Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White — Volume 1White, Andrew Dickson
History
Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White — Volume 1
White, Andrew Dickson
Cornell University; Diplomats -- United States -- Biography; White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918
The students were greatly amused to see the matter
taken in this way. They laughingly acknowledged themselves
outwitted, and greeted the doctor's speech with applause.
All of the faculty entered into the spirit of the
matter; rolls were called perhaps rather more promptly
than formerly, and students not present were marked
rather more mercilessly than of old. There was evidently
much reluctance on their part to ask for excuses, in view
of the fact that they had themselves abolished the bell
which had enabled them to keep the time; and one morning,
about a month or six weeks later, after chapel, a big
jolly student rose and asked permission to make a motion.
This motion was that the president of the university be
requested to allow the students to restore the bell to its
former position. The proposal was graciously received by
the doctor, put by him after the usual parliamentary manner,
carried unanimously, and, a few mornings later, the
bell was found in its old place on a new column, was rung
as usual, and matters went on after the old fashion.
Every winter Dr. Tappan went before the legislature
to plead the cause of the university, and to ask for
appropriations. He was always heard with pleasure, since he
was an excellent speaker; but certain things militated
against him. First of all, he had much to say of the
excellent models furnished by the great German universities,
and especially by those of Prussia. This gave demagogues
in the legislature, anxious to make a reputation in
buncombe, a great chance. They orated to the effect that
we wanted an American and not a Prussian system. Moreover,
some unfortunate legends were developed. Mrs.
Tappan, a noble and lovely woman belonging to the
Livingston family, had been brought up in New York and
New England, and could hardly suppress her natural
preference for her old home and friends. A story grew
that in an assembly of Michigan ladies she once remarked
that the doctor and herself considered themselves as
``missionaries to the West.'' This legend spread far and
wide. It was resented, and undoubtedly cost the doctor dear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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