Dr. Allen and Dr. Burrowes each found the college in the midst of difficulties which sorely taxed their patience and ingenuity. The times were not propitious and friends were few or apathetic. Hopes and expectations had not been realized. Criticism was rampant. Many doubted whether the strong setting tide of oppo sition could ever be stemmed. The financial situation was weak and unstable. It was hardly to be wondered at that., students came slowly and unwillingly. Dr. Allen withdrew at the close of his second year and returned to resume the presidency of Girard College in which he had been eminently successful and where he spent the balance of his life. Dr. Burrowes died in the service here just as his work was beginning to show, and there seemed promise that the reputation which he had acquired as the head of the Common School System of the State would be of material aid in making the Agricultural College better known and patronized by the people at large. Four other presidents have been, for a longer or shorter time, at the head of the institution. No more fitting act could mark a class graduation or reunion than the presentation at commence ment, or other symbolic time, .of portraits of these men. They have been in each case identified with a certain period and with certain changes, the significance and value of which oftentimes did not appear until later. Of the five remaining pictures, which friends have donated, three are of the first board of trustees: Mr. H. N. McAllister of Belle fonte, Judge Hiester of Harrisburg and Judge Miles of Brie. They were enthusiastic advocates of the industrial college idea, and labored assiduously to make it a success. The first named, partictilarly, was untiring in his efforts, and for several years gave a large part of a busy life in personal labors toward working out and putting into practice this idea. A week never passed in which he was not at the college, and he often spent several con secutive days in personally directing the details of building and the work on the farm and grounds. It is but justice to say that without his personal services and sacrifices during these early days the cause would have been greatly retarded, if not perma nently endangered. The remaining two though never members of the governing board were active friends and advisers and asso ciated with all the movements in the early days. Mr. ,Humes THE CHAPEL PORTRAITS
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers