New-York tribune., 1908-10-11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
MR.. GARFIELD CONGRATULATED.
How Honor Comes to Hin as Logical and
Lineal Heir
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Our new Williams College president Is to
be most heartily congratulated not only for the
estate itself OF usefulness and honor which he
has Just entered but also for the way in
which the estate has 10 him as its logical
and ineal heir hts claim reaching back through
our beloved and lamented President Henry II %
kins highly and justly honored President
Carter and alert. versatile. capable and eff
cient President Chadbourne-baCk TO our phys
lcaiy. mentally. morally and spiritually monu-
mental president, Mark Hopkins
Here is the record: James A. Garfield had taken
his first two years a Western college and. think
ing 1t would be well TO complete his course at
some Eastern institution, he wrote TO the officials
/ OF a number Of our New England colleges. naming
/ certain matters about which he sought !nforma-
ton. From other colleges he received replies in
the customary statistical form, but President Hop
kins. after giving the desired information. added
to II this line: IF you to Williams, we VIII
do all We can for you" That little heart-to-
heart line (nark the word. please) did the bust
ness. 1t brought young Garfield to Williams. the
fathers coming brought in due time the son. and
the sons coming q student brings him back as
the honored president of the college. You see
therefore, that the estate came to him, as said
by strictly lineal inheritanCe-not only by logical
but by genealogical succession.
My next word is prophyactic: anticipatory OF
those hours of trial which they have fallen TO
the lot OF ali having oversight OF our colleges
hitherto may be reasonably expected to come to
llltin IN tIe 1utufe. bS IneN nave IN lne past we
fOrearmed however. against all difficulties, so
only be reassurngly forewarned-
Now IT came 10 pass in the early days OF the
elder Hopkins's presidency that there lived in
Williamstown a certain man yclept Jim Fowler
jim had been known about the toughest
I and toughest customer in the town But he was
converted and became earnest consistent and
very happy Christian. happy that once. at least
President Mark, according his confession
would have been glad to exchange places with him.
Or. Hopkins had not been long president before
realizing the truth of what he had said in his
inaugural address that the Responsibilities
quite equal TO the honors" There trouble
IN the college. Then there was more trouble. The
good doctor disconnected, then anxious, and
at last thoroughly discouraged. In this disheart
ened. doWnCast mood ne sought relief and counsel
from this tried and trusted friend and physician
DR.. Henry Sabn. They standing together on
the sidewalk front Of Dr. Sabn's Office, in the
lar Of which q at work. out Of sight
digging. AS DR.. Mark stood talking in that dis
consolate way Or. Sabin the voice rose on the
air Of a singing rapturously something about
the New Jerusalem. VINO is that singing asked
prise. That" said Dr Sabin, why that is Jim
Fowler" Well" cried Dr. Mark let me be
'Jiu' Fowler
Now for the conclusion. Jim went his
humble way for I do not know how many years
afterward. shoveng and singing. and Dr. Mark
his grand way, surmounting all difficulties,
administering most successfully the affairs OF the
college rising steadily the full stature OF the
greatest college instructor OF his ttme and growing
even TO last OF his fourscore and five years In
the love OF his friends and the esteem, honor
and reverence OF the world.
ADDISON BALLARD.
PIttsGcG Mass oct s 1905