The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-01

NONCulJcT L. utli hpN
Girard's College has confined its usefulness TO
the State Of Pennsylvania. Fatherless chill
drcn from other States applying for admission
have been denied, not becaHsc there was any
disposition to keep them out but simply on
account Of the cramped space afforded by the
buildings, winch were more than flleu WIN
destitute boys living in this State. Children
born in the city Of Philadelphia, according tol
the rules Of the institution, have the first pref
ercucc. After them fatherlcss children living
elsewhere in the State are admitted, and lately
the door, have been thrown open to the father
les, boys born in the City of New York Thus
far the applications from natives OF this State
have more than balanced the vacancies in the
college. The old buildings could accommo-
date only about $50 pupils at time. But for
some months workmen have been engaged up
on cluster of handsome and substantial struc-
lures which, when they are finished next
month, will increase the capacity OF the school
by making room for 800 additional scholars.
There are now about $50 applications fled
upon the list and one of these only comes from
New York. There is, therefore, an opportun-
ity for additional applications from the metro
polls.
OF the applicants already on file some will
be rejected, as most rigid examination isl
made in every case before child can be adj
mitted. This inquiry, besides questioning the
mental or physical soundness OF the candldatel
(weakness in either of which will cause his re
jection), takes up the financial condition OF his
mother and also of his grandparents. III 1t Is
found that any of them have property enough
at their disposal to care for the child, he is re-
fused admission The will of the late Mr..
Girard is particularly explicit in this regard,
and its provisions are never trlfled with. III
rarely happens that out Of an entire list OF ap-
plicants there are not some who fail to pass
In conversation with Mr.. William Welsh,
the well-known merchant, your correspondent
today learned some interesting details con
corning the management of the institution.
Boys are admitted in the precise order OF their
applications, unless rejected for cause and in
no instance during the institutions history, 1t
is claimed has personal or political influence
been allowed to procure chld's admission
out of his regular turn. After passing through
the college the boys are indentured to the city
of Philadelphia, and bound out to suitable
trades or occupations, to remain until they are
twcny-one years old. This must occur be
twee the ages of fourteen and eighteen, because
the boys become free unless they are bound
out before attaining that age.
The orphans who are allowed to share tie
privileges of the college receive as liberal and
thorough an education as can be gwen in the
time allotted to it. Their morals, also under
90 due training and care. The terms of the
founders will rs is pretty generally known,
declare positively that no ministers ofthc Cos
pei and no missionaries shall be allowed to
enter the grounds even as visitors. This fact
has led to a popular belief that the teachings
of Christianity are ignored in the college, and
that the Bible is excluded with as much care
as are its professors. But the impression Is
entirely erroneous. Habits of prayer are pro
NOTED in every way, grace is said at every
meal, and all the boys assemble each morning
and afternoon at the brief chapel service, at
which the Bible Is read and prayers are offered
On Sunday there are two services each OF
which comprises an address by the President
# the college, and others by prominent lay
men, The service book containing Scripture
lessons especially adapted to the time and
place, together with selections from the Book
of Psalms, to be read or chanted and an excel
lent variety of hymns, was prepared especially
for the college, in order that it might be entire
" free from every faint OF sectaranl5m Here
totore Il large room in the main building has
sufced for the prosecution of these services
But, anticipating the fresh influx of pupils
which the enlargement of the accommodations
insures, n Gothic chapel, built of white mar
BILE, has been erected, and will soon be ready
for use This building will seat 1000 persons
which is the number that will be provided fol
when the entire Enclosure of forty acres of land
is fully utilized
The income of the Girard estate applicable
to the purposes of college improvements and
support, amounts to about 100000 year
About one half of this has been used annually
up to this time upon the college, and the re
maindcr, derived chiefly from coal mines, ha,
been expended in the erection of banks, stores
offices, dwellings, &C. upon the estate, from
which the institution will in time derive addi
tional income.
The Girard trust, with some forty others con
fiCled to the old city OF Philadelphia as trustee
is under the absolute control OF Twelve cltl
Zens. who form board of directors. Theil
tenure of office is for life or so long as theil
behavior is unimpeachable, and they are APP
pointed by the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas. The Mayor and Presidents Of the Select
and Common Councils are eX-otlicio directors
of thr city trusts. All the directors serve with
out compensation, and nearly all of them are
thoroughly prosperous citizens, who are eX
pcc;u"l 10 manage the affairs of these trusts
with Inc same judiciOus intelligence that they
exert in the direction of their own private bust
nrs, affairs For the convenience of New
4 70! Z, applicants it may be stated that letters
should be addressed TO Henry w Arey, No. Is
4 South Fifth street Philadelphia, and should
contain evidence of the marriage of the par
ents, the date of the applicants birth and thu
death Of his father.
Beware of Hair Washes.