NeverbeforehadIanyconceptionoftheheighttowhich``