The Washington herald., 1909-04-14
WASHINGTON CHAT.


One OF the most handsomest bequests
that has ever been made to 4 university
was that provided for in the viii OF the
late Senator william F. Villas. Of Wis
consin, Postmaster General IN President
Cleyeiand's Cabinet None OF his friends
were really aware OF the extent OF his
wealth which. according TO the apprais-
ers, Is in the neighborhood OF 100000 IN
stocks. bonds. and real estate. until his
win was published. but no less a princi-
pal would be adequate 70 provide fc- the
magnificent legacy he left 70 the Uniyor-
sity Of Wisconsin. which viii ultimately
amount 70 total OF S5o.000000.
The provisions OF his VIII cannot far
but be appreciated by all professors for
whom Mr.. Villas shows a consideration
and sympathy that IS rare in a man OF
his class and profession. The professor
ships. for which he makes provision. are
more for research than instruction. and
ne stDuletes that each professor shan
draw a salary Of from $500 10 $4,000
year-which is almost unheard OF indeed
the majority Of professors connected with
small colleges are content with half that
amount-and that they snail not be com
PEELED 20 teach more than three hours
week, or more than one hour in a single
day
his consideration for an unappreciated
profession is much wondered al by those
who knew Mr.. Villas when he was in
Washington. for ne then IMPRESSED no
PIE as being very much Of an utiIitarian-
. man 10 whom business was the nara
mount object OF life. Even then. however
re must have had Ideals. and fine ideals
lor such a viii as he left is not made IN
cay, but is the outcome OF years Of
uloe5nt and consideration Prof Ferrero
VINO visited Washington during the past
winter when be was the guest OF Presl-
cent roosevelt thought that the Amer
icans exalted men OF letters almost too
much. and he cited the universal interest,"
IN the retirement OF President Eliot from
the head or Harvard University as an
example. That Is a solitary instance
some scholars in this country attain fame
and are renowned all over Europe whose
names are not even known 10 their own
counrymen. Apropos OF this a scientist
Hom London, who was In town not long
ago said IN that delightful English. Pc
culilr 10 the oxford alumni:
DO you know I am quite astonisbes a.
the ignorance Of American scholars re-
garding their own colleagues? Last year
IN Lond5n / was approached BY q person
VINO said he was extremely anxious 10 be
put IN touch with the most noted men
regarding American anthropology in the
world !. OF course. referred him 10 a
half dozen Americans. and you can
imagine my establishment when he ad-
mitted that he never heard OF them al
though he had crossed the water 20 seek
IN England men who were only humble
students Of The. American savants."
A secretary OF one Of the foreign en-
bassies, who is very much interested IN
the crowds that beset Mr.. Taft when he
goes TO church. declares that. although
lee has been stationed at every capital IN
Europe and in the Orient. he has never
seen anything 10 equal H. King Ed
ward rides through the streets Of Lon
don." he says. Emperor William trots
through the Tiergarten In Berlin. King
Victor Emmanuel rides through the
streets Of Rome. and beyond a turning
Of the head and dofng OF hats. their
presence attracts 10 attention. but here
IN republic the ruler is almost rnobbed
by his democratic constituents" such ar
tention is rude. unseemly. and makes
naturally a very disagreeable impression
upon the foreign on-l0Oker. The police
seem 20 have and want 10 have no con-
troll over the matter, and the only way
TO change this disagreeable state OF af-
fairs is 70 appeal directly 20 the people
themselves, who. certainly. cannot ap-
preciate how rude they are.
Senator Johnson. Of North Dakota Is
a propagandlst for controlling the use
Of liquor. and has suggested 10 the pres
ldent Jaat the promotions In the army
and navy shall be based upon a mans
appetite for IRE water. That is. IL a
man is a total abstalner. he shall be
promoted over the tppler without re-
gard 20 the efficiency OF the service:
which is TO laugh" verify. since the
most casual student OF history. in run
ming through the lives OF naval and mil
itary heroes. VIII hardly find a teeto-
taller among the whole list. and such
course as Senator Johnson proposes
should make the bones OF John Paul
Jones rattle about IN his casket in Me-
mortal Hai at the Naval Academy. and
animate the relics OF Barry. who. IL Is
said. loved his usQuebaUgh as well as the
next person 1t is extremely doubtful
whether senator johnson viii succeed in
iupressing the President with his point
of view. but even II he Is successful IN
this, he VIII never persuade the officers
OF the service, and il would be Just as
well for MIN 10 devote his efforts 10 some
thing that viii succeed. the adjustment
Of the Merry Widow hat. fOr Instance.
Il is said that since Senator Platt
retired TO private life. ne has returned
TO the pastime Of former days. and is
dropping into poetry. Whether his pres
ent effusions viii equal those earlier ef-
forts, It Will be difficult 10 determine IN
til the former are put within reach OF
the public Some OF his early poems are
more pointed than elegant. as note the
following:
II peace and war be piled IFS arts.
For water or for blood.
Re bored fer one IN rebels hearts
The other in the mud
In winter dresr he sriIle5 his beer.
sUine OF porcine hummer:
This prCyerb queer % him most dear,
Ones wSll0w don't make sumner
This. aprOpOs Of the death Of Peter
Ishmael Potter. known 10 his intimates
as Pig Potter" who fought for free
dom. bored for water, and died Tor
whisky"
Expert in Geography.