The San Francisco call., 1896-04-20
NASH TO BE LIBRARIAN,
Senator Stanford's Private Secre.
tary Will Become a Pro-
feSsor.
Diplomatic Experience and knowledge
of Books Made Him Woodrufss
Successor.

Herbert G. Nash, for several wears tutor
to Leland Stanford Jr., for eleven wears
secretary to Leland Stanford. and for the
last three years secretary and adviser to
Mrs. Stanford, is to be the librarian at
Stanford University.
About sixteen years ago, when Governor
Stanford, then CALIFORNIA; chief executive,
and Mrs. Stanford were making tour of
Europe with their son, youth of II, they
met in one of the cities of the south of
France an attache of British diplomatic
corps stationed there, and the courteous
manner and attra ctlve personality of the
young man made more than passing i'm
preston upon the parents. And SO it
happened that upon their return to Paris.
after v1si ting the Mediterranean coast of
Africa, they had agreed that they had
seen the person whom they would wish to
be tutor to their only SON. Correspond
ence followed, and Herbert Nash accepted
the offer made him by the multi-million-
aire railroad magnate to accompany the
family on th cir return to distant Cali
iorniak
ASIA little boy Leland Stanford Jr. did
not like study. He had, however, ac-
quired an eagerness for learning some
years before Mr.. Nash became his in
structor, and until the time of his death
he was almost constantly with his tutor,
both while at Menlo Park and while trav-
cling extensively abroad. His interest in
learning was first aroused one day after
hearing his teacher read little story of a
pebple-how il had been formed, what af-
fected it, and its whole experience during
the long lapse of ages; and he went home
from the private school in this City and
AD1I H. n L
boys death, and when q president had
been chosen for the new university at
Palo Alto, it became known to the
Stanfords that by a notable coincidence
the simple little story that had been the
inspiration of their sons desire to learn
was written years before by David Starr
Jordan, the man who afterward became
the head of the great university named as
lasting memorial to the ambition of a
studious youth.
Mr.. Nash continued his residence in the
Stanford household. His early insight
into diplomatic affairs made it easy for
him to assume the new duties of private
secretary to the president of the Southern
Pacific Railroad, and subsequently to be
in close sympathy with Mr.. Stanford DUR
ing two successful Senatorial campaigns
and their resulting life in Washington.
The broad training that he received in
this way coupled with the reliance that
Senator Stanford was known to place in
his secretary's Judgment in many matters
of great Importance resulted in several
unavaiing offers being made to Mr.. Nash
to enter diplomatic life at Washington.
1t is said of him that during his later
extensive travels over Europe with the
Stanfords he was able almost without ex-
ception to converse in at least one of the
prevalent languages of the people of the
countries visited, for he has made himself
familiar with no less than six languages.
Those who know him personally say
that he is an omnivorous reader and is
thoroughly conversant with the contents
of the best new books, and is often able to
discuss them before most people know they
have been published. His Familiarity
with books and his judgment of their
merit were important considerations in
his selection as librarian to succeed Pro-
fessor E. Ii. Woodruff, who has accepted q
professorship of law at Cornell, where pre-
vious to his establishing his reputation as
a librarian he was an instructor in Eng
lish.
Mr.. Nash was born of Welsh parents in
Italy, where the old family home is still
maintained. He has brother in London
who as an Episcopal minister is quite a
distinguished character.
At present Mr.. Nash is at the Santa Bar
bara Hot Springs, where he has been for
several months regaining his health. 1t
will be remembered that when Senator
Stanford died he left his secretary a pres
ent of $15, 900.