Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/78

52 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Meantime Mr. Gates had responded to the call of Drs. More- house and Harper and had gone east, as indicated in the following letter: NEW YORK, Friday Eve. Jan. ii, 1889. DEAR DR. GOODSPEED: I went straight to New Haven without stop, spending yesterday with Prof. Harper and your nephew. Dr. Harper very cordially seconded the suggestions I made and has written Mr. R. inviting an interview. What is now in Mr. R's mind, what his difficulties are, I am as much in the dark about as ever The interview is sought for Saturday or Sunday. I have no further news that you do not know I will keep you informed of any developments. Cordially, F. T. GATES Up to this time Mr. Rockefeller had never met Mr. Gates, although he had heard most favorably of him and his work. The next significant letter in the series was the following from Mr. Gates : NEW YORK January 12, 1889 DEAR DRS. GOODSPEED, NORTHRUP, AND SMITH: I venture now to write you as vivid and detailed an account of matters here as I can, beginning with my arrival in New Haven. Prof. Harper received the suggestions I brought with great warmth. He proposed that I have an interview at once with Mr. Rockefeller and promised to accompany me and give me his hearty support throughout He saw clearly that we lose nothing by starting as a College and leaving the question of Associated Schools, for the time, in abeyance. He felt relieved by the suggestions, was sorry he had not thought of them himself, etc., etc. I declined to assume the initiative in seeking an interview, insisting that if one was sought, Prof. Harper must himself invite it, and in the letter of request should assume the sole responsibility. To this he assented and the following is the letter. "My friend, Mr. Gates, Secretary of the Education Society, is now visiting me here at my invitation. He makes some suggestions regarding the matter of the new University of Chicago, which in my opinion may remove several difficulties and throw light on some questions. I shall be in New York on Saturday and Sunday next, and if your engagements will permit should like to introduce Mr. Gates to you on one of those days or at any time soon convenient to yourself. "Mr. Gates appreciates the pressure on your tune, and it is due to him to say that the suggestion of an interview is wholly my own. I make it in the