Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-04
A BUILDER
OF CHARACTER
Many Noted Men the Product of
Doctor Jones's Long Service
in Penn Charter
School

THE recent death OF DIR. Echard Mott
l. Jones will mean great deal to the
academic world But it will mean almost
as much to that part of life outside school
walls and directly at grips with the prob
lem of living itself. Such was the constant
mental and spiritual vIgor Of the man that,
in ali likelihood, the coming years Will
treasure his memory as much on account OF
his status as a man as a teacher. AS a
developer of character. he will be remem-
bered most of all.
This one trait, ineradicable and unchang-
ing, was, perhaps, the bedrock of his sue
cess Dying at the age of seventy-four
years, after forty-year headmastership
Of the william Penn Charter School, Doctor
Jones left behind him not only an nstitu-
ton entitled to quiet pride in its traditions,
fostered by him, but long list Of men who
have achieved success, prominence, fame
what you will. Many Of them had adj
vanced to their posts Of high honor through
the tutelage OF their old headmaster.
Doctor JOnes's faith in the efficacy of
personal mental development was immense,
certain of itself and calmly efficient When
he faced what Pater finely called "the
last curiosity" the moments preceding
DEATH he was undisturbed. His lifelong
philosophy Of perseverance rose to his lips,
and even as life ebbed away from him he
found strength to dictate letter to a
Philadelphan, whose work has not yet had
the recognition due it. Have courage my
friend ACKNOWLEDGMENT of your abilities
is coming" was the gist of IL.
II is not strange, therefore, that an i'm.
posing memorial service for this courageous
optimist Is planned for the approaching
fall. And when 1t is solemnzed. It is only
common sense to assume that pupils of
Doctor Jones' many of them prominent in
business finance, letters and science, will
be there to signify mutey by their presence
what they owed and owe to the guiding
hand and heart of Penn Charter.
Developed Great Men
The names of those who have gone out
through the great metal doors of the
school to find fortune and applause would
make up a considerably large volume in
itself, Inspired by varying ideals they
have travelled varied paths. But nearly
all of them have done what they hoped
to do and, in way, all OF them have
based their successes on the much abused
misunderstood but pregnant motto, Eff
cheney"
There is, for an example, A. Merritt Tay-
lor one of Penn Charters characteristic
products, in whom keenness of practical
vision has been interblent with idealistic
force Nodded in the form of n typical
Jones pupil. Mr.. Taylor now stands al the
head of his own sort of workers In him
as in so many men coming from Penn
Charter. one discerns the sturdy belief In
self that. when linked with executive drive
makes for great and sustained success
But ii is not only men of such specialized
training that come from the dignihed build.
ing on Twelfth street Edward B. smith
nE q -.
another type, SO is Norris wistar Stroud,
president Of the American Gas Company
The law finds many representatives in the
Alumni Register. There Is Joseph Breyitt
Townsend, Jr., of Townsend, Elliott &
Munson; George Vaux. Jr., Of Shipley &
VauX' and others whose repute before the
bar is acknowledged
Proof of the catholicity of the Penn Char.
ter regime Ii afforded in the names OF grad.
yates who, affiliatng themselves with the
arts, have been enrolled as experts i'm pen.
craft Stephen b, l.. Penrose, presiden,
and professor of philosophy of Whitman
College, might be chosen as fair sample
Of what intensive brain-training has accom-.
plshed. Charles Belmont Davis, well known
as he is for his graphic, vivid stories and
stage annals, comes from Penn Charter
though not many Philadelphians seem te
know 1t. William r. Nicholson, Jr., medi.
cal scholar and savant, owes his juvenil,
urge toward that branch of learning to tn,
alma mater of his youth as much as to his
own ambitions and talents.
Vice Provost Josiah III. Penniman, of thu
University Of Pennsylvania. student OF
English and monograph writer of individu
ality and distinction used to carry hi,
books down Twelfth street. Edgar NJ Dill
ley writer of romances and lyricst Her
bert Adams Gibbons, war correspondent ant
historian Rupert s. Holland--all these hav,
the proud pleasure of looking backward
through the years TO their bovhood spent u
the atmosphere of strong and hearty prac
tIcal idealism. Naturally there was some
/ impelled them 20 their preseut status II
eheIr chosen pFefsa9es - hs1 ~