Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-12
PENNYPACKER
SELLS LIBRARY
Governor Disposes of Valuable
Collection Of Literature and
Antiques
rENSYpAcKER AuroproaRApHY-So. "a

Al THIS Juncture concluded to sell tho
A greater part Of my library. 1t was the
most complete collection of the early litera-
ture relating TO Pennsylvania which any
individual had ever possessed. It Is i'm.
possible that any man shall ever again
have ono of like Importance. To part with
II was to tear up forty years Of my life
by the roots. / had maue n secret cove.
nant with tho Commonwealth, unknown
TO the Commonwealth, that IL my future
wero provided for by return TO tho
bench or otherwise, this record OF its life
should be preserved intact. Ono of tho
consequences Of it's failure to keep this
unknown covenant Is the loss which hap.
pened, greater to it than to me. I kept
the faith for two years and half. During
that tme tho books, 10000 Of them, had
remained in my house in town, a house
which cost me s13,oOOs could not rent
the house, or sell IT, because there were
the books. They were ever In danger of
fire. They were ever In danger Of theft.
and now the time had come when It be.
came manifest to mo that no dependence
was to be placed upon the promises OF
the politicians, that the people we're utterly
Indifferent, and that II was necessary for
me to be giving somo attention TO my own
needs. Retaining two or three thousand
books relating to the family and to the
neighborhood Of my home. the Mennonite
books tho Schwenkfelder books and those
of special interest and affection, the rest
were sold. was too busy with the affairs
Of the State to give the sales attention.
Tho auctioneers were, more or less. care
less and untrue 70 their contract, and what
could have myself sold without expense,
could have given the time to 1t, for s75,.
900 or more. netted me between $4,000 and
s2S,0oo. Then rented my house.
Chester Republicans Celebrate
Tho Republicans OF Chester County on
the 9th Of September celebrated the flftieth
anniversary Of the founding Of the party.
About 10000 people gathered at West Ches-
ter. Vice President Fairbanks and rode
around in a barouche together and. with
Marlin Il. Olmsted. ono of the very ablest
men In the State. made speeches. Trans
portation was overburdened and rode TO
Phoenixville In n baggage car sitting on
a chest.
On the 18th, along with n. B. Critchfeld.
Secretary Of Agriculture. went to Rich.
land, In Lebanon County. to overlook tho
farm of Isaac S. Long, who is the cham.
pion corn grower OF tho United States.
He has succeeded in raising 140 bushels
Of shelled corn to the acre. He hopes TO
reach 200 bushels. Upon land naturally
fertile he applies barnyard manure and
lime heavily and eschews commercial fer
tizers. While the corn Is growing no
goes through his field and selects tho ears
for seed and tho seed is kept warm
through the winter. He rejects every
stalk bearing two ears, contending that
one well-developed ear is preferable. He
sells seed corn in New York at SIS a bushel.
Upon my pointing out a quantity Of wild
carrots on his place he said they were
not Objectionable, since tho long roots went
down into the subsoil and aided in render.
ing It available.
On the 2Sth, as chairman OF o. commits.
sion, consisting Of Colonel John p. Nichol-
son, Daniel Eberly and myself presented
the statue In bronze OF a private cavalry.
man on his horse to the care OF the Dor.
ough of Hanover. erected by the State to
commemorate tho cavalry battle there an
figure and a success. When began to
speak the cannon began to boom a salute
and every elk words were punctuated with
a shot.
Harrisburg had n home week during the
first week in October andswas given up to
festivities and celebrations. On Tuesday,
from a stand in the park. General Horace
Porter, former Governor William A. Stone,
General Thomas ]. Stewart and made
addresses. Porter. a rugged-looking man. a
brigadier close to Grant. and later Minister
to France, belongs to a family which has
contributed more men Of distinction to pub
sylvania. olmsted always efficient. had
general charge Of the demonstration.
A Deeper Delaware
The Legislature, upon my insistsnce.
had made an appropriation Of S375,000 to
the city of Philadelphia to assist in deepen.
ing the channel Of the Delaware upon con-
dition that the city devote similar sum to
the purpose. Neither Mayor Weaver nor
any one else in Philadelphia gave the
matter the slightest attention and the Coun-
cils were about to adjourn. I then wrote
to the Mayor, telling him II was a subject
of the utmost importance. The letter was
made public, Councils made the additional
appropriation. and I saw that the check
was sent by the State Treasurer. 1t was
the first direct aid given by the State to
that city in modern times.
There was a Republican meeting In the
Academy Of Music, Philadelphia, on the
18th Of October. 1t was a gloomy time
Everybody had the sense that defeat was
coming. Fairbanks. Taft, Foraker, Knox
and Carson all declined to be present, and
the newspapers said would not go. Those
around me at Harrisburg advised me not
to Identify myself with failing cause
Penrose wrote me q pathetic letter. It
was q situation which appealed TO man.