New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-09
FOrNDkES DiX.

To-day being the birthday of The late Asa Packer,
has properly been set apart oy Lchgh University To
bc observed as long "a, the institution shall last as
q" Founders Day.' portrait of Judge Packer Will
be uuV,ilcd IN the free library adjoining the college
which he built and an appropriate address dchv-
cred tins morning. and athletic sports, etc.. viii
,al.c place IA the afternoon The object 10 keep
before ,hc lads whose way 20 an honorable, useful
manhood has been made easy by this mans wise
lcnercncc the facts of his life. Certainly no lesson
ID be- learned from textbooks could be 50 helpful
or significant L. these boys the sight OF The slug
nisi canal, along who's. side Asa Packer drove his
males when peanics- Ignorant lad, and the stately
buildings on ,De wooded heights winch oyeriooR u.
ON which hc spent millions of hi, hdld-tarncd
wealth To help other poor boys To that education
tho worth of which he had learned through bitter
experience. IL is "a pity that every American boy
could not b. told occasionally the story of tins
caua-ooy. his work, his success, and the line, great
uses hc made of that success.
Is hs energy and intelligence, by his courage
and prcscIcuce. judge Packer developed the
maternal resources Of his State. In this axe, he
takes his place naturally among our most
distinguished characters. Tho services OF the
small CLASS to which he belonged are
thoroughly appreciated. such men, even in
tins Land OF politics, rank with states
men, and much higher tnln mere politicians. No
body except tho crackDralned Communist grudges
them the uncommon fortunes winch lhey sometimes
acquire. These are mainly ieit IN the benefits
which they b.st)w. Wealth Ike that which Judge
Packer left implies numerous completeness pos
sesscd By others. as well IS multiplied opportunities
OF employment with steady and equitable
wages. That he was aDe TO found
college Is less TO his credit than that
he was willing to found it, Yet tins ability
was ono of the least advantages resulting from his
remarkable practical talent. lie did something
much greater. He gave vitality to communities.
llc made the forces OF nature public servants. ii"
brought to life and light the inert and hidden treas
nrcs oi tie NINE. Wnere heretofore. had brooded
comparative silence. he awake mo thunders ana
flc mufinurs of various industries. lie created
towns and villages. lie rendered the large under
taAiugs of capitalists feasible. H. was living ref
utation of the jealous sophi,tries Of agtators
%, profession. 1t his success aroused the hostility
oflabor If also demonstrated it, absurdity. Such
man as Judge Packer may be hated by the indolent
..nd tne Jealous; but the mcrest tyro III political
,.onony must know that of the fruits of his toll
large proportion was not his own.
Even those wac care more for morals than for
money will admit the value of such career. Ii
shows us how much depends upon persistence. To
be- born poor in Connecticut in 1905. to be- born
poor Inueed. The opportunities of acquisition
then comparatively few. The capLbilltos of steam
~ "A motive power were then all undevelopcd
Canals were not much moro than projects.
rne mineral wealth OF Pennsylvania
was almost unsupported. little earlier
Judge Packer might have remained farmers
drudge to the end, have been all his life jour
neyman carpenter. But if he needed the time. the
time also needed him. There was genius or some
thing akin to it, in his determination to make his
way on foot with his pack upon his shoulders,
TO Susquehanna County. Other men would have
staid at home unless they could compass comfort
able carriage. This Connecticut youth literally
marched TO the field OF his future vctores-he who
was to project great railways. and. through dscour-
agements. reverses and impending bankruptcy,
carry them to completion. Reading this story, one
remembers another remarkable journey made from
Massachusetts, to Pennsylvania under circum-
stances Of almost equal disbursement. and thinks
of the boy franklin wandering almost moneyless
through the strange streets of Philadelphia
The fields Of industry have their great command
ers not less than the fields OF war. The talent I'm
either case Is that of exceptional foresight 1t re-
anired as much Of this to discover the of
the Schuykll coal region to plan aud to win the