Leslej'.] 504 [Xovember G. 



caland dramatic resources, regard being had to the rapid growth 

 of our population and wealth." He designed as part of the 

 plan, a liberal support for the minor perfomers, so that they 

 might be, or become, permanent residents of the city, and thus 

 prevent the Opera House from falling into the hands of foreign 

 managers of troupes, whose expenses would necessarily raise the 

 price of tickets to a figure that must practically exclude the 

 people. But he was overruled; and the erection of an Academ}'' 

 of Music has done comparatively little for popularising the best 

 music of the old world among the common peo})le of our city. 

 Whereas, the effects of its central influence should already' have 

 been seen in an improvement in musical culture in ever^' county 

 of the State ; just as the influence of the Loyal Union League 

 has improved the political knowledge, sentiment and zeal of the 

 whole commonwealth. 



The quality of Mr. Foulke's mind may be measured, perhaps, 

 as well b}^ his Essay on the Right Use of History, as by any 

 other memorial of his life. He had been one, with Mr. Joseph E. 

 Ingersoll, the Rev. Albert Barnes, and Bishop Potter, appointed 

 to deliver addresses before the Pennsylvania Historical Society, 

 in December, 1850. His address was published, with others, in 

 1856. It shows his disposition to take the most comprehensive 

 view of every subject coming under his attention. He chose for 

 his theme the practical advantage of a study of histor}^ for the 

 young, and the best method of reaping that advantage. Grant- 

 ing the value of special research, he urged that more was neces- 

 sary than " merely to gather, with the minute diligence of the 

 typical antiquary, relics of the former time ; to trace partially 

 defaced inscriptions ; to perpetuate images of decaying edifices, 

 or the details of obsolete wardrobes. Whatever the associations 

 which invest these with a value, or bind them to us by ties of 

 a personal interest, they are comparative!}" trivial incidents to 

 our pursuits. Even the events which are most Avidely known, 

 and the men who shine most conspicuously among the great 

 actors of the past, have a limited historical value ; the extent of 

 which is determined by their contributions to moral results. It is 

 to the definition of these results, and their communication to our 

 fellow men, that our associate eff'orts should tend." He showed 

 how " the influence of history even upon adults is subject to grave 

 qualifications, since some of its examples are available only in au 



