's own brother Charles,
also his pupil, became State's attor
ney and surrogate judge of New York
and member of Congress during
President Van Buren's administra
tion.
Dr. McVean was a classical scholar
of distinction. It is said of him that
he spoke and read seven languages
with fluency, and it is a matter of
record that the chair of Greek was
always open to him at Princeton.
His identity, however, with George
town was inseparable from the time
of his marriage in 1828 to Miss Jane
Moffit Whann, a member of one of
Georgetown’s fine old families and her
self one of the first three pupils of
Miss Lydia English's famous seminary
for girls.
Daughter Broke Custom.
Years later the marriage of Mar
garet, the daughter of the lovely Mrs.
Mcvean and or her widower husband,
was the occasion for a chatty letter
from Mrs. Cassin, a Georgetown
neighbor, to her son John. In it she
tells of the Impending mariage of
Margaret McVean to Dr. Louis Mac
kail. At the time it was the custom
for the bride to spend "the fortnight"
Just prior to her marriage in a re
tirement from which she was not sup
posed to fare forth far beyond her
threshold. The lovely bride to be, with
something of the intellectual inde
pendence of her father and certainly
with his full and free consent, defied
precedent by going to Baltimore to
purchase her wedding gown, with a
chaperone and her wedding party, in
cluding the handsome groom. This
was news indeed, and Mrs. Cassin
was so shocked by the whole proceed
ing that she concluded her letter to
John with the query, which has such a
familiar sound in our own age, "What
do you suppose our young people are
coming to?"
' The Georgetown Columbian of Au
gust 17, 1827, gives an interesting ac
count of one of the annual celebra
tions of Dr. McVean's school which
took place in the old Presbyterian
church on that date. This was the
order in part of the exercises, inter
spersed by music. "Prayer,” "An Ora
tion on Eloquence" by John Ott, "Eu
logy' of Washington" (original) by
Grafton Tyler; "Oration on the State
oi ixew i one (original) by George
Clark; “Oration on the Character of
Hannibal” (original) by John Ritten
house; "Oration on the South Ameri
can Revolution” (original) by Samuel
Tyler; "Speech of Patrick Henry on
the Necessity of the American War"
by WUUam Rennert; “The Speech of
Mr. O'Connor in Favor of the Cath
olics” by Thomas Jewell; “Hamilton's
Oration to His Army” by Barlow Ma
son; “Oration on the Mutual Depend
ence of Animal Creatures" (Latin orig
inal by John Rittenhouse; "Pitt’s
Speech on the American War” by
Lewis Coppersmith; and “Character
of Alfred, King of England” (in Greek
and original) by George Clark.
There are still living within the
- District of Columbia the distinguished
- descendants of these school orators
•f the long ago, many of whom were
destined for leadership among their
fellow men. The unknown newspaper
commentator, who covered the occa
sion, summarizes the achievements of
the youthful orators with this state
ment: ‘The selections were extremely
judicious, the elocution equal to that
in our best colleges and the original
productions specimens of much genius
and taste.”
In this the natal month of the
great Washington, we note that Graf
ton Tyler, who later became one of
Washington's prominent physicians,
would have been awarded the palm
by the press for his eulogy on the
Father of His Country had the de
cision been theirs, since this was the
notice given his efforts: ‘‘But the
latter was certainly one of the most
manly, condensed and powerful speci
mens of eloquence to which I have
listened at any of the exhibitions of
our literary institutions.”
Man of Commanding Presence.
Present-day pupils in the secondary
schools of the Nation’s Capital, strug
gling with the classical languages,
might do well to thank their stars
that their efforts do not have to be
crowned by orations In either Latin
or Greek perspiringly delivered at the
closing exercises of their school year
during the month of August.
Dr. McVean was a man of large
stature and of kindly, though com
manding, presence. For a quarter of
a century his life was allied quite
as closely with Sunday school activi
ties as It was with his daily academic
labors. Every year there was a union
CnnHair coViaaI ralaKratinn r\f all Ha.
i nominations held on the Fourth of
! July. For weeks previous there would
be preparation for this event, with the
final assemblage in the “old Presby
terian Church.” From there, led by
Dr. McVean, the Sunday school pupils
and their teachers would "form in
lines four abreast" and go singing on
their way to nearby Parrot's Wood,
a portion of which is now a part of
1 Oak Hill Cemetery. Those of George
town. who were ineligible to attend
the picnic, apparently turned out to
< see and hear the singing ranks
! march by.
