12 
To Europe 1886-87 
AHE three sisters continued the life at St. Michel 
and 1503 Walnut Street in the spirit and manner 
Lof their father and mother. The many works of 
mercy of the latter were continued, particularly the Dor­ 
cas. Mr. Drexel had been a member of the Board of 
Managers on St. John, St. Joseph, and St. Vincent 
Orphan Asylums, and had made liberal bequests to these 
and other charitable institutions. The home life had ever 
breathed an atmosphere of helpfulness and service to 
others, so that as an inevitable consequence the memory 
of the father and mother could not be disassociated from 
their works. The sisters sought to continue the father's 
loving care of the orphans. Elizabeth took the initiative 
in this. A young woman of rare intellectual powers and 
great discernment, the orphan boys, who, dismissed from 
the asylum homes, were thrown on their own resources 
while yet but children, appealed to her strongly. Trade 
schools and Technical schools were then still veiled in the 
future. Far ahead of her time, her vision pierced this veil 
and brought its hidden plan into present reality. She con­ 
ceived the idea of erecting for the boys leaving the 
asylum a trade school where they would be trained and 
taught a manner of making a livelihood by means of 
honest work and labor. There was no precedent in or 
about Philadelphia to help with suggestions and experi­ 
ence in this work. Resolutely she set about to work out