HEXRY CHARLES LEA. xi 



thropic and charitable gifts — such were some of his most material 

 interests. He gave quietly, and only after the object had fully com- 

 mended itself to him. Such giving can hardly be described in detail 

 and must be left in the main to the privacy of purely personal life. 

 A few of the more notable of these benefactions, however, may be 

 mentioned. In 1888 Mr. Lea erected an addition to the Philadelphia 

 Library building, doubling the size of its reading rooms and book- 

 stacks. In 1897 he erected important buildings for the Pennsyl- 

 vania Epileptic Hospital and Colony Farm at Oakbourne, Pa., and 

 subsequently paid for the erection of still other buildings, added to 

 the endowment of the institution and contributed toward its main- 

 tenance. In 1889 he oiTered to pay for the construction of a building 

 for the study and teaching of hygiene and bacteriolog}- at the L'ni- 

 versity. This building was erected in 1891 and dedicated February, 

 1892. His library, as is well known, he bequeathed to the Univer- 

 sity. In addition to these and other substantial gifts to the Univer- 

 sity Air. Lea was one of that body of generous subscribers to its 

 general expenses who have enabled it, without the large endowments 

 of the other great Eastern universities, and without the munificent 

 state appropriations of those in the West, to perform a work fully 

 commensurate with theirs. For a number of years he subscribed 

 liberally to this purpose and lightened the burden of the Provost by 

 the kindness and readiness with which he gave. 



Immersed in his literary work and devoting many hours a day 

 to it, yet the courteous host of the Wistar parties, the cordial giver 

 of time and advice to any who were preparing to entertain learned 

 bodies in Philadelphia, the participant in all scholarly projects in 

 the field of history, the ready writer of communications to the public 

 journals on all large questions that arose, the persistent walker 

 through Philadelphia streets, he was certainly not a recluse. His 

 face and form were familiar to a large circle of acquaintances and 

 he welcomed callers cordially. Among his more intimate character- 

 istics during his later life may be mentioned his habit of spending 

 some days or weeks each year at the Delaware Water Gap, in the 

 spring when the fruit trees blossomed, and in the fall when the 

 autumn leaves were in their glory. He was always interested in 

 wild flowers, knew them and their haunts in the countrv and at the 



