UNIVERSITY LIFE IN THE WEST -1857 -1864 277 



dealing with lesser questions. Typical was one example, 

 which taught me much when, in after years, I was called 

 to similar duties at Cornell. The present tower and chime 

 of the University of Michigan did not then exist ; between 

 the two main buildings on the university grounds there 

 was simply a wooden column, bearing a bell of moderate 

 size, which was rung at every lecture-hour by the principal 

 janitor. One cold winter night those of us living in the 

 immediate neighborhood heard the sound of axe-strokes. 

 Presently there came a crash, and all was still. Next 

 morning, at the hour for chapel, no bell was rung; it 

 was found that the column had been cut down and the bell 

 carried off. A president of less shrewdness would have 

 declaimed to the students on the enormity of such a pro- 

 cedure, and have accentuated his eloquence with threats. 

 Not so Dr. Tappan. At the close of the morning prayers 

 he addressed the students humorously. There was a great 

 attendance, for all wished to know how he would deal 

 with the affair. Nothing could be better than his matter 

 and manner. He spoke somewhat on this wise : i i Gentle- 

 men, there has doubtless been a mistake in the theory of 

 some of you regarding the college bell. It would seem 

 that some have believed that if the bell were destroyed, 

 time would cease, and university exercises would be sus- 

 pended. But, my friends, time goes on as ever, without 

 the bell as with it; lectures and exercises of every sort 

 continue, of course, as usual. The only thing which has 

 occurred is that some of you have thought it best to dis- 

 pense with the aid in keeping time which the regents of 

 the university have so kindly given you. Knowing that 

 large numbers of you were not yet provided with watches, 

 the regents very thoughtfully provided the bell, and a man 

 to ring it for you at the proper hours ; and they will doubt- 

 less be pleased to learn that you at last feel able to dis- 

 pense with it, and save them the expense of maintaining 

 it. You are trying an interesting experiment. In most 

 of the leading European universities, students get along 

 perfectly without a bell; why should we not? In the in-. 



