THE MAN 



torn of things and be certain to distinguish clearly between 

 fancy and fact, between the shadow and the substance. Upon 

 such a man ordinary temptations did not operate but slipped 

 off as does a garment that does not fit. 



Hence it was that he borrowed money to help develop a 

 phosphate mine for service to Illinois, not for the money that 

 might be made out of it, but to convince people that he was 

 honest in what he said about soil treatment. He said to me, 

 "Nothing will convince like investing your money, especially 

 when you borrow to do it." When it was decided that sound 

 University policy did not permit of commercial investments 

 in line with service, he readily understood that his motive 

 might be misinterpreted and relinquished his interests. After 

 that he put all his private energies and capital into the de- 

 velopment of Poorland Farm, which he had chosen on the 

 most badly worn soil that could be found in southern Illi- 

 nois. This, too, he did as proof of the honesty of his inten- 

 tions and the soundness of his doctrines. 



And now came what to many would have been the supreme 

 test. He was to develop a farm upon the poorest land in 

 Illinois to show what could be done. Accordingly, sympathetic 

 interests tendered him all kinds of fertilizer free of expense to 

 help the good work along and money without stint. With 

 appreciative thanks he declined while paying interest on the 

 purchase money and running deeper into debt for what he 

 needed in order to put the farm on a producing basis. He even 

 refused to buy farmyard manure of the neighbors, saying 

 flatly, "I am not going to develop Poorland Farm at the ex- 

 pense of neighboring farms, nor am I going to do anything 

 that cannot be done upon any and every farm in the district." 



This is high ground for our admiration, and we are all 

 gratified that he lived to pay for the farm and to make it be- 

 gin to yield a small profit, justifying his program of procedure 

 in the slow and costly restoration of worn-out soils. 



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