After prayer and speech making
by Georgetown's most prominent citi
zens, the picnickers were free to
amuse themselves as they chose, with
picnic baskets vieing in the quantity
and quality of their full to overflowing
contents. Soon after Dr. McVean’s
death these yearly assemblies were
| discontinued.
j As a dominie, a school man, and as
a natural executive and business lead
■ er, the imprint of this sterling man
| was left upon the Georgetown of which
he became so inherently a part, no
I easy achievement then or now. His
was the rounded life extolled by the
ancient Greeks in whose language
he so excelled. Precept in the school
| room was ever carried out in public
example. Abjuring his pupils that serv
irp tn nnp's fpllnw man u:s»r thp Hntv
of the educated, he himself served
Georgetown as a member of its Board
of Common Council and Aldermen
and as the president of many benevo
lent associations. His influence upon
national thinking was shown in his
defense of the American Colonization
Society, an organization which was
founded to transport members of the
colored race to Liberia with the in
tent of colonizing them and of provid
ing for their education and well being.
Town's Business Suspended.
Upon Dr. McVean’s death, just af
ter he had passed his 50th birthday,
his fellow councilmen of Georgetown
suspended the town's business for eight
days and wore mourning crepe upon
1 their arms for the next calendar
month. The year following his death,
; the publishing firm of Baker & Scrib
ner of New York in their publication,
"Teaching a Science, the Teacher an
Artist,” gave a list of great men whom
it ranked equally high as teachers.
It began with Socrates and ended with
James McVean.
I like best the characterization,
"Portrait of a True Man,” which Miss
Sally Mackall includes in her com
ment upon this school man of the
eighties:
"A gentleman (after the school of
courtesy which an apostle would have
commended). . . . His natural abilities
and eminent attainments as a scholar
and his great talents of government
well qualified him to preside over
any of our colleges, but his modesty
disposed him to remain in a com
paratively quiet and retired station
of usefulness and rendered him little
sensible to motives of pecuniary ad
vantage or ambition. . . . His sense of
duty governed all his sentiments. He
never feared the face of man nor had
the world any motive or power which
could obscure, disarm or turn from
its course his integrity.”
Do you wonder that the fame of the
school ministered unto by Dr. McVean
went almost as far beyond the borders
of Georgetown as the success of her
■--«»»v uvtiviavuuuo \Jk UC1
philanthropist*, the charm of her
residences or the delightful sociability
of those who occupied them?
BERMUDA RAILWAY
RARE FOR SCENERY
Amusing Toy Cars Carry Visitors
22 Miles Around the
Island.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 16.—
Come streamlined engines, come fast
planes, come rocket ships and Ber
muda’s toy railway will continue to
travel its own liesurely, "subject to
change,” way and Island visitors will
continue to like hitting Bermuda’s
high spots of interest via this quaint,
restful method.
The Bermuda railway is the unani
mous choice of all visitors as the best
conveyance for obtaining a compre
hensive idea of the Island—and one of
me most inexpensive. For lewer dol
lars than it takes hours, passengers
can make the 22-mile trip from one
end of the Island to the other.
Along the beach, through a deep
ravine whose flower-covered walls are
startlingly lovely with flaming tropi
cal blooms, and over the trestle high
above Hamilton Harbor—every type
of scenery is visible from the car
windows. The train stops at all the
places which must be seen, including
historic old fit. George’s; the govern
ment aquarium; Crystal and Leaming
ton caves; Tom Moore’s tavern, Swiz
zle Inn; Gibb's Hill Lighthouse, quaint
Waterlot Inn, and of course Hamil
ton's Front street with its fascinating
displays of British sportswear, gay
English china and burnished Sheffield
plat*.
V
Schools and Colleges
_ . .. ”
Ttlri annual larn elections at
Georgetown University last
week resulted In the choice of
Peter P. Brennan being chosen
president.
William J. Williams of Ohio was
named treasurer, but a run-off elec
tion was necessary to fill the office of
secretary, won eventually by John T.
Canna of New York. The new presi
dent of the Yard for next year, high
est scholastic position at the Hilltop,
had had the unique honor of being
president of his class during his
freshman, sophomore and Junior
years. To climax his election he was
also chosen president last week of
the Philodemic Debating Society.
Other Philodemic officers elected
before its annual dinner were Joseph
M. Dawson, corresponding secretary;
Chris Bowland, treasurer, and Joseph
Ryan, censor.
Glee Club “keys” in recognition of
three years’ faithful membership
were awarded last week to the fol
lowing: William T. Roberts, secre
tary: E. Paul Betowski, John D. Fal
ler, D'Armand Dochez, Bernard Ent
ner, Michael F. Kivlighan. Howard J.
McFadden. John H. Rule and Wil
liam J. Doyle. Robert Kelly, presi
dent, was given a key last year.
