Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/72

 46 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO once asked me for an opportunity to talk during the day. The result was that when I had finished my morning lecture at ten o'clock he joined me and we spent the rest of the day together. He expected to remain until Monday, but changed his plans and came down to New York with me Sunday night, leaving Poughkeepsie at 8 : 30 and reaching New York at 1 1 : oo P.M. We were therefore together the most of the time for thirteen hours. Other matters came up, but the chief question was the one of the educa- tional problem He stands ready after the holidays to do something for Chicago He showed great interest in the Education Society, and above all talked for hours in reference to the scheme of establishing the great University at Chicago instead of in New York. This surprised me very much. As soon as I began to see how the matter struck him I pushed it and I lost no opportunity of emphasizing this point He himself made out a list of reasons why it would be better to go to Chicago than to remain in New York. Mr. Rockefeller left me with the understanding that he would at once communicate with Mr. Colby in reference to the matter and led me to infer that the question would receive his careful attention at once. Now we must not expect too much. We all know how easy it is to make a start and then fall back, and so I am building nothing on this matter. I have thought I would lay the thing before you in all its details, in order that you, Dr. Northrup, and myself might be able to keep track of both ends of the line I write you these particulars in order that you may at once put me into possession of the facts in reference to matters at Morgan Park. It would be a great pity, if this could be done, to have something so much smaller carried out. Will you not at once write me? I remain Yours truly, W. R. HARPER The reference in the closing sentences to matters at Morgan Park is to the proposals which had been made to establish a college in that suburb in proximity to the Theological Seminary. These proposals were at once laid aside in view of the greater plan. The significant thing in the above letter, and the matter of historical moment is this, that the suggestion that he should found a university in Chicago was made by Mr. Rockefeller him- self. Serious efforts had been made by eminent educators and influential friends to induce him to found a university in New York. In this interview he himself proposed that the institution should be established in Chicago instead of New York. Dr. Harper writes, "This surprised me very much." After Mr. Rockefeller had made the suggestion Dr. Harper "pushed it and lost no oppor-