Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-01-04

DR.. Richard william Sylvester,
whom declining health IL lDl2iorcsdhim
10 retire after 20 years presidency Of
the Maryland Agricultural College,
1t College Park, Nd, died shortly az
ter noon yesterday from pneumonia,
at the Union Protestant Iniirmary.
DR.. Sylvester became III three days
ago, and was brought at once from his
home at Oquasco, Prince Georges
county, to the Ballimore hospital Il
was seen from the first that his condi-
tion was acute, and since Saturday his
death had been expected With him
at the end we're his wife. his daughter,
Miss Virginia L. Sylvester, and son,
DR., Richard lee Sylvester, chief resi-
dent physician at the Hospital for the
Women Of Maryland.
The body viii leave here this even
ing by boat for Norfolk and funeral
raj services will ID conducted tomor-
row morning in Portsmouth. Burial
will be in thc cemetery at Portsmouth,,
in which the parents OF DR.. Sylvester
AFRO inferred
Dir. Sylvester. having ins,lnctively a
love for nature that was bis birthrlglt
as a farmer hoy, being imbued with
tlw idea that farming should beelevat-
81 to the degrec OF science and posses.
sing wiihaI unusual ablliiy TO dlsSea-
mate by teaching The convictions that
determined his career, attained high
piacc among Maryland : educators.
When be left tie college after COM
plcting two decades Us its director he
had built Il up from a modest one
building school with q handful OF
students TO a great institution, housed
In half a dozen big structures which
was looked upon as oi.ie Of The fore.
most agricultural colleges Of the ma
ton.
Tie had done more; he had been
largely Instrumental in planting The
seed Of new agricultural era IN
Maryland. For years no had occurred
before farmers institutes, he had
taught the sons Of these men new and
economical principles Of agriculture,
add 70 ether educators he had given
his message, addressing annually
large numbers OF teachers bodies
And biennially, throughout bis nd.
ministration, he had hammered away
at Legislatures until the States APP
preparations for the college kept up
with the Institutions rapid expansion.
DIR. Sylvester was born In Norfolk
September 10, 1867, and was The son
Of The late w. w. and Virginia Lind
say) Sylvester His father was vir-
ginia planter Of the old school and tho
son spent his boyhood on the planta
ton. His family dates back 10 Amcri.
ca 10 1864, when The first silvcs,er
came from England and settled At
Great Mills. Norfolk county, Va DR.
silycsler's grandfather was Or. Rich
ard william Sylvester. a well.known
specialist on yellow fever al time
when that disease was DIE most serious
plague with which the south had TO
grapple.
During his boyhood Dr. Sylvester
spent large part Of his snare time
reading such authors as Dickens aud
Thackary aud Victor Hugo-he used
20 say chat "fHs Miserablesn made
more Of an impression on his mind
than any other book except tho Bible
lie attended tue public schools Of Nor
folk county, then crsteawh1M Virginia
.Mibie4s- lrssAtuss'-. q f1singsoai. -ltrrr-
which no was graduated IN 1877 with
the degree al master 81 science.
His ssathIng career began when he
becone Instructor 10 natural sciences
ana mathematics Ia Charlotte Hall
Acadosay ii 81. Mary'a county, Nd.
10 lssa be was madc a full professor
NJ the academy. He always had tho
desire 10 60 back 70 farm life, Ia
theory II not actually, 50 he gladly
accepted his appointment in 1892 as
president OF The State college.
on April II, 1888, DO married Mas
Lucy Lee Bowen, daughter Of phiian.
der Bowen, Of woodlcigh, d. G. She,
his son and his daughter make Up Che
surviving family.
Since his retirement Or. Sllyesier's
health had not permitted him 10 en-
gage IN any actiYe pursuit. His home,
not far from College Park, IA out IN
the farming country that had been his
delight and inspiration throughout his
career, and be was we'll content TO
spend his waning years in reading and
keeping In touch with Maryland's de-
veloping rural life, u was this love
for Maryland that caused him some
years ago decline catering offer 10
become president OF weil'knowu uns-
versity on the Pacific Coast.
DR.. Sylvester was member Of the
Episcopal Church, and was active in
the parish work at Aqnasco. Sun o.
January l.
Danger Signal.