The Washington Club, composed of
local students, elso held its elections
for the ensuing year with the follow
ing results: Joseph M. Dawson, pres
ident; J. Carlton Gartner, vice pres
ident; George J. Fleury, secretary;
James Flynn, treasurer, and William
Gwynn, public relations chairman.
The Washington students are arrang
ing for a dance at the Manor Club
the evening of June 5, just before
the commencement program.
Elections at G. W. U.
VI/TTH the approach of the exami
’’ nation period, George Washing
ton University student organizations
are closing their activities and elect
ing officers for the coming year.
The George Washington Union has
adjourned, the following officers hav
mg oeen namea 10 neau uie uure
parties In 1936-37:
Center party—Fred Brooks, chair
man; Morris Kruger, vice chairman:
Lily Lykes Shepard, secretary, and
Layton McNichol, treasurer.
Left party—Charles Coltman, chair
man; Joseph JafTe, vioe chairman:
Sylvia Bahar. secretary, and Tatyana
Jasny, treasurer.
Right party—Bennett Willis, chair
man; William Gaussman, vice chair
man, and Elizabeth Wahl, secretary
treasurer.
Ethel M. Nelson has been elected
editor in chief of the 1937 Cherry
Tree. Other members of the editorial
board of the student annual will*be:
Bruce Kerr, business manager; Jane
Burke, organizations editor; Betty
Hartung, copy editor; Elizabeth Coale,
art editor, and Frank Mitchell, photo
graphic editor.
Next year’s Handbook will be edited
by Charles Hallam, editor in chief,
and Edmund Browning, Robert
Howell, Bertha Lockhart and George
Sangster, associate editors. Howard
Ennes has been named business man
ager of the Handbook.
The International Student Society
has named the following officers for
next year: Kitty Baart. Holland,
president; Myer Stolar, United States,
vice president; Rene Van Simayes,
Belgium, treasurer; Elizabeth Wolter,
Germany, corresponding secretary;
Frank Kerr. Canada, recording secre
tary; Naomi Fekmezian. Armenia,
historian. The society will hold its
annual picnic today at Pierce Mill.
Spring Sports week will be held by
the Department ol Physical Educa
tion for Women throughout the com
ing week, with competitions in tennis,
golf, riding, swimming and archery.
Aviation Exhibit at C. V.
AN EXHIBIT of books and articles
*"*■ relating to the history of avia
tion will open tomorrow in the Lima
Library, Catholic University, and con
tinue through the week. Among the
books to be shown is the "Various Modes
1 of Flying” by Bartolomew De Gus
mao, which was published in Lisbon in
1710. A demonstration of the author’*
invention was given before the Cham
ber of Commerce of that city, and
while it was only partly successful, it
served to show the Interest in aviation
at that early date.
A medallion of Santos Dumont, a
pioneer in aviation, who first invented
a device to guide dirigibles, will also be
exhibited. Dumont was a Brazilian liv
ing in Paris, and it was he who first
guided a dirigible around Eiffel Tower.
Another interesting work to be shown
is Alphonse Berget’s ’’La Route de
L'Alr,” which treats of aviation in
history, theory and practice.
The Feast of the Ascension will bs
observed at Catholic University on
Thursday, May 31. Classes will be
discontinued on that day, and a mass
for the students will be celebrated in
the University chapel.
Right Rev. Patrick J. McCormick,
vice rector, will attend a religious
demonstration to be held at Leonard
town, Md., this morning under the
auspices of the Catholic Students; Mis
sion Crusade. A solemn pontifical
military mass will be celebrated by
Most Rev. John M. McNamara, and
the sermon will be preached by Msgr.
McCormick.
Dinner Saturday Night.
'T'HE All-University dinner, one of
the most important pre-com
mencement functions of American
University, will be addressed by Leon
Marshall, formerly of the N. R. A., at
2400 Sixteenth street, Saturday night.
May 30. Dr. Marshall, who has been
elected new professor of political
economy at American U., will take
for his subject "Objectives of a Na
tional Economic Policy.” Dr. Joseph
M. M. Gray, chancellor, will be
SPEED DICTATION CLASSES
IN
STENOTYPY
TUESDAYS and FRIDAYS
I'M to !i.M» w. B m. 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
80 to 110 w. p. m. 8:00 to 0:00 p.m.
The STENOTYPE COMPANY
1 604 Albea Bldg. NAt. 8320
among the other speaker*. Dr. George
B. Woods, dean. Is in charge of ar
rangements, with the alumni associ
ation being represented by B. Brooke
Bright.
The first function of the com
mencement program proper will be
the Senior class chapel, at the Met
ropolitan Memorial Methodist Church
next Wednesday morning at 11
o'clock.
