The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-25
DENIES IT.
Abercrombie Knows Moth
ing of Browns Presidency.

Principal Daniel W. Abercrombie of
Worcester academy denies all knowl-
edge Of any movement to secure him
as the president of Brown University.
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr.. Abb
ercrornbie is ignorant of the matter,
there is undoubtedly something in the
report as it came from Providence last
cester. one Of the trustees of the uni
versity, admits that he suggested Nh
Abercrombie's name to his colleagues
sometime ago.
There is absolutely no truth in it."
said Principal Abercrombie, when seen
by The Spy man yesterday. Neither
the committee nor any member of it
has ever spoken to me with reference
to my filling the vacancy, much less
to offer me the position. From time
to time / have seen statements in the
papers to the effect that / was being
considered in connection with the pres
idency, but how the rumor could have
started. is entirely beyond my knowl-
EGGS Certainly nothing that l have
said could have given rise to the story,
for until today l have never been asked
by any paper as to the truth of the
are also trustees of the academy, but
none of them has ever spoken to me
of the matter. What the trustees or
the committee may have in mind. 1,
of course, cannot say, but so far as my
knowledge extends, all the statements
that have appeared have been untrue {"
DR.. Abercrombie says that the per-
slstence with which the story had been
circulated is embarrassing to him. and
the ,fo;
academy and to the university, When
asked whether he would ACCEPT the
place if it were offered to him. Mr..
Abercrombie said that 1t would not be
right for him to make any statement
based on an assumption. my work at
present" he said, lis here at the acad-
envy"
Col. E. B. stoddard, one of the trus-
tees Oh Brown University, when asked
II the trustees We're considering Mr..
Abercrombie, replied that he did NOT
know, as he had not seen any OF his
associates or any of the committee for
some time. Il think it very probable
however, that they are. Mr. Abercrom-
ole would make an excellent president
as he is an accomplished scholar. and
his methods of teaching are excellent
His executive ability is shown by the
work ne has done at the academy.
'4iSii liz tOch CIicliSE Oh tine school, 1t
was far from being in good condition
with but a small number of pupils and
only one building. In the short time
he has been principal, the attendance
has been greatly increased, endowments
have been secured, a number of new
buildings al ed and the standard Of
scholarship brought up to where the
school IS graduating boys into the lead
ing universities"
Col. Stoddard thinks Mr.. Abercrom
bic an excellent man for the place. Be
fore the offer was made to Dr. Tay-
Tor, he suggested him to the trustees
as being man possessing the neces-
sary qualifications for president of
university Whether they are consid-
erng him now, he says that he has
no means of knowing; but thinks IL
likely that they are so doing. While
the university is on a good basis, it is,
like all universities, poor, especially as
the depression in late years has low
cred the rate of interest What IL
needs is a scholar and a business man
who can secure funds, and these quail
hcations Mr.. Abercrombie possesseS