CHAPTER FOUR 



THE new institution had begun its work amid Andrew D. 

 great enthusiasm and as a fountain of educational Whte as 

 hope. Dr. Andrew Dickson White, its leader and 

 president, was then only thirty-six years of age. 

 Because of his short height and rather slender build, 

 I used to say that he was "a little man who looked 

 as though he might have been big if he had wanted 

 to," for he gave the impression of entire competency. 

 He was an effective and impressive speaker, with a 

 ready command of choice English. His addresses 

 in defense of what we afterward called the "de- 

 mocracy of education," as well as those in favor of 

 religious freedom, were classics of their kind. His 

 relation toward students was always delightful, and 

 he had a special genius for group inspiration 

 that is, for influencing a large number at once toward 

 higher aims. I doubt if any other American uni- 

 versity executive has been his equal in these regards. 

 Even President Eliot, with his great intellectual 

 power, keen, analytical discrimination, and accurate 

 scholarship, seemed to lack somewhat in personal 

 sympathy. 



Possessed of ample means, after graduating from 

 Yale College White spent three years abroad in 

 study and travel, returning to fill, for seven years, 

 the chair of History and English Literature in the 

 University of Michigan. While at Ann Arbor he 

 was deeply impressed by the educational ideals of 

 the distinguished first president. Dr. Henry P. 



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