278 AS UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR-II 



terests of the finances of the university, I am glad to see 

 you trying this experiment, and will only suggest that it 

 be tried thoroughly. Of course the rolls will be called in the 

 lecture-rooms promptly, as usual, and you will, of course, 

 be present. If the experiment succeeds, it will enable us 

 to dispense with a university bell forever; but if, after a 

 suitable time, you decide that it is better to have the bell 

 back again to remind you of the hours, and if you will make 

 a proper request to the regents through me, I trust that 

 they will allow you to restore it to its former position. 



The students were greatly amused to see the matter 

 taken in this way. They laughingly acknowledged them 

 selves outwitted, and greeted the doctor s speech with ap 

 plause. All of the faculty entered into the spirit of the 

 matter; rolls were called perhaps rather more promptly 

 than formerly, and students not present were marked 

 rather more mercilessly than of old. There was evidently 

 much reluctance on their part to ask for excuses, in view 

 of the fact that they had themselves abolished the bell 

 which had enabled them to keep the time ; and one morn 

 ing, about a month or six weeks later, after chapel, a big 

 jolly student rose and asked permission to make a motion. 

 This motion was that the president of the university be 

 requested to allow the students to restore the bell to its 

 former position. The proposal was graciously received by 

 the doctor, put by him after the usual parliamentary man 

 lier, carried unanimously, and, a few mornings later, the 

 bell was found in its old place on a new column, was rung 

 as usual, and matters went on after the old fashion. 



Every winter Dr. Tappan went before the legislature 

 to plead the cause of the university, and to ask for appro 

 priations. He was always heard with pleasure, since he 

 was an excellent speaker; but certain things militated 

 against him. First of all, he had much to say of the ex 

 cellent models furnished by the great German universities, 

 and especially by those p Prussia. This gave demagogues 

 in the legislature, anxious to make a reputation in bun 

 combe, a great chance. They orated to the effect that 



