Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/157

 THE FIRST PRESIDENT 129 As soon as the question was thus happily decided, Mr. Rocke- feller forgot his reticence and wrote Dr. Harper most cordially entreating him to let up and have a good rest, and saying, And now, my dear Dr. Harper, I will not undertake to express what I feel toward you and your work, and could not if I would. My hopes are high. Dr. Harper no longer delayed his acceptance which was con- veyed in the following letter: NEW HAVEN, CONN. February 16, 1891 To the Trustees of the University of Chicago: GENTLEMEN: After having considered the proffer of the presidency of the University of Chicago with which you honored me in September, 1890, I beg herewith to indicate my acceptance of the same. With your permission I will not enter upon the work of the position until July i, 1891. I believe that, under your wise and liberal management and with the co-operation of the citizens of Chicago, the institution will fulfil the generous hopes of its friends and founders. It is with this conviction that I unreservedly place myself at your service. Trusting that the same divine Providence which has guided this under- taking in the past will continue to foster it through all the future, I remain Yours sincerely, WILLIAM R. HARPER. This letter was laid before the Board of Trustees on April n. Dr. Harper's salary was thereupon fixed at six thousand dollars per year. He was also appointed head of the Semitic Department with a salary of four thousand dollars, and was granted leave of absence during such part of the time between July i, 1891, and the date of the opening of the University as he could spend abroad profitably for the University. Dr. Harper's acceptance of the presidency was hailed with deep and wide satisfaction. Dr. Wallace Buttrick voiced the general feeling when he wrote to the new President on hearing of his acceptance: "I thank you and congratulate the Universe." The relief of those most intimately related to the enterprise was unspeak- able. For them a long period of anxiety and struggle was over. The first President was secured.