West Chester University - Serpentine Yearbook (West Chester, PA)

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THE SERPENTINE ciety occurred only a few years later, in 1879. The friendly rivalry existing- be- tween these societies has served to keep them always at a high standard of effi- ciency. Since 1892. The Amulet, a high-class school periodical, has been a potent factor in the school life. In 1890 there was organized a strong Young Men ' s Chris- tian Association, to be followed the year after fy the formation of a Young ' omen ' s Association, which have had large influence on the life of the members. Sabbath and mid-week devotional exercises and Sunday morning Bible Classes have been features of the school life for years. For the past twenty-seven years there has been an annual winter course of lectures given in the school chapel for the benefit of the students. To even enumerate the distinguished men and women who have been heard here would require more space than it seems desirable to give. Suffice it to say that they include the most eminent in their res])ective spheres which the country has produced, comprising scholars, statesmen, educators, men of letters, jurists, ex- plorers, artists and nuisicians. The general character of these courses may best be illustrated by the mention of a few names : Three Presidents, Wilson, Taft, and RoQseyelt; one Vice-President, Fairbanks; Speakers of the House of Representa- tives, Senators, Cabinet ofiicers, Justices of the Supreme Court, and other promi- nent public officials have appeared here. Many Presidents of the great Universities and leading Colleges of the country are included in this notable list. Among the musicians may be mentioned : Madam Hcnier, David Bispham, Josef Hofman, Wm. H. Sherwood, Madam Samaroff, and others equally well known. Among the Ex]2l(2i£i:3, nien as: Commander Robert E. Peary and Paul B. du Chaillu. Au- thors, including: Edward b ' verett Hale, William Dean Howells, Henry VanDyke, Thomas Wentworth Iligginson, (ieorge W. Cable, James Whitcomb Riley, Ed- ward Eggleston, Horace Howard Furness, Edward Markham, Hamilton Mabie and Julia Ward Howe. The annual trip of the Senior Class to Washington, D.C., under the guidance of the Principal and other faculty members has proven a valuable educational fea- ture in the final year ' s work. Among the new and advanced educational features open to the students of the school are the courses which were established last year by the University of Penn- sj ' lvania, by means of which they are enabled to take courses here under the regular University Professors and receive credit toward University work. lany of the students are this year carrying such courses while pursuing the regular Normal work, and will be enabled thereby to materiallv shorten their courses when then en- ter that institution. The Department ofPhysical Training has for the past thirteen years, in addi- tion to its regular gymnastic and athletic Closed Meets, also conducted an annual Open Meet, to which all High Schools, Preparatory, Technical, and Normal Schools of the State are eligible. From twenty to thirty or more schools yearly compete here on Wayne Field. The greatest care has been exercised to conduct these ac- cording to the most approved methods and to foster in every way clean sport and

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CLASS NINETEEN FIFTEEN The most rapid growth and the greatest develc)]Miient in the school liave taken place during Dr. Philips ' administration. To .speak of the school, its achievements and characteristics is but to enumerate the traits and qualities of its guiding genius, to whose executive ability, unflagging devotion, rare judgment and indomitable courage, the school owes more than any other person. With a jjower of effective and sustained work that almost surpasses comprehension, he unites an ecpiallv re- markable faculty of divining the needs of the future and an ability of so shaping in- fluences and circumstances as to effect their realization. In 1S78 the growth of the school made necessary an addition to the building, and in that year the north wing was constructed to meet the new demands. In 1882 more room was re(|uired and the south wing was added. Next followed, in 1S85, the laundry and museum. During the succeeding year, 1886-7, the Chapel, Dining Room and Sanitary Towers were built. In i8qo the Gymnasium was erected, to be followed in the next three years, in the order named, by the Principal ' s Residence, Infirmary, Recitation Hall, new kitchen and store room. In 181 ) acti ' e l)uilding operations were again made necessary and a handsome AIndel Schf)ol was erected. Nineteen hundred three witnessed the completion of the beautiful and commodious Library Building. A large central Power Plant and Laundry were added in 1905. Wayne Hall (Boys ' Dormitory), the Annex to the Girls ' Dormitory, and a new Kitclien, including store room, l)akery and serx-ants ' dining room, were completed in 191 1. These extensive Ijuilding operations made necessary the purchase of further building sites. Very early in the history of the school four acres were added to the north end of the original cam]nis. Tlie need of an Infirmary and . thletic Field was met by purchasing, in 1899, a tract of fi ' e acres southeast of the campus. In 1895 the large grounds of the Chester County . gricultural Society (Fair Grounds), lying west of the cam])us, was ])urchased, and christened W avne Field. . portion of the northern end of this was used for the erection of the power plant. L ' pon the central ]K)rtion a fine fjuarter-mile running track and base ball field were built, ad- joining which a spacious Grand Stand with dressing rooms was erected. The south- eastern part of this tract is now occupied by Wayne Hall. These additions of prop- erty now gi -e a school campus consisting of fort -eight acres, which has been taste- fully planted with trees and shrubs, forming a suitable setting for this notable group of green-stone buildings. . side from the many direct and obvious educational features there are number- less indirect, less apparent, but almost eqiiall - potent inlhiences which make for higher culture, and better manhood and womanhood. This school has l)een notable for the number of these valuable accessories to the intellectual and moral uplift of its students. . lmost everv student of the school becomes a member of one of the flourishing literary societies. The older of these, The Moore Literary Society, was organized within a very short time after the school was opened. The birth of the .Aryan So- 17

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CLASS NINETEEN FIFTEEN high athletic standards. These Meets have served to make the school widely and well known in athletic circles, and have demonstrated what such contests should be. Every branch ot athletics eng-aged in at the school has been singularly free from any taint of professionalism or other questionable methods. True sportsmansliip and the strict amateur spirit has been the sole aim. The course of study and the standard of scholarship have been steadily raised. lr(im the opening of the school until 1903 the regular course was two years. Be- ginning with 1903 a three ears course was reipiired. Since 1913 a four years course has been in efTect. In addition to turning out thousands of the l)est etpiipped teachers for the pub- lic and ])rivate schools of the State, this school has furnished from its Faculty. Princi])als fur four other State Xormal Schools, as well as superior men and wo- men for (jther high educational positions. The recently-established courses in Agriculture and Domestic Science ha ' e proved a great success and have materiall) increased the efficiency of the curricu- lum. The past year has furnished greater opportunity for ])ractice teaching in the rural school, a fact which is much appreciated by the students. With a Board of Trustees presided over by the able and tried veteran. Captain R. T. Cornwell, Secretary of the first Board, organized in 1871 ; with one of the most distinguished citizens and foremost educators West Chester and the State of Pennsylvania have known. Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock; and men of the integritv, ex- perience and power of Hugh B. Eastburn, John B. Craven, Arthur T. Parke, Sam- uel Marshall, and those loyal and aggressi -e rei)resentati ' es of the Alumni, Frank- lin I j. Wonsetler and Dr. Harry D. Saylor, supported and encouraged by a reunited and enthusiastic Alumni ; a scholarly and high-minded Faculty, and a i roud and de- termined student body, with Dr. George Morris Philips still in the full vigor of his manhood, all wi irking in perfect harnionv — with such forces what mav we not ex- pect from the future ? Clvuk E. Euixger, M.D. 19 5G593