EDUCATOR 95 



dent was equal to the emergencies as they came. He pos- 

 sessed in a remarkable degree that important factor in deal- 

 ing with men called "tact." There was little of the dogmatic 

 in his nature, although he had very decided opinions of his 

 own and he valued them. He had great reverence for the 

 past, for an institution, a custom, or an opinion 



That carries age so nobly in its looks; 



but with all he was progressive. The windows of his mind 

 were opened not only toward Jerusalem but toward all 

 points of the compass. He seems to have followed, perhaps 

 unconsciously, Lord Bacon's advice: "Men in their inno- 

 vations should follow the example of time itself, which in- 

 novateth greatly, but quietly and by degrees scarce to be 

 perceived." 



The new president understood the situation perfectly. 

 The College was in a state whose leading industry was 

 manufacturing and whose stingy soil could not compete 

 with the plains of the West. The first enthusiasm of some 

 of its early friends had subsided. The air was pervaded with 

 the chill of disappointment and the proposition was made to 

 give the College away. He knew perfectly well that it would 

 be a long struggle to excite any enthusiasm in regard to it 

 and to make the people feel its importance to one of the 

 industries of the state. For long years he worked with ex- 

 uberant cheerfulness and unabated enthusiasm, facing dis- 

 couragements of every description. Proper buildings and 

 apparatus were wanted, his teachers were overworked and 

 underpaid, new problems were presenting themselves for 

 which he was not prepared, the people were disappointed 

 because they did not see immediate results and complained 



