Page:F. R. (Fairman Rogers) 1833-1900, Furness, 1903.djvu/25

Rh such a termination of a most honourable career would be a national disgrace. Whereupon, in a few minutes, the sum of sixty thousand dollars was promised, and the amount was collected and sent as a tribute of deep respect within two or three days. I doubt that in those days a similar deed could have been done anywhere else as expeditiously as in Philadelphia. It used to be jocularly said that half the affairs of The University were transacted at The Saturday Club. It was in these social gatherings that the design and scope of a Union League had its origin. In the final organization of The Union League, Professor Rogers took a leading part, and when it moved from its original quarters to its present location, the adoption of the architectural design of the building fell to his share of the work, and much of the admirable interior arrangement is due to him.

From his early years Professor Rogers had been a collector of books; naturally he preferred those in his own chosen department of Civil Engineering. Down to 1878 this collection had become about as complete as it was possible to make it, and he then presented it to the Library of The University as a filial and enduring memorial of his father.

In another and favourite department he had also gathered a noteworthy collection,—namely, on Horsemanship. This collection is possibly unparalleled in this country, and probably could not now