eminent authors; a fine collection of book-plates, and another of sepia portraits by John Caspar Lavater; and a large number of very curious early German books, some illustrated, others in black letter, and others enriched by autographs or marginal notes of famous men of the past. The alcoves of the reading-room are named after conspicuous donors to the library, and are used to hold the classified periodicals, of which an extraordinary number (now about 800) are regularly received from all parts of the world, especially those of a scientific character -a feature in which this library is particularly strong. Other curiosities exhibited are a hall clock and some astronomical apparatus made by David Rittenhouse over a century ago, and certain apparatus believed to have been used by Franklin in his early electrical experiments. The books of the library, which were only 3,000 in 1872, and now number about 150,000 bound volumes and over 50,000 unbound volumes and pamphlets, are kept in the fire-proof stock-room at the rear. They have been brought together for the needs of the University, and are not especially notable, except in certain particulars. Among them are books presented by Louis XVI, "including a set of the famous and now somewhat rare Encyclopédie to which Voltaire contributed, and which a century ago turned the world upside down." Of great importance are the almost complete sets of public documents, "blue-books," and published laws of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany, presented by the several governments. Two late additions of great importance have been the extensive Bechstein collection of works in German philology and literature, and the rich Macaulay library of Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese literature, particularly relating to Dante and Tasso. The Archæological Museum, at present occupying the upper part of Library Hall, but soon to be moved to its new building south of Spruce Street, is one of the most interesting things of its kind in the United States, and should be visited by every reader; but any large account of it is reserved until it is arranged in its new halls. The collections are not only very extensive in American archæology and the illustration of folk-lore, but are among the richest in the country in remains of the extinct Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations,—the result of the long and careful explorations of the sites of Nineveh, Nippur, and several Egyptian localities conducted by the University and affiliated agencies. The Museum of Anatomy and Palæontology, in the Biological department, which includes the collections of the late Dr. Joseph Leidy, will interest men of science, who will also be pleased at an opportunity to inspect the various laboratories. The Medical Schools and Hospitals lying south of Spruce Street are very extensive, and may be visited, as also may the hospitals for horses and dogs near by. These form one of the strongest departments of the University, and have given it, perhaps, its greatest distinction. While they relieve a vast amount of suffering, their purpose is primarily educational, and their arrangements and methods are therefore well worth examination by specialists. The Athletic Field, for student games, lies in their rear; but the great gymnasium has not yet been completed. The near neighborhood of the Schuylkill has always given "Penn” a leading place in college rowing, and the practicing of the crews on the river is something to see. Girard College. This noble institution, on Girard Avenue, from Ridge Avenue to West College Avenue, was founded by the will of Stephen Girard, a wealthy and eccentric Philadelphia merchant. He was a native of France, born May 21, 1750, near Bordeaux, and died in Philadelphia December 26, 1831. He began life as a cabinboy, and became in time the master and part owner of a small vessel, through which he acquired money enough to establish himself in business in Philadelphia in 1769. By the close of the Revolution Girard was a wealthy man, and at his death was one of the richest men in the country. In 1812, when the United States Government needed money, he loaned it $5,000,000. By his will he left $500,000 to Philadelphia for the improvement of the streets and buildings; $300,000 to the State for the improvement of canals; and the rest of his property for the support and education "of poor white male orphans, between the ages of six and ten years, when admitted to the institution, giving the preference first to those born within the bounds of the city of Philadelphia; secondly, to those born in Pennsylvania; thirdly, to those born in New York; and lastly, to those born in New Orleans." By a further clause in the will the city was made trustee of the estate, and a provision inserted that the boys of the institution should be bound apprentices to the municipal corporation and bound out from the college between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. The corner-stone of Girard College was laid July 4, 1833, and the building opened January 1, 1848. Since then the growth of the institution has been so great that numerous other buildings have since been erected by the trustees, until now the place resembles a small suburban town of handsome buildings and residences. The original college edifice is an imposing structure of a rich Corinthian |