1890-92 - University Archives and Records Center - University of ...

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final examinations, indicate a prosperity and effectiveness directly
resulting from the energy and enthusiasm of a happily-constituted
Faculty, to every member of which the success of the
school is dearer than his personal advantage. The establishment
of the Algernon Sidney Biddle Fellowship by members of the
family of the late honored Professor added one more efficient
teacher to the staff, and set a valuable prize for the stimulation of
earnest work in the Department. The liberal appropriations from
the income of the school for the maintenance of the George
Biddle Memorial Library have already added about 30 per cent, to
the original number of volumes, and in addition to this the
Department has contributed to the general expenses of the
University an equitable share of its gross income. The apartments
in the Girard Building occupied by the School and Library are
attractive, conveniently situated and kept in admirable condition,
but it is evident that if the Department continues to increase in
numbers of students and teachers as the Library'is certain to
increase, the need of larger accommodations will surely come,
and these should be found in a building of our own, not far from
the present location. It mfght be a wise economy to secure a
suitable site before the demand becomes imperative and in advance
of an almost certain increase in the cost of property with each
succeeding year.
The Department of Physical Education and the Athletic
Association of the University constitute together the agency by
which the athletic interests of our young men are controlled
and fostered. Nothing in late years has contributed so much to
bring the several Departments into solidarity as the participation
by the students of all in the athletic exercises and contests
in which the University has at last gained a creditable position.
Determined and effective resistance has been made to the effort
to restrict the latter to the undergraduates of the College
department and to regulations which would debar men who had
previously belonged to other institutions. The broader University
idea has prevailed, and it is now almost unanimously
admitted that the only condition of participation in inter-collegiate
games should be a bona fide scholarship, whether undergradu-