New-York tribune., 1911-03-26
N WI Pu Ioher Value on Education Chicago Says Dr. Smith
Scientist Who Comes from MIR. Rockefeers Pet institution
70 Succeed Professor Chandler in Chemistry Oe'
partment at Columbia Prefers His New Post
TO Presidency of United States

caeo faculty. but he declined TO particu-
larize
How did you come TO migrate 10 Amer
lea ," he was asked.
MY father was a musician in Edin-
hurgh." began DR.. Smith, musingly
was lust like any other Scotch boy and
never did anything that other boys don
do. When ! told my father that l would
like TO study chemistry, ne said II was
good thing that when he became musi-
clan his relatives thought ne was bring
ing disgrace on the family.
Il was graduated from the University OF
Edinburgh" he continued, and in course
Of time became an instructor in chemistry
there. an assistant 10 the professor, at
what would be in your money $50 year.
If I had remained in Edinburgh l would
still be an instructor at $50 year. l had
heard Of the great laboratory al Columbia
University, and that there were oppor-
tunities in the United States, so l came
! to see what ! could do.
Il had letter Of introduction 10 Pro-
fessor Chandler. Of Columbia. Arriving In
New York twenty-One years ago, / pre-
sented this 10 him and was shown through
! the laboratory Then and there felt what
a great opportunity a man must have who
stood at the head Of II. i would rather
be in your place than be President OF your
country I remarked to Professor Chandler.
| Maybe you will be my successor returned
Professor Chandler I will make IL my
lfe's greatest ambition 10 succeed you l
said OF course il was all joke, both on
his part and mine. After we parted, how
ever. the idea took such hold of me that
could not shake ii off. From that day TO
this have hoped. both by day and often
when awoke at night, that some time
| might be his successor"
And now that your dream has come
true what do you expect TO accomplish in
the larger feld-or isn't il larger" was
! asked.
THAT is hard question to answer" re-
piled DR. Smith. Chicago people do not
| appreciate and support their universities as
they should The residents Of New York
recognize better the value Of education.
There never was time when chemistry
found such a practical application in the
industries as now. Any research work
done in the universities, therefore, II II
| leads TO practical conclusions. is Of the ut
most importance. In Columbia l will have
eight hundred individuals TO instruct in
1 chemistry. mo can leH WHdL sOile Ol
| them may not discover
| But what did you ever discover your
self?" inquired the Tribune correspondent.
"You are known as the inventor Of fresh
man chemistry What does that mean?'
! THAT means / guess again smiling in
wardlv-"that freshmen hate the author OF
| their textbook / went TO San Francisco
once 10 deliver lecture. While | was pass
1 ing through the hall overheard boy
mark There's the inventor OF freshman
chemistry. I'm going to get even with
| him
"No. they didn't throw any cabbages at
: ma I'm, T learned afterward that the boy
uho made the remark was not good stu
dent.
",yben / began teaching chemistry |
| au,oke 10 the fact that the textbooks on
r. eub;ect were defective and the labora
80, work was not OF the right sort The
| haoLe said that certain things would hap
nsr ~ certain things were brought together
ID. certain conditions. The laboratory
~ merely proved the truth OF the state
&c Neither went far enough in devel-
80 CONCLUSIONS. So / began with organic
"a then turned TO inorganic chemistry 10
and concluslons-and | found them
an instance. doctor" was urged.
..rbe results are too complicated to be
.,,ders,ood by any but scientific men," he