CHAPTER LII 



ENGLAND RE VISITED -1885 



IN 1885, having resigned the presidency at Cornell, 

 after twenty years of service, I went to Europe ; my 

 main purpose being to leave my successor untrammeled 

 as to any changes which he might see fit to make. He 

 was an old friend and student of mine whom, when the 

 trustees had asked me to nominate a man to follow me, 

 I had named as the best man I knew for the work to be 

 done ; but, warm as were the relations between us, I made 

 up my mind that it was best to leave him an entirely free 

 hand for at least a year. 



Crossing the ocean, I had the close companionship of 

 Thomas Hughes (&quot;Tom Brown 7 ), and he was at his 

 best. Among the stories he told was one of Brown 

 ing. The poet one morning, hearing a noise in the street 

 before his house, went to his window and saw a great 

 crowd gazing at some Chinamen in gorgeous costumes 

 who were just leaving their carriages to mount his steps. 

 Presently they were announced as the Chinese minister 

 at the Court of St. James and his suite. A solemn pres 

 entation having taken place, Browning said to the in 

 terpreter, &quot;May I ask to what I am indebted for the 

 honor of his Excellency s visit?&quot; The interpreter re 

 plied, &quot;His Excellency is a poet in his own country.&quot; 

 Thereupon the two poets shook hands heartily. Brown 

 ing then said, &quot;May I ask to what branch of poetry his 

 Excellency devotes himself?&quot; to which the interpreter 

 answered, &quot;His Excellency devotes himself to poetical 



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