Numerous functions are scheduled
for commencement week, concluding
with the baccalaureate sermon Sun
day afternoon, May 31. and com
mencement Monday night, June 1.
The American University Alumni
Association is voting on candidates
for election to the ooard of the as
sociation. The candidates include
Harlan Hendrick, Richard Jarvis,
Margaret Moses, Emily Coleman, Dr,
H. P. Cotterman, Dr. Ed son Whitney,
Elsie Rackstraw and Edwin A. Swin
Elf
Dean Woods is receiving congratu
lations from friends and acquaint
ances on the recent honor conferred
upon him by the Northwestern Uni
versity Alumni Association, which
singled him out of all its graduates
to receive this year its annual "award
of merit in recognition of worthy
achievement which has reflected
credit upon Northwestern University
and each of her alumni.”
Dr. Walter P. Shenton, professor
of mathematics, is about to conclude
the cataloguing of the famous Arte
mas Martin Mathematics Library at
Off the
Beaten
Track
I IF YOU are one af those persons who
enjoys adventuring **•» year ewi," yea’ll
eppreeiate—every hoar!—knowledge ef
the language ef the country you’ve tear
ing. Between new and salllng-dfete, yea
can learn enough French, Spanish, Ital
ian, German at Berlits to make yea In
dependent ef guides and sign language!
RFRIIT7 *<HO°l °'
» K n LI I im LANOUAOIS
LWnhinrton, 1115 Conn. At,. NA1. 0170.
Baltimor,. 505 N. Chariot St. PL. 0707
_ Inquire eleo about Language Stud*
“ Toun abroad with the Bering
Travel Club.
the university, containing about 5.000
volume*. The work is being done un
der a grant from the McGregor
Foundation, of which the late Tracy
McGregor of this city was president.
The Commons, new organization of
non-fraternity men at the college of
liberal arts, plans to elect officers to
morrow.
Debating Society Elects.
JNGRAM MACK, retiring president
of the Alvey Debating Society of
National University, announced yester
day that Giles Morrow, junior law
student, had been elected to head the
society next year.
Other officers elected were:
James Hayden, first vice president;
Miss Verna McCarter, second vice
president; Miss Leila Terrill, secre
tary; John S. Kenestrlck, treasurer;
Joseph Underwood, sergeant at arms,
and Miss Marian Poole, historian.
Tear Round School Program. Varatlon
School. SI MMER TAMP. Bnatin*. Fl»h
Inr. Crahblna. Pony Rldins. Addreas
Box 1*1-K. Star oilier. •
PRIVATE TUTORING
June College Board Exama.
For information rail Wlaronaln 3S6S
Or Write ELI RWAVELY
It West Woodbine St., Chevy Chase. Md
1 ?*
n n 1 — v J ; n Qokool nC
FRENCH LANGUAGE
Sommer Clatter and Private Instruction
Dan and Evenlnas
DOS Hth 8t. X.ff._ME 1832 »
The Temple School
Shorthand Dictation and
Typewriting Speed Drills
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Evenings, 5:00 to 9:20
Day School
9:00 to 3:00
Enrollment Now Open
to
College Students and High
School Graduates
for
SPECIAL INTENSIVE
SUMMER COURSES
June 22 and July %
1420 K Street N.W. NAtional 3258
Spood Dictation Clatter
STENOTYPY AND
PENCIL SHORTHAND
Tuetdaya and Thuradaya
7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
THE TEMPLE SCHOOL
1420 K Street N.W. Notionol 3258
The Renshaw
School
1739 Cosnscticit Avenue North 6906
Announces
Short Summer Courses
(May IS—June 19)
WELL-BRED ENGLISH
Spoken English—Platform Pone—Dic
tion—Tone Training—Engltsh Prob
lems— Vocabulary Building — Com
mon Errors
Mondays ond Thursdays at 3 or 8 P.M I
-•-——
VOICE and DICTION
Enunciation—Tone Placement—Reson
ance—Cultural Valuei of Voice and
Epeech.
Individual Analysis
Tuesdoys and Fridays at 3 or 8 P.M.
-»
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Impromptu «nd Extemporaneous Treln- ’
In*—Campaign Speaking—Speeches
for Special Occasions — Constant
Platform Practice.
Tuesdoys and Fridays at 8 P.M.
-•
Two thousand men and women from
:*0 vocations have increased their
efficiency with these courses which
meet twice weekly for two hours.
Limited Groups.
Fee $20.00 Register: 4 to 7 P.M.
MUSICAL INSTRUCTION.
BESSIE N. WILD
Voice Culture. Plano and Harmony
Studio. «S2d Mb St N.W.
PHONE GEORGIA 3233
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