Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-17

ment of the colleges business affairs
BY his agreement with the board it If was Is
understood that Isaac Sharpless was
TO have the profits up to a certain max.
mum. Under his management the
coilege returned financial profit for
the hrst time in many years, 1t was
characteristic of the man that he then
refused to continue this Arrangement,
saying that he felt the temptation
would be too strong to cheapen the
college for his personal benefit. But
he continued in charge of the perlex-
ing problems of college discipline and
curriculum.
Secured Able staff
The young teacher threw himself
with enthusiasm into his task. which
was by no means a light one. The first
prob lem he attacked was to strengthen
the faculty by getting scholars second
to none on his staff.
Doctor Sharpless was always content
to let the question of numbers or mate
rlal equipment come after that of in
tellectual resources: and though him
self an engineer and scientist by train
ing, he adhered firmly to the original
idea of the founders. that the college was
to be home of general cultural train
ing. with particular insistence on the
arts courses. rather than a place for
specialized study of engineering and
technical branches better left to the
large universities. y
There was something of old time sim
plicity in Doctor Sharpless's character
which never failed of its effect o. his
students. 1t was his custom, until
very recent years, to keep in personal
touch with every class entering the col
lege by giving them two courses him
self.
Called Ike" Behind Back
The newly entered freshman class al
ways sat under him in his course in
government. in which he laid especiaI
stress on the political responsibilities of
educated men, and in which the bows
who were fresh from preparatory schools
first learned something of the fine and
vigorous manhood in that tall rather
stern figure they called with furtive
affection. Ike
And then again. in the last term of
their senior year, they went to him for
lectures on ethics, in which he rounded
out and summed up the fruits of their
four years experience, and with many
a homely and humorous parable left n
message of human courage and shrewJ.
ness an1 devotion which they never for
got.
Doctor Sharpless' S zeal for clean noli
ties was shown in many public meet
ing and campaign, particularly in 1906
when he ran as a candidate for the Leg
islature against the machine. His fa
vorite and indeed his only recreation
was fishing. Probably nothing ever
gave him greater pleasure than a very
fine set of fishing tackle given him by
the alumni some years ago
Wrote Newspaper Articles
His interests were wide. In the early
days of his Haverford connection he
wrote popular articles on astronomy for
the PUBLIC LEDGER.
Doctor Sharpless, in "The American
College" gave brief picture of the
tasks and duties of the college presi
dent. in which he unconsciously drew a
portrait of himself.
No better description of the mans
true character could be given than these.
his own words:
''iIe is not primarily taskmaster or
disciplinarian. but man who is giving
his life for a cause, and not only for an
vidunls; that he has message for them
which he must deliver, and that he feels
that the very future of one or more Of
them lies in the proper use of that
power. When he thus feels he will
preach, and his sermon will not be
forgotten by some of them