The Washington times., 1937-01-23

to 60. At 81 l shall be eXactl
DO your students appear to
have any opinions on this sub
ject?" interjected Dean Harcourt.
"Quite!" declared Norw wood
promptly. II am told there was a
well-attended Indignation meeting,
night before last"
Rather unfortunate" remarked
the dean. However, you will be
able to correct that before it has
done any damage"
Damage? What damage?
Shouldn't they have the right to
express themselves on this injuS-
tice?"
Dean Harcourt sat silently toy
ink with a paper knife, broodingly
searching his visitors troubled
face.
"It seems to me that this appar-
ent misfortune of yours is an I'M
portant event in your career. You
have now been offered-left-hand-
edly, I admit-an unusual oppor-
tunity. Here are the facts in the
case. You have been badly treated
and the university knows it. A
position to which you were en-
titled has been given to a stranger.
Your students are Loyalty incensed
They will be prejudiced against
the new man when he arrives
This will make it difficult for the
history department to function
properly.
"You, I take it, would be the
last man to desire that unhappy
state Of things. for you are sin
cerely interested in the welfare
Of your department-so much so,
indeed, that you should have
been put in command of it :. Why
don't you call a meeting of your
indignant students and request
them to accept the situation ex-
actly as it stands? The ship is
more important than any member
of the crew-including the cap
tain and the first mate. When
this oxford professor turns up. be
his friend"
Norwood, slightly Modified, was
listening attentively now.
You will discover" predicted
the dean. that your faculty
friends will be glad that an cpl
side threatening disruption and
bad feeling has been handled with
diplomacy .. And as for your stu
dents-man-what a chance! If
you are looking for a brilliant
career as a teacher, step into it.
It is ready and waiting for you.
The average college youngster is
much more interested in sports
manship than scholarship. This
disappointment of yours, if prop
erly interpreted, is going to add
Importance to every word you
say in your classroom"
Norwood rose to go.
Thank you" he said, deferen.
TALLY, extending his hand. II wish
there was some way for me to re,
pay you for the time you have
given me-"
The Deans eyes suddenly
lighted.
IT think you mean that" he
said, cordially, and I'm going to
accept your tentative offer. ]
wonder how you would like to
come here to my house-it is diff
ficult for me to go to yours-and
spend an evening with me some
time in the very near future.
need your counsel, Norwood"
1T would be great pleasure
sir"
you would come to dinner,
hope, and afterward we will talk
1t is a custom here with Us
to have few guests at din
ner on Thursday evenings. Quite
informal. A visitor or two; men
usually, though not always. MY
curates-both of them accom-
pliShed and interesting men; Tai
bot, with an M. A. in English lit
erature from Cambridge, anc
Simpson, of Harvard-perhaps yor
recall his record mile. How
about this coming Thursday?"
"Just at the moment" replied
Norwood, regretfully, II am KEEP
close in the evening. My little
girl. Hope to make better arrange
ments soon. Had her in a gooc
boarding school. but she became
homesick. E. Sorry, sir"
you couldn't bring your little
girl along, could you? How old
Is she?"
"Ony eight. I fear it would be
an imposition"
If you only knew" declared the
Dean, how we bachelors grab at
the chance to entertain small chill
dren in this lonely house you
would realize that you are confer