The sun., 1897-02-07


the aid of o wellequipped observatory.
This deficiency has been made good, and the
University Of Pennsylvania will hereafter
have all that Is needful for the use OF ad-
vanced students and for the prosecution Of
research. The Flower Observatory has been
erected upon elevated land about two miles
beyond the city limit; the main In
strument Is to be an eighteen-inch
equatorial, but II will also be sup
piled with q zenith telescope, a transit
instrument, q self.winding sidereal clock,
four-inch and three-inch telescopes, and
batteries for electrical illumination OF the
instruments. In still another direction has
the University of Pennsylvania followed
Harvard's example 1t has established q
botanic garden on the tract Of land sur
rounding the Biological School The activi-
ty shown in another department, that OF
archaeology and paleontology, is worthy Of
special commendation. The amount Of
money expended by this department dur
ing the last three years In exploration
and in the acquisition Of collections
was about $4,000. At its last session
the Pennsylvania Legislature appropriated
el50.O00 toward the erection Of q new
museum building, on condition that an
equal sum should be obtained from other
sources One hundred and ninety five thou
sand dollars has already been contributed
by private persons. and the erection OF
capacious and flreproof building In thereby
assured. The scientific work done by this
department has been highly creditable.
Explorations have been carried on In South
America, in Florida, and In Yucatan.
The Babylonian section successfully con-
tinued its excavations on the site Of
ancient Nippur. It is we'll known that
the discoveries made at this place have car
ried back the record Of Chaldean civilization
to a date 5000 or 1000 years before
SARGoy l., who himself reiRned about
$500 b. G. No fewer than FL 900 cuneiform
tablets and inscribed fragments, many Of
which are Of the utmost historic impor-
tance, have been brought away by the ex-
plorers acting for the University Of Penn
sylvania- The section on Egypt and
tho Mediterranean has continued to CO.
operate with DR.. w. NJ FLrNDERs-PErRIE
and It is pointed out in the report
Of the Secretary OF the Archaeological
School that from the site of ancient
Koptos, explored in 1894, important tenn
pie sculptures belonging to the eleventh
dynasty 5000 B. c. were obtained. as well
as an interesting series Of objects. spanning
Egypt's historical existence down to the
Roman period. In 1905 DR.. FLINDERS
PETRIE made his surprising discovery Of
traces of foreign invasion Of Egypt, which
occurred about $500 b. G. A large collec-
tion Of objects from the towns and metro
poles of the invaders near Ballas and
Nagada. as we'll as many pottery and stone
vessels Of the pyramid builders, were sent
TO the museum Of the University OF Penn
sylvania as its share Of the products Of the
seasons labor.
Tho report Of the librarian shows that
during the last two years the University Of
Pennsylvania acquired moro than 25, 900
bound volumes and 10000 unbound vol
umes and pamphlets. The most important
addition was that of the Bechstein Library
Of Germanic Philology and Literature. The
total number OF bound volumes In the gen.
eral and special libraries of this institution
amounts to 1873, ,7e1. There are 80, 900 un-
bound volumes and pamphlets. We should
also mention that suitable provision has
at last been made for the daily life OF the
students of the University Of Pennsylvania.
About one-third Of the projected dormi-
tory system has been completed. The build
ings are we'll constructed. hygienic. COM
Portable, and beautiful. Although they are
In one block, they are In reality separate
houses. with the doors opening on two
courts. There are lavatories and shower
baths upon every floor and every staircase.
The woodwork Of the interior Is of oak,
and the fittings throughout are artistic.
Through the liberality of friends OF the
university, 1t has been made possible to
furnish these rooms, a thing which Is not
done In most college dormitories. A new
dining hall has been erected on one corner Of
the old athletic field, and arrangements have
been made for furnishing wholesome food
to students at reasonable price. Another
recent adjunct Of Importance to tho st students'
life Is the building known as Howard Hous-
ton Hall. a university club house. which was
opened in January, 1895. The edifce is un-
usually large, and II Is admirably equipped
for all the purposes of club. We are told
that on an average moro than 1000 stu
dents made use OF 1t daily during the spring
term OF 1906.
We should point out. finally. what, even
In Philadelphia, is imperfectly recognized,
theamount Of benencent work accomplished
by the University Of Pennsylvania In the
way Of granting free tuition to needy and
promising young men. In the year ls96-98
the total number Of scholarships was 3Os,
of which l0s were partial and 200 full
scholarships; the total value of all
granted for the year being s88.s56.
The college proper contained 100 OF the
students aided; the Department OF Philoso-
ply los, and the remainder were divided
among the Law and Medical departments,
the Veterinary School, and the Dental De-
partment. The city scholarships were 81
in number, the State scholarships ID. those
under private endowment 8, while e8S un-
endowed scholarships were granted to other
worthy applicants.
The First Lesson