The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-05
MRS. sTANFORD's MISTAKE.

MRS. STANFORD'S MISTAKE.
The unfortunate interference Of
Mrs. Stanford in the administration
Of the Leland Stanford University,
which has resulted in the resignation
or dismissal of six Of the eighty-four
professors, has called to public atten-
ton the peculiar status of this lnstl-
tuition.
1t has no responsible trustees and
appears to be controlled solely by
Mrs. Stanford. She has power to
withdraw the whole. endowment or
turn it over to the Christian Scientists.
Some unwise defenders of the Univer-
sity have intimated that the institu-
ton need concern itself very little with
regard TO public opinion, since 1t has
an endowment Of $29.000,00O. 1t may
be well, therefore, to emphasize the
fact that Il very valuable part of the
endowment of a university is public
confidence, that an institution which
has millions Of money without conf
dence is a poor institution, while uni
yersity which is relatively poor IN
funds, but commands public respect
and confidence, is rich in those ele-
mcnts which go to the making of q
great university.
The story has not, until recently, ap-
pearcd in print, but is told on good
authority, that when Mr.. and Mrs.
Stanford were considering the found
Of 0T,ifIrpnt
memorial to their only son who had
recently died, they visited President
Eliot and were shown around Elar-
ward University. AS they finished
their examination Of the buildings, Mr..
Stanford turned to President Eliot and
asked, what is this whole plant
worth:" DR.. Eliot began to say that
it could not be reckoned in money, as
much of the value was matter of
men and tradition Of scholarship. But
Mr.. Stanford pressed his question,
asking how much money it would take
to duplicate the buildings, equipment
and endowment. When President Ell
lot mentioned at a venture a certain
number of millions, tears of joy came
to Mrs. Stanford's eyes, and grasping
her husbands arm, she exclaimed:
ooh, Leland, we can do it!'
The story is as pathetic as the ex-
clamation was naive. Mrs. Stanford
has created what is probably the most
remarkable and picturesque Of Ameri-
can philanthropies.
(,,f NIr,. Stamford Is MT tho only
woman in America who is engaged in
trying to build up a great university
without having regard for the usual
lapse of time required for such a pro-
ject Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, also wild
ow of a California Senator, is using
all Of her intelligence and as much of
her income rs she can keep from the
proprietor of the New York Journal,
in building up the State University Of
California The architectural plan for
the development Of the University of
California, if carried out in accordance
with Mrs. Hearst's ideas. will make it
the most beautiful group of university
buildings in the world. The situation
is overlooking the Golden Gate, the
buildings are to be of white marble.
and the extent and scope of the scheme
for the whole plan is conceived in
magnificent way.
Mrs. Hearst has been singularly sue
cessful in her dealings with the Uni
versity of California, because her eff
forts have been rather to leave the
actual management to the powers that
be under the guidance of such infu-
ence as she could bring to bear
through her personality than to exer-
else that power which comes from be-
ing able to cut off the necessary sup
plies. And yet during a period Of tenn
porary unproductiveness Mrs. Stan
ford gave up her jewels and valuable
collection of curios and paintings that
the University might be saved fnan-
cial embarrassment. II she is wise,
however, she will now see that there
are elements, essential to the life ana
growth of the University, the value
of which cannot be measured in terms
of Pacific railroad bonds OF Califor-
MIA estates