The election of the chief executives and members of all legislative bodies for fixed periods, but all other officers to be removed for cause only. Rotation in office, he declared to be a false political doctrine, with a remark, that cannot be too highly commended, that "faithful service and proved capacity are singular grounds of disqualification."

His further remedies are: direct taxation and the abolishing of all duties. No coining of bullion by the government, or issuing by it of paper money. No revenue from or giving away of the public domain. The creation of corporations only under general laws. Diminishing the power to make war by taking away the authority to borrow money. An ultimate Court of Appeals, to be composed of judges selected from the States. The separate State governments to be abolished. The United States Senate also to be abolished, and the House of Representatives to be confined to

the making of general laws; and lastly, the President, or Chief Executive of the nation, to be selected by lot, monthly, from the Representative body. Many minor details are given which I shall not enumerate.

He did not, in his new home, altogether abandon his profession. On the contrary, although past eighty, he came in April, 1884, to this city, on his way to Washington, to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States, and as the argument was postponed, he remained here a few days. I called upon him, and was concerned to hear him say that he could no longer read nor write; that his eyes failed him, and that he had to depend upon a young lady who was present and acted as his secretary. His eye had still much of its former luster and his voice had the old ring in it; but there was something in his face which indicated that the time was not far distant when the curtain would be drawn upon all mortal things; but I did not anticipate that it would be so soon.

On his way back to Nantucket, he caught a severe cold, which continuing after his return, acted rapidly in reducing a system already greatly impaired, and from which, at his time of life, it was difficult to rally. He felt that his end was approaching, arranged the details of a somewhat lengthy codicil to his will, and received the last offices of the church in which he was born; his mind remaining clear to the very last.

On the afternoon of May 12th, 1884, a few moments before his death, he rose up in bed, opened his eyes, and stretching out his hand to his physician, said in a clear strong voice: "My God," and then expired; so that his close may not inaptly be described in the well-known lines of Dr. Johnson, that

-with no fiery throbbing pain,

No slow gradations of decay,
Death broke at once the vital chain

And freed his soul the nearest way."

Cha. 2. Daly

ASA PACKER AND THE LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

That quaint old Moravian Borough of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, that boasts of having extended its hospitality to Washington, Lafayette, Franklin, Pulaski and others of Revolutionary fame, has the present honor of being the seat of the Lehigh University, founded by Asa Packer and by him alone endowed, which, although scarcely seventeen years old, is one of the richest institutions of learning in this country, and when the various trusts created by the last will and testament of its founder shall have expired, will probably be second to none in its pecuniary resources. Every student of this University willing and capable of keeping up with its curriculum is educated free. Such was Asa Packer's direction.

St. Luke's Hospital, so well known throughout Eastern Pennsylvania for its noble and practical charity, is also sustained by the endowments of Asa Packer. Indeed, when we consider the scope of his generosity, of which Washington and Lee University of Virginia, Muhlenburg College at Allentown, Pennsylvania; Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia; and many churches throughout his native State, of different denominations, can bear witness, we can the better appreciate how truly catholic were his gifts. His benefactions did not pause upon State lines nor recognize sectional divisions. In speaking of his generosity, Senator T. F. Bayard once said: "The confines of a continent were too narrow for his sense of human brotherhood, which recognized its ties everywhere upon this footstool of the Almighty, and decreed that all were to be invited to share in the fruits of his life-long labor."

Asa Packer was born in Groton, New London County, Connecticut, on the 29th day of December, 1805. His father, Elisha Packer, although a good man, was unsuccessful in business and had not the means to educate his son. It became necessary for the latter to maintain himself, which he did by obtaining employment in a tannery at North Stonington. This engagement was, however, of short duration, on account of the death of the owner of the tannery. Young Packer was then reluctantly compelled to seek the plodding and unpromising labors of the farm. But his soul was aflame and he could not brook a monotonous life. The tall wiry youth of eighteen, with a light purse and mean outfit, yet with faith unshaken and will unconquerable, left his native State to carve for himself a fortune and a home. Like Franklin and Girard he settled in Pennsylvania, to fight

the battle of life, equipped like them with no other weapons than industry, perseverance, and courage. He traveled on foot from Connecticut to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Here he settled and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. From this occupation he derived his livelihood for more than a decade. Here he purchased, at a small price, a

Asah Patter

few acres of land on which still stood the native forest. With his own hands he cleared this tract of trees and built a log-house. He literally made the solitary place rejoice and blossom as the rose. It is almost impossible for us of to-day to appreciate the magnitude of such an undertaking. In those times "a man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees." That portion of Pennsylvania, now the most valuable and productive, was, seventy years ago, a wilderness of primeval forests. To a

log-house he led his young bride, who was to be the pride and stay of his heart for more than fifty years till the world faded from his eyes. While his stout arm forced the earth to fingers prepared every garment of Unimpaired by the many conlife, her womanly instincts had ment. She was his sympathizer, soothed him in his troubles, and spring of 1833 he left his forest of which he held until his death), the Lehigh Valley, hoping to increasing demands of a Bacon has said that children and hostages to fortune, and in the second step in the Chunk proved to be the most Here the capabilities, the posrealities about his mountain upon him. To provide prop

give forth its fruits, her nimble the usual wear of their household. flicting forces of metropolitan the opportunity of full developcompanion and helpmate; she rejoiced in his successes. In the home in Susquehanna (the title and moved to Mauch Chunk in better his means to meet the growing family. The wise are the well-springs of joy indeed this was exemplified career of Asa Packer. Mauch effective field of his labors. sibilities, and the marvelous home seem to have grown erly for his family he strained every nerve and developed his full strength of mind and body.

PACKER HALL.