The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23
The University Of tho Proletariat.

The University Of tho Proletariat.
The twenty-ninth annual report OF the |
Directors Of City Trusts OF Philadelphia |
sets forth in an appendix the statements |
rendered on Jan. Of the current year by |
the authorities Of Girard College. The ex-
tent and the kind OF educational work per-
formed by this unique institution are i'm |
perfectly comprehended outside Of the city |
and State to which It's usefulness is. practi- |
cally, confined. The efficiency and progress
of Girard College deserve, however, general |
attention by reason Of the specific aim which |
it's founder had in view, and which has never
been lost sight Of Although, in respect OF
the buildings in which it is lodged, and the
funds at it's disposal, this establishment |
may be compared with almost any seat Of
learning in the world. it does not under |
take to fit young men for any OF the So
called liberal professions, or even to pre-
pare them to enter colleges proper or pro-
fessional schools, but limits itself to the
task Of qualifying them for success in one
or another industrial calling II the in
stituton were situated in Europe, Girard
College would be described as the univer-
sity Of the proletariat.
When STEPHEN GIRARD died on Dec. 20,
1891, he was reputed to be- next to JOHN
JACOB Aston, the richest man in the United
States. The value Of his estate was over
estimated. but it probably amounted to
between Ave and seven millions of dollars
He left by his will tract Of land on which
the Girard College buildings were to be
erected, and the sum Of two million dollars
for building purposes. To the maintenance
Of the institution was devoted the entire
residue OF the estate, residue computed
at the time to be worth three and a quarter
million dollars. Much Of the property was
lost to the fund, including some very vaiua-
BILE coal lands, but, in spite OF all losses
and depreciations, the fund has increased
to over twenty million dollars, exclusive Of
the college grounds and buildings. The
income, when the fund was received by the
city Of Philadelphia, amounted to between
sixty and seventy thousand dollars per
onnum. BY 1s4s, when tho buildings
were completed and the institution was
opened, the annual income had increased
TO S11s,O0o; and it is now about million
dollars, after all deductions have been made
for expenses OF collection and for repairs
on real estate.
The number of pupils originally con-
templated was 800. The number now
lodged and taught is 1.53s. In fifty years
the number OF buildings has increased from
five to nineteen. The staff OF instructors
includes, besides a President, u Yice-Presi-
dent and II librarian, sixteen male profess
sors; there are also thirty-cight female
teachers, to whose charge, for the most
part, the younger boys are committed
III the so-called mechanical school, which is
an adjunct to the original institution, there
are seven male teachers, besides the super
ntendent We should mention that tho
pupils are distributed in four forms or
classes, the fourth form being the highest.
Boys are admissible. under conditions to
be noted presently, between the ages OF
and 10, and are discharged at the age of
1 3 unless employment has been previously
secured for them.
The conditions Of admission and tho
scope OF the instruction to be given are
carefully defined in GIBARDs will, and no
bacterial departure has been made from
its provisions. The college was founded to
receive as many poor white male orphans
1.-THE word orphan has been construed In
Pennsylvania to mean fatherless child be-
tween tho age OF 8 and 10 years as the In
come shall be adequate to maintain" The
will further declares THAT those scholars
that shall merit il shall remain in the col
lege until they shall respectively arrive
at between Ia and Is years of age; they
shall then he bound out by the Mayor Al
dermen and citizens of Philadelphia, or
under their direction, to suitable occupa-
tons" AS to the locality from which the
beneticiaries are to he drawn. the rule ia
laid down that, whenever there are
moro applicants than vacancies a pref
erence shall be- given, FIRST, to orphans
born in the city Of Philadelphia ICON
strued to mean the old city. with the
limits which existed at GIRARD's DEATH;
secondly, to those born in any other part OF
Pennsylvania; thirdly, to those born in the
| city OF New York that being the first port
! on the continent of North America at which
arrived; and, lastly, to those born in the
| city OF New Orleans (being the first port on
the said continent at which traded"
The will goes on to recite that the orphans
admitted into the college shall be there fed
with plain but wholesome food, clothed
with plain but decent apparel mo distinctive
dress ever to be worm, and lodged in plain
but safe manner. Due regard shall be paid
| to their health, and, to this end, their per-
| cons and clothes shall be kept clean, and
! they shall have suitable aud rational erer-
cise and recreation" The words which We
| have italicized seem TO justify tho erection
| OF q gymnasium. They have been already
construed to authorize military drill.
As regards the rangeo of teaching, GIRARD
4 ha In or cd