Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-19
URsINUs's sEMIcENreNNlAL.
Little Town Of colleeevlile Ia Going
to Be Particularly Busy This Week.
Resoureefulness Of Philadel.
phia Lawyers
BY GEORGE NOX Mccain
DR. GEORGE NJ. OMwAKE is having ar

- exceedingly busy time this week.
DIR. tmwake "a president of tIrsinus Col
lege. and the college is celebrating its semi
centennial anniversary.
Incidentally. the College Presidents Asso-
citation is holding its session there as the
guest Of the faculty, and that adds to the
Interest Of the event.
AS II these twin events we're not enough
to provide excitement for the beautiful little
town Of Collegeville the eastern synod OF
the Reformed Church In the United States
will also hold convocation in Bomberger
Hall during the anniversary exercises.
About overy noted educator ana college
president In the state has been assigned
something to do on this gala occasion.
7 IRSINUS COLLEGE Is one of the smaller
~ colleges Of Pennsylvania. and I venture
the assertion that not one tenth Of those
WHO know, In general way, about the in
stitution have had any idea that 1t Is half
n century old.
It has been going ahead in it's quiet. unos-
tentaticusN way, educating young men and
young women and at the same time growing
slowly and increasing its usefulness and
reputation. .,
Trsinus' first sprang into the limelght
with n smash when it's famous football tenn
a few years ago tore through the lines OF
some of the biggest universities in the land
and made a record that the big fellows would
It is still in the limelight. 1t dot. not
make a speciality Of snooping around, and
cunning for football material
1t just takes the husky corn fed lads of
rural eastern Pennsylvania. and lads from
the cities, too. and molds them into shape;
tice on the fine athletic field above the
Perkiomen.
Then they go out Hnd bring home the
football bacon.
IIRSINUS. like most colleges and uni
y versities, was the outgrowth of
smaller institution.
Back in 1S4S Freeland Seminary was es.
tablished at Perkiomen Bridge. Perkiomen
Bridge. let It bc known had been built at
ford on that river In the latter part Of the
eighteenth century. Washington used the
old ford.
Freeland Seminary educated more than
1000 young men from Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Maryland and Delaware during the
twenty years Of it's existence.
It became part Of Ursinus College in
Ursinus was incorporated by the Legis-
lature in 1862 The first meeting Of it's
board Of directors was held in Philadelphia,
when committee was, appointed to select
site for the future institution.
The beauty Of the region around about
Perkiomen Bridge attracted the committee.
which recommended the purchase Of Free
land Seminary and It's incorporation as the
preparatory department Of the institution.
This was done. and the college proper opened
its doors in 1870. Instruction was begun in
September of that year.
Subsequently the name Perkiomen Bridge
was changed to Colegeville.
COLONEL THOMAS 8. MARTIN. sec.
" retary Of the Fairmount Park Commits
sion, has a memory that brims over with
"Reminiscences of old days around City Hall.
particularly during the times when William
&. Stokley was Mayor.
Mayor Stokley. by the way, held the
record as to service.
He was continually in Office as Mayor
from 1872 to 1891
Colonel Martin was unconsciousIy the
cause of Mayor stokley's refusal to carry
a gold headed cane. as was the fashion in
those days BY high city officials.
Tom Martin enjoyed intimate relations
with the Mayor because he was his personal
messenger, and had access to his Office at all
times and upon all occasions.
One morning the Mayor appeared carrying
an elaborate gold headed cane, the first he
had ever sported.
1t was gift from friend. and he was
very proud of it. Holding 1t before his per-
sonal messenger he inquired
what do you think Of that. Tom?"
With the candor of youth and his fear
lessness of the official head Of the city Mar
tin replied:
II don't think you're old enough yet to
carry a cane. Mr.. Mayor"
Mayor Stokley took the cane home with
him that night and never carried 1t again.
Martins suggestion about his age had ap-
pealed most effectively to his vanity.
DHILADELPHIA lawyers have for gen.
L crations had the reputation of being
shrewd, far seeing and resourceful, above
members OF the bars Of other cities The
expression. ut would take Philadelphia
lawyer to beat that" was. and is, an uncon-
\ friend recalls an episode that justifes
the reputation of Philadelphia lawyers.
Some years ago an amusement enterprise
in this city was annoyed or professed to be
disturbed by the rattling Of wagons hauling
bar iron across a .cobble- stone entrance to
an iron and steel warehouse nearby.
An effort was made to secure an iniunc.
tion. but this, my friend thinks. fell through.
Then other methods of nbating the nuisance
were considered
The firm that controlled the warehouse
was one Of the oldest and wealthiest iron
only wise but well up In years.
1t was finally decided by the complainants
to appeal to City Council for the passing
Of an ordinance prohibiting the driving Of
teams across pavements in the downtown
district.
Instantly the thought came up of the effect
this would have on the express wagon traffic
on the north side Of Market street between
Sixteenth and Seventeenth, where the cx-
press depots are located.
The draft of the proposed ordinance was
then changed, permitting express wagons
alone to enjoy the privilege Of driving across
the pavements.
The entrance and exit of it's teams was
absolutely necessary to the firm in question.
1t had no other entrance except to cross
the pavement.
The scheme to block the company's
business by ordinance came to an untimely
end.
Some one conveyed the information to the
amusement people that the iron firm pro
posed Incorporating an Iron and Steel Ex.
press Co.." which would bring it under the
protection Of the ordinance and thus cf-
fcctually confound and render unavailing the
we'll. plan of the other people.
o.