CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX 



PRINCETON UNDER WILSON 



ON my return, I found that a revolution had taken place in the life 

 of Princeton. The much talked-of preceptorial system had been 

 inaugurated and fifty or more picked young men from England, Canada 

 and all over the United States had been added to the Faculty. The 

 atmosphere of exhilaration and hopefulness, which Mr. Wilson had 

 brought in with him had become even more sparkling and stimulating 

 and those who had our experience in the autumn of 1905 are not likely 

 to forget it. At my request, my friend and colleague Smyth, who came 

 to Princeton at that time, wrote me the following letter describing his 

 impressions. 



Princeton, October 10, 1925 

 My dear Scott: 



My early impressions of Princeton were, of course, much influenced 

 by conditions within the department [of geologyj, more especially by 

 the cordiaUty of your welcome. . . . 



Van Ingen's tremendous enthusiasm and interest in departmental 

 development also counted for much and we always worked together 

 without the slightest friction, despite his rather high-strung temperament. 



Altogether, the departmental situation, even with our inadequate 

 quarters and equipment, was such as to make me take an optimistic 

 view of everything in the University. And, as I recall those times, 

 optimism was in the very air we breathed. The atmosphere was electric 

 with promise, as well as with achievement. The preceptorial system was 

 starting with a fine group of young men, picked from the whole 

 country and had behind it not only the vision and enthusiasm of the 

 President, but, apparently, the hearty endorsement of the Trustees. 

 Though not a preceptor, myself, and though older than most of them I 

 was new in Princeton and so, naturally, met and exchanged impressions 

 with many of the group. Also, my old friend, Moore, was a preceptor, 



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