Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-21

1
Il As soon as land and vessels can be pur-
chased Girard College boys who long for a
sailor's life will go to sea in their own
ships sailing from their own wharves. They
will learn seamanship and navigate and
Gt themselves for a maritime career
In keeping with the wave of preparedness
that is sweeping the country the course
will f1t the boys for naval work in emer-
gencies. They will learn the rudiments
Of sea a-fghting-navigation and seamanship.
The instruction is not officially part of the
Preparedness program. but friends of the
instituti6n point out that the maritime train
ing planned for the boys might prove in
valuable some day In direction other
than that Of ocean commerce.
Never before in the history of the coun-
ny, It Is pointed out. has the opportu-
nity for a successful career as an officer
in the merchant marine been so great The
Government will spend millions in develop
ing its own merchant service. Private ships
will carry the American flag to every port
on the seven seas, and the crying need will
~ for capable officers.
This is keenly realized by the board Of
directors of City Trusts which has charge of
Girard College The present institution will
be maintained, but the will of Stephen
Girard will be followed out to the letter in
that as many Girard College boys as want
to will be sent to sea. Thus they will learn
the art that brought the millions of dollars
into the Golfers of the great merchant.
That Stephen Grard fully intended the
boys attending his college should learn to
be sailors IL they wished to. is shown in the
paragraph in his will outlining the courses
OF study for the college. This paragraph
reads: They shall be instructed in the
various branches Of sound education.
comprehendng reading, writing, grammar,
AT1thmatiCs RpORranhV
ing. practical mathematics, astronomy,
natural chemical and experimental philoso-
ply, the French and Spanish languages I
do not forbid, but do not recommend the
Greek and Latin languages) and such
other lesening and science as the capacities
of the several scholars may merit or war
rant. would have them taught facts and
things rather than words or signs"
" Thus. to teach the boys navigation"
and facts and things the trustees of the
college feel justified in spending as many
Of the millions entrusted to their care as
may be required in giving the boys a sound
nautical education. They realize that navi-
cation Cannot be learned in a classroom !;
practical work is necessary II the student
n to be come capable. practical officer
John NJ Campbell. vice president of the
Board of City Trusts, explained the situa-
tion.
I'VE are working on the plan now" he
Brown Is chairman of the committee in
charge of the matter. AS soon as we can
hnd the piece of land want we will buy
II and go right ahead with the work.
SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY
''rhere is a splendid opportunity existing
Tor boys who want to go into the merchant
marine. Time presses--it will not be long
before the need for officers will become very
urgent. Ships are building everywhere
thaxy a 1ai nd tba,t ha
offlcered.
'Our plan. in brief. is to combine two
projects. We want a large farm for the
boys who wish to learn farming. This
farm is to be along the waters edge-salt
water preferably so we can make 1t the
home port for our training ship or our fleet,
rs the case may be.
Our means are ample for any project
Of the sort. It is rather difficult, however,
TO find just the place we want We had
q place picked out recently on the western
shore Of Chesapeake Bay, in the State of
Maryland, but some of the members of the
board objected because II was in another
State. so we gave up the idea of buying.
The place was subsequently bought by
Abraham L. English. former Director of
Public Safety in this city.
SITES ON DELAWARE
THE sites we are now considering are
along the Delaware River and on the shore
of Delaware Bay. We want "A large farm.
as have said. and then. along the waters
edge we Will construct wharves, docks and
suitable buildings, where we may berth our
ships We may have a fleet IL enough boys
apply for instruction"
The vessels will be sailing ships, It Is
J said. as most Of the big lines prefer men
who have been trained lin sail" before they
engage them as officers on steamships, as
the sailing ship trained men make the best
seamen There is one difficulty-a trained
merchant officer must understand the loading
OF vessels. This might be overcome by
having the Girard College ships carry real
cargoes from port to port, thus more than
earning their upkeep. This is a phase of
the matter, however, that has not been
gone into as yet by the sponsors of the idea
DR.. Cheesman A. Herrick. president OF
Girard College. suggested today that the
matter might be so arranged that every boy
IN Girard College, regardless of the course
he might take. could have cruise of al
least six months on one of the scholarships
Il would like to see a schoolship trip made
part OF every course" he said For in
stance. think 1t would be good idea for
every boy to take a six months' cruise some
time during his stay at the college. probably
~ the end of his time. Thus he would be
able to make trip to Europe. visit the
principal ports and points of interest. and
round out his education.
M Il. for one. am not entirely in favor OF
having the farm and schoolshp docks COM
bined. I fear the farm might interfere
with the nautical end. and the nautical
end interfere with the farm. For that rea-
sPn. ! myself feel the farm had better be
ptAced inland, instead OF on tidewater, as
hAe been suggested. About $50 of our
erfoIhnent Of 1910 boys. think. would take
~ farming course. How many of the pal-
onee would take the nautical course ii is,
q ePnrse. hard at this time to say,