The times., 1898-05-16
FATHER RICHARDS TO RETIRE
President Of Georgetown University
Broken Down by OverwOrk.

Broken Down by 0verwork.
The semi official announcement in the
Boston Pilot of Saturday of the retire
ment Of the Rev ]. Haven Richards, S.
j., who for ten years has been president
of the Georgetown University, was noted
with extreme regret by his host of friends
in Washington and elsewhere. Sorrow at
the retirement of this distinguished edu
Gator from active university work Is
greatly increased because of the fact that
accompanying the report is the news OF
his rapidly falling health.
Several of the faculty of the university
We're seen yesterday, but they could not
either affirm nor deny the report. for the
reason that if Father Richards is to be
retired ii is a matter with which the fac
ulty would have nothing TO do 1t is a
matter wholly within the jurisdiction of
the council for this province of the Order
of the Society of Jesus, and it would act
without consulting the faculty as to the
necessity or eXpediency of such a step.
And. without intending any discourtesy
TO the Rev. Father Richards. who is be-
loved by all who know him, Ii may be
stated that IL is not his TO resign, but
merely to act in accordance with the
wishes of the council of the province.
From all the circumstances connected
with the rumor. there is very little room
to doubt its truth. especially as the cause
given for the retirement is ill-health. 1t
is known that for over two months
Father Richards has been in extremely
bad health; in fact, he has completely
broken down and for some time has been
at Atlantic City taking a much-needed
rest. 1t has been stated that he has suf-
fered from nervous prostration but IL is
I co Il rlln 11@e IS ~
real cause of his failing health is too
close and intent application to the multi
tudinous duties which devolve on him as
president of the Georgetown University.
Since his advent to Washington, Father
Richards has been closely identified with
every undertaking tending to the devel-
opment of higher education. His last act
to advance the condition of a large class
of the people of Washington but more
especially the residents of Georgetown
was in the establishment of a hospital,
to be located somewhere in the western
section of the city. In this he had the
hearty support Of many of the most promi-
nent people of the city irrespective Of
religious creed.
Under his administration there has been
improvements in the way of equipment
and extension and enlargement of all the
| departments of the university.
He succeeded the Rev. James A. Doom
an, S. j., in this important charge early
in 1889, making his first important public
appearance at the magnificent celebra-
! ton of the centenary of the college.
He finished in detail the noble new col
| lege building erected by his predecessor,
adding the Riggs Library and the Mu-
scum, and equipping the Observatory with
its great telescope The Dahlgren Memo
rial Chapel has also been built in his
| time.
Father Richards strengthened the uni
versity in all its departments, and devel
| oped the postgraduate course.
| He was deeply interested in the George
| town College Journal which, one of the
/ first in order of time of-American college
! journals has also come into the from
| rank in excellence.
Father Richards is a profound scholar
! and a well-equipped and effective public
! speaker.