Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/306

 268 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO But I cannot secure this additional money for buildings without another act of grace on the part of Mr. Rockefeller. To this letter Mr. Gates responded, writing September 3: I do not wish to take the responsibility of advising you on a matter so important I infer from remarks dropped casually that it is not the plan, either for Mr. Rockefeller or Mrs. Rockefeller, even if they put more funds into the University, which I can neither affirm nor deny, to do so until the machine has been put into working operation and worked successfully. But for your prohibition, I should have sent your letter to Mr. Rockefeller. In view of your request, however, I do not do so. I give you such facts as I have, and all I have, and leave the question of a direct appeal to your own judgment. Although Mr. Gates wrote this somewhat discouraging letter, nevertheless, to quote his own comment on it, he ''visited Mr. Rockefeller shortly after this, and did make an earnest appeal in behalf of the University. Indeed in his report in February, calling for two million dollars, Mr. Gates had advised Mr. Rockefeller to give one million dollars at that time and the second million about October i." He now again urged this, and Mr. Rockefeller listened favorably, but it was agreed that October i was not the tune for making the gift. President Harper, though he received no encour- agement, continued to urge his argument, and with increasing earnestness. But, although good intentions were maturing toward favorable action, the University was allowed to open without any sign. In October Mr. Gates again visited the University and looked things over, calling on Mr. and Mrs. Rockefeller on his way back to New York. The President was very much discouraged, and wrote on November 3: The load has grown heavier and heavier since you left My bluest days since the University organized have been the last two. I have been more than ever inclined to think that a mistake was made by you when you urged me to give up my work in New Haven and come out here. To this dirge Mr. Gates replied on November 19: I beg of you to believe what you say, when you "suppose that the Lord will take care of us." It is usually darkest just before dawn. Cheer up, old friend. Trust in God, eat well, sleep well, and do not overwork. In a note on this letter Mr. Gates explains that the tone and under- current of it will be understood if it is considered that he wrote it