The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-14

gloomy and conclusiyely as an open
grave, that while in the city of In
dianapolis | should see 4 tall person
dressed up like a monkey, coming
down a street riding on cart wheel.
And suppose" the trustee went on
to say, a stranger should step up to
me and ask: DO you know the name of
that darned fool?
Can you imagine, gentlemen" the
trustee roared what the sentiments
of the stranger would be were / to
reply: The tall person dressed up like
monkey, riding on a cart wheel, is
Harvey Washington Wiley, professor
of chemistry at Purdue University
Was it a high, old-fashioned bicy-
cle,'' DR.. Wiley was asked.
1T was" he replied.
And you wore knickerbockers:"
Il did"
Well, what was the matter with the
picture?" l asked.
Nothing" DR.. Wiley answered. AZ
didn't complain about it then and
find no fault with it now. You asked
me why l moved to Washington, and
I am giving you one of the minor rea-
sons"
you have talked acias and sodas
and analines," his interviewer said,
until the whole country has a chem
ical taste in its mouth. am here to
find out about Wiley himself, the man
known to everybody, including the
school children of the nation. Why
didn't you stay in Indiana to the peace
and joy Of certain rectifier5 and other
rascals?'
I'll not say a word. but here are the
facts" and DR.. Wiley stood up, a
Pixies Peak of man, in black trous-
ers, buff linen shirt, and no coat Il
am feet and 1, weigh go pounds,
and am muscled like a ditch digger
l left Indiana in broad daylight, and
boldly go back whenever I feel like
it."
But you were tried by the author
ities?"
Eyes, but was exonerated although
I confessed my guilt"
Seriously" 1 said, what had you
been doing?"
1T was charged before the trustees
of Purdue University" and DR.. Wiley
looked very grave, that / neglected
to attend morning prayer; that l rode
a bicycle; that 1 was the pitcher on
the student baseball team and, worse
than all, that I even wore a uniform
while so engaged. In short, was ir-
religious. frivolous and undignified :"
And you pleaded guilty?"
Knew the Prayer by Heart.
II admitted that every accusation
against me was absolutely true. I
have attended morning prayer so often.
I told the trustees. that 1 know it by
heart. 1t is the same old prayer day
after day, and has become so common
and mechanical that 1t does me no
good. Let me repeat it, said, puck
ering my mouth and making other
physical motions to indicate that
was about to begin.
Hold on shouted the trustee who
had called me a monkey on a cart
wheel. We have heard the prayer
VERY WELL l replied, I shall de-
sist The other matters said of me-
continued, are here confessed, ! ride
bicycle, not to be wicked or rakish,
but that | may get around easily and
comfortably. Sometimes go long dis
tances and I have no horse. play
baseball with the students because
like the game and need exercise ont
of doors. There is no OCCASION |
said, to prolong this hearing shall
end the embarrassment of the honora-
BILE trustees, all of whom hold in
high esteem, by resigning.'
'Whereupon l put my withdrawal
from the faculty in writing and then
left the room. The next morning
received a letter from the secretary
of the university informing me that
the trustees had declined, by a unani-
nous vote, to accept my resignation.
Altogether, l taught for nine years at
Purdue University. In the meantime
read two papers at public meetings
which were heard by George B. Lor-
ing of Massachusetts,, commissioner of
agriculture under President Chester A.
Arthur. At Mr.. Loring's request be-
came chief of his Bureau of Chemistry,
an office l have held ever since"
Always Interested in Food.
How did you get interested in the
chemistry of foods?" he was ques-
toned.
Il studied the subject at the Univer-
sity of Berlin for a year. because it
was in line with my work at Purdue.
where agriculture is the dominant
principle. Some of my early expert
ments were with sorghum moIasses
the efforts being to find a new and
profitable crop for the farmers of the
North. I also went to Peoria, Ill, and
investigated the manufacture of glu
cose. In Washington my work has
always pertained to agricultural
chemistry in its broadest sense. While
l have tried to help the people get
pure food I have given a great part OF
my time to other related matters.
h.