University of Pennsylvania

“ The University of Pennsylvania is one of the great universities which can offer admirable accommodations to all the societies and at the same time much to interest all men of science. Houston Hall, the beautiful club house of the students, will be an admirable center for social intercourse. The magnificent new medical laboratories will not only give excellent places of meeting for the societies devoted to the biological sciences, but a visit to them would repay a trip from Boston or even from Chicago. ”

“ Philadelphia being the seat of government of colonial times, is extremely rich in historic portraits. They are in The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; Independence Hall; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Carpenters’ Hall; American Philosophical Society; Pennsylvania Hospital; Academy of Natural Science; The Library Company of Philadelphia; Mercantile Library; College of Physicians; United States Mint; University of Pennsylvania; many banks and insurance companies. ”

“ The college and academy were under the immediate direction of a faculty, composed of the professors, of whom the principal had the title of provost, and the second in authority, that of vice-provost and rector of the academy. The professors, five in number, were assisted, when necessary, by ushers, who were possessed of no authority in the government of the institution. The duties of the faculty, were to meet, occasionally, and inquire into the condition of the schools, and conduct of the scholars; to see that the laws were observed, and the plans of education carried into effect ”

“ He continued to preside over the university, and to perform the duties of professor of natural philosophy till 1802, when he died, at the age of seventy-one years. But for a short time before the close of his life, he was disabled by ill health from that steady and vigorous application to the business of his station which had characterized the early period of his employment, and by which alone he could compensate the university for that unfortunate division of his time and attention, which his adherence to the pastoral office rendered necessary. ”

“ The works he has left behind him are the living records of his diligence and skill—they are the numerous men of note in the various walks of professional life, the foundation of whose reputation was laid in the instruction they received from him in their youth.
In reply to the letter in which Dr. Andrews, a few months before his death, announced his desire to resign his station in the university, the trustees expressed their high sense "of the unremitting industry and great ability with which he had successively filled the offices of provost and vice-provost;" ”

“ The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 219 South Sixth Street; architect, John Notman; has best points of work done in 1850, showing traditions of the past, with developments and characteristics of its own; interior has a most beautiful reading room. The University Buildings, from Thirty-fourth to Fortieth Streets, Walnut Street to Woodland Avenue, add much to the architectural attraction of West Philadelphia; entrances to the campus, near the dormitories, are fine Tudor gateways, wrought iron, with brick and stone piers. (See University of Pennsylvania.) ”

“ In 1902 the university of Pennsylvania conferred upon her the degree of Litt.D. She was the author of Books and Men (1888) ; Essays in Miniature (1892) ; Essays in Idleness (1893) ; Philadelphia the Place and the People (1898) ; Compromises (1904) ; In our Convent Days (1905) ; Americans and Others (1912) ”

“ Having been himself at one time a pupil in the old Academy building, his interest has been enhanced in the course of the present work by the memory of his attendance on tuition in the venerable birthplace, now no more, of the great educational institution whose continuing years have left a record of such great interest, and which to-day holds out such enlarging promises, the fruitage of the seed laid there in 1749 by the "voluntary society of founders," as the Trustees were termed by the first Provost. ”

“ We may, indeed, be proud as Philadelphians, that our city has been able to afford so many distinguished names as are to be found in the catalogue of those who have at different times directed the affairs of the college and university. ”

“ John Ewing, the first provost of the university, had risen by his own exertions from very humble beginnings. The son of a farmer of moderate circumstances in Maryland, and one of a numerous family, he had neither, when a boy, the advantages of a regular education, nor, in his manhood, the assistance of any influential relatives to push his fortunes in the world. Gifted, however, with a strong propensity to scientific pursuits, he improved the slender opportunities which were afforded him in his native place by industrious and eager application ”

“ In these societies, the charm of secrecy has been employed to attract new members, and to maintain a stronger interest among the old; while it is deprived of all mischievous tendency by the participation of the professors and other officers of the college. To be able fully to appreciate the importance of such institutions, we must revert to the period of our own youth, and call to mind the deep interest, the spirit at once of union and emulation, the kindly feelings towards each other united with the energetic determination to excel, inspired into us by their manlike exercises ”

“ The entire Carnegie bequest would be exhausted before Harvard or Columbia could be reached, and the University of Pennsylvania would be barely passed. It is thus apparent that even when supplemented by the opportunities for study which Washington affords, the advantages in a material way would not exceed existing institutions by an amount sufficient to overcome sentimental or other reasons that attract students elsewhere. ”

“ Herein continued the operations of the College and University until the purchase a half century later of the premises on Ninth Street, between Market and Chestnut Streets, whither they moved in 1802, and which is now succeeded by the United States Post Office; and by a happy coincidence there stands on the latter's front pavement the bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin, recently erected there to the memory of the great colonial Postmaster General, appointed in 1753, who was as well the Founder of the University, from which the Government holds its present title. ”

“ No excuse, therefore, is necessary for attempting to expose the causes of the very low condition into which the university was depressed, at the close of the last, and commencement of the present century.
Among these causes may, perhaps, be included the practice of compensating the professors by fixed salaries, without allowing them any share in the proceeds of tuition. There is a vis inertiæ in mind as well as in matter, and the best men acknowledge that, to put forth their highest energies, they require the incitement of powerful motives. ”