Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/137

THE FIRST PRESIDENT 109 to the future. This has been talked of more at length. In some way or other, down at Providence, or New York City, Dr. Fisher [of the Yale Divinity School] got hold of the scheme of the New York City University and of my connection with it. Mark you not the Chicago University. He came to me about it and wanted to know the facts in the case. I told him that the New York City University was about given up, but that there was talk of a Chicago University, and that I had been talked of for President, but that I had not seen my way clear to give any assent to the matter. He at once wanted to know what was needed to make me satisfied at New Haven. I told him I had no demands to make. The next day the President came to me and has been to me three or four times. As a result of the whole matter the thing stands today in the following shape: (i) They propose that no professor shall be elected to take Dr. Day's place [professor of Hebrew in the Theological Sem- inary] when he gives up his work, which will be within one or two years. (2) That I shall go into the Theological Seminary (remaining a Baptist) and do the eight hours' instruction in connection with my University work, arranging the classes so as to work both departments together to the best possible advan- tage. (3) That I shall be appointed by the corporation a full professor in the theological department as well as in the philosophical department, and thus be on the managing board of the theological department. (4) That they will pay me for my theological work one-half of professor's salary in addition to my present income as professor in the philosophical faculty, viz., sixteen hundred dollars a year; furthermore that they will pay this in advance for five years, viz., eight thousand dollars this sum to be used by me in covering the debt of the Publication Society of Hebrew, which I have decided to do myself. (5) They propose a Semitic department room in the new recitation building, with complete furnishings in the way of a special library, maps, photographs, casts, etc. (6) They will give me as much absence in Europe from time to time as I desire, with full salary, and (7) they will furnish a satisfactory assistant to aid me in my work. I have been surprised at some points of the offer, specially at No. 4. I could hardly believe it, but was asked to call upon the treasurer and did so this afternoon. I found that nine thousand dollars, instead of eight thousand, stood to my order. Of course the acceptance of this proposition absolutely and forever binds me. In my letter to Dr. Northrup I have indicated to him reasons why I thought I was not the man for the presidency at Chicago, and yet before taking this step, which will be irrevocable, I have hesitated some- what I think I will not ultimately decide the matter before next Monday. Some financial matters are very pressing and make it desirable to do so at an early date. Perhaps something will occur between now and then to indicate more clearly to me what is duty. It is impossible to overstate the consternation caused by this letter among the small group acquainted with and interested in the