Swarthmore College - Halcyon Yearbook (Swarthmore, PA)

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When shall we meet his like again ? May we all profit by his beautiful example ! Profundity of thought, thoroughness of research, and a simplicity that was truly childlike, were alike the characteristics of the two non-resi- dent Professors that Swarthmore was so fortunate as to claim as hers at this period — Dr. Joseph Thomas and Dr. Joseph Leidy. Although the limits of this chapter will not permit an extended allu- sion to the great loss which the College suffered this year in the death of three valuable members of the Board, all called home within the period of four months, the honored and beloved names of Anna M. Hopper (the daughter of Lucretia Mott), that strong, clear intellect, united with great practical ability, qualifying her for a wide field of usefulness in the active government of the College ; William Dorsey, whose voice was so frequently heard in our earlier conferences in behalf of the College, and whose dis tinct utterances always carried irresistible conviction to doubtful minds, and S. B. Worth, one who contributed largely to the material interests of Swarthmore, and was one upon whom we could always confidently call in cases of real need — these three friends, I say, whose abiding interest in Swarthmore so thoroughly united them in life, and who in their death were not divided, must have here at least this passing word. During this sixth year the number of college students reached 99, being an increase over the number of any previous year. Keeping in view, as always, the full development of the college proper, a continued effort was made so to arrange the courses of study as to give satisfaction to the largest number, and to encourage regularity on the part of the students in the pursuit of these courses, both for their own advantage and the advan- tage of the College as well. Upon this point the Managers speak as follows in their report for the present year : Great care is taken to encourage all students, as far as possible, to pursue one of the regular courses of study provided. Of the few who are irregular, some are preparing to enter the regular course next year, others having but a short time to remain with us, are devoting that time to special branches in which they are most deficient, or which they expect to find most useful in the pursuits in which they are soon to be engaged. Our 14

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... The principles of our religious society are taught in that most effec- tive of all ways, the lessons of daily life and example, while spoken words, in season, are not neglected. The Managers feel deeply impressed with the conviction that they would be reporting but a part, and that the least im- portant part of the work which is being accomplished at Swarthmore, were no allusion made to the religious training which the students here receive. It is believed that the more than two decades of experience which have elapsed since these words were uttered have confirmed the judgment of the Managers then expressed. At the close of this year seven students were graduated, five in the classical and two in the scientific course. We now come to consider the sixth year of the College (1874-5), which opened with the same seven members of the Faculty as the preced- ing, strengthened by the well-deserved appointment of Susan J. Cunning- ham, now appointed full Professor of Mathematics, and to a seat in the Faculty of Government. Although without the title, she had practically performed the duties of Professor of Mathematics since the opening of the College in 1869. Of the four resident graduates of the preceding year, three continued to occupy the same position as instructors the present year, and Helen Magill, A. B., was appointed President ' s Secretary and Instruc- tor in Gymnastics. A few other changes were made in the Department of Instruction, but to refer to each by name would transcend the limits of this chapter. The appointment at this time of Dr. Joseph Thomas, LL. D., as non- resident Professor of English Literature, whose lectures were so highly enjoyed, and whose scholarly influence in the College was so profoundly felt for a number of years, must not be passed over in silence. I am sure that the Alumni and ex-students of those earlier years would never pardon the omission if I should not give him, even in this hasty and imperfect sketch, a passing word. Long shall we all remember his kindly, genial smile, his encouraging words, his striking maxims, and that fullness of his subject and familiarity with it which reminded one constantly of his oft- repeated words, r embarrars de richesses, and of which he was himself so conspicuous an example. Peace to his ashes ! The good old man ! 13

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views expressed last year are still unchanged, that, even for those intending to take a short course, the regular work of the class to which they belong is, upon the whole, the most advantageous ; the three full courses of study now open to our students, the Classical, and the two branches of the Scien- tific course, the Mechanical and the Chemical, furnishing all the elec- tives that can, with advantage, be chosen, or that could reasonably be desired. Of the 99 students this year 86 were pursuing entirely regular courses, and several of the others hoped to become regular before the close of the year. This indicated a healthy intellectual condition of the College. It was at the beginning of this year that a real commencement was made of diminishing the number of classes in the Preparatory school by dropping the Third, or lowest section of Class C. This seems to us now like a very small beginning, leaving as it did 44 in Class A, 49 in Class B, 58 in Class C, and 11 unclassified, or 162 in all in the Preparatory school ; but it was a beginning, and it has gone on steadily until now, just twenty years later, all of the classes of the Preparatory school are gone, and we have a number of good Friends schools over the country which are pre- paring for Swarthmore, including the latest organized, and which ranks among the best, the excellent Swarthmore Grammar School in this town, which prepares students well for our Freshman class. This is the de- sideratum which so many of us have long desired, and which we rejoice to see at last successfully accomplished. The heads of our present excellent and advanced departments of Physics and Chemistry will smile to read this humble statement sent out this year : A course upon Physics and one upon Chemistry have been opened this year for the first time, and are delivered weekly to Class A. These two courses are open to any of the members of the Preparatory school. But they must remember that that was the day of small things, and that great oaks from little acorns grow. It was in this sixth year also that the Department of Free-hand Draw- ing was remodeled, and the modern system introduced of studying the laws of perspective in a practical way, copying at once from models and from 15