Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/79

 THE INCEPTION OF THE PLAN 53 hope that he may prove serviceable to you in this and possibly other educational matters about which you are now making inquiries." I learned with a good deal of concern from Prof. Harper the extraordinary inducements the Yale people are offering him to bind him permanently to that institution I arrived in New York Friday afternoon to find Dr. Morehouse fully endorsing the suggestions of the letter I had sent him, .... and glad I had come on a relief to me. Professor Harper and I met today at 3 : 30 P.M. He brought the following reply from Mr. Rockefeller. "Yours zoth at hand. I regret cannot make the engagement you suggest. Cannot Mr. Gates write ? Have been very busy and am tired and just this morning under the doctor's care and must throw off everything possible for a few days. It is always pleasant to meet you and would be, I am sure, to meet Mr. Gates, but I must deny myself that pleasure now, as am under unusual pressure. "It would break my heart if I did not believe you would stay in the fold all right. For all the reasons I believe you will. "I know you will understand and not take any offense at my suggestion about writing. "Very truly yours, "JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER." Now I prefer writing Mr. Rockefeller to seeing him and was glad the letter denied the interview. I can now write with very great care The same letter goes on to speak of the effort being made to hold Dr. Harper permanently at Yale and of Mr. Gates's urging against his binding himself to remain, and the quite certain need of him as the head of the new institution, and continues: I urged, that, if indeed it should prove that so vast a scheme hung on his acceptance of the presidency, no power could resist such a pressure. Duty would be clear I am satisfied that if Harper becomes assured that his presidency is absolutely required he will not make further objection to going to Chicago. Professor Harper further said that he felt a great relief by the modifications I had to suggest in the Chicago matter and that he was sure they would carry the thing through. I see, said he, that we lose nothing by a College at the start. Professor Harper said that Mr. Rockefeller says he will use the Education Society in this and other matters. You may expect in a day or two a copy of the letter we jointly prepare. If I write too minutely let me know. Cordially and with regards to all, FRED T. GATES