Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/214

1 84 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO dollars represented the full amount received from sources outside of that city. There was much hard work that was discouraging and unproductive. As was inevitable many refused to help. But those who gave the money did it so readily, so kindly, so generously, that the entire subscription was secured almost without effort. The givers only needed to be found. Once found, they gave royally and cheerfully. It was, however, a very busy time with President Harper and his associates. When it is said that during the ninety days more than two thousand visitors called at the University office, that there were twenty meetings of the two Boards of Trustees and forty meetings of committees, that more than forty appoint- ments of officers of administration and instruction were made, involving journeys, interviews, and correspondence, that the most difficult work in the organization of the University was done during those three months, some idea can be gained of the burden carried and the amount of work accomplished. Toward the middle of this strenuous period, about June i, 1892, just when the strain on the President was becoming intolerable, Professor Harry Pratt Judson reported for duty and removed from Dr. Harper's shoulders the greater part of the preliminary organizing and administration labors. It was at this critical and opportune moment that Dr. Judson began that long period of service, during which he revealed those great teaching and administrative gifts which eventually made him the President of the University. When Mr. Field made his subscription, conditioned on the securing of a full million dollars by July 10, 1892, the subscription of Sidney A. Kent for the Chemical Laboratory, already made, was to be counted as a part of this sum. Mr. Kent generously increased his pledge to two hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars. Much quiet work was done during May, and fifty thousand dollars was given by Mrs. Elizabeth Kelly and eighteen thousand dollars by other women for halls for women students. Early in June came a great subscription of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars from Silas B. Cobb, and immediately after a cablegram from Martin A. Ryerson, who was abroad, for a similar amount. These great pledges were quickly followed by fifty thousand dollars from Mrs. Nancy A. Foster and hope ran high in all hearts.