Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-09-26
PROF. GATES, HONEST MAN.
Graduate Into the World an
Optimist.

Yes, the last act of my college
career made an optimist of me-
unused the graduate, whose sheep.
skin showed that he had a look for.
ward of three years to his trienniali
says the New York sun. Il am per-
suaded that every college should have
chair for the propagation of hon
esty in the sale Of old furniture. and
have a Prof. Gates to fill it.
Didn't you know Gates? Why,
he was as much a part of the college
as the president himself. ] don't
know but that he was more impor-
tant part; certainly my last inter-
view with him impressed me more
than anything the president said in
his baccalaureate address.
"Gates was short on flesh, but long
in the hearts of the boys. He bought
their old furniture. He didn't bave
much to do except to sweep up a
little now and then and look down
the college well for stray freshmen.
He was a bear on furniture in the
spring, and a bull in the market in
the fall. You win understand by
this that he bought all the old traps
the seniors had to sell in the col
ays-are-almost-over season, and
resold them to the freshies when they
came in with the September equi-
noctial. The beauty of Gates was
that he would buy anything-let him
name his own price.
81 remember with awe the hush
and solemnity that attended the anal
services in the college church, when
the president began: Young gentle
men, members of the graduating
class But somehow they didn't set
my heart a-futter half as much as
did Gates on the following day, when
he came to my room to set price
on my belongings We haggled a lit
tie over the chairs and the bedstead,
but came to an agreement when /
threwin the student lamp. II had had
good many hard knocks in four years,
and thought a final throw wouldn't
hurt It. Then came the question Of
the carpet.
"'Now. Mr.. Gates said l, what will
YOU give me for that fine carpet"
Gle looked at the rag from this
point of view. and from that. He
poked with his foot at several worn
spots and turned back a flap by
pulling out few tacks. just TO EN-
phasize the fact that the carpet had
been turned. Finally he straight
ened mp and said
"'Wen. sir, 1 don't think it's very
fine carpet
"But there i had reply for him,
"'Hold on now Gates / said, just
recall how you praised it when you
sold it to me four years ago.
"That seemed TO stagger him a
little. and he wanted to know what
would take for it. ! told him that
| wasn't setting any price on it, but
was waiting for bids. ! was eying
him closely, and presently detected
by the way he stropped his chin with
the back of his right hand that he
had evolved an idea.
"T'll tell you what I'll do said |
Gates, IN mark with you
"'Mark with me. what do you
mean by that% said |.
"'Why, I'll make on slip Of paper
what III give for the carpet. he re-
piled, and you mark on another slip |
what you'll take for it. Then well
split the difference and I'll give you
whatever that is
agreed said |, and we marked.
"Well-and this is what crowned,
the close of my college course with
optimism and sent me out into the
cold world a believer in a public con
scienee-Gates marked twelve dollars
and | marked eight dollars"