EDUCATOR 113 



ical and public questions, and one who has been most suc- 

 cessful as the head of a great institution. His views upon 

 a question of this nature are entitled, and I am sure will 

 receive, careful consideration. 



As I have known Major Alvord for some years as a most 

 able and uncompromising Democrat, I cannot refrain from 

 speaking a word of recommendation in his behalf. 



I have not, nor had I intended to, bother you with re- 

 commendations of candidates for office. While scores of 

 men apply to me for recommendations I have uniformly 

 refrained from giving them, because it seemed to me that 

 you were already sufficiently beset with matters of this 

 character. 



With kind regards, I am, 



Sincerely yours, 



William E. Russell. 



As the natural result of overwork and the burden of the 

 great experiment he was carrying, which pressed very 

 heavily for years, admonitions came, of a very serious na- 

 ture. His health while in college seemed to have been good, 

 and according to his account improved during his service 

 in the army. But after going to Amherst weaknesses de- 

 veloped of so serious a character as to demand periods of 

 entire rest. As early as 1880 he was in the Adirondacks from 

 June 4 until deep into September; the next year he went 

 to Georgia for two months ; the following year he made a 

 flying trip to Europe with his brother, Dr. William Goodell, 

 visiting France and the Netherlands; in 1887 he resigned 

 the presidency of the college on account of his health; in 

 1891 he went to England; early in 1894 he was obliged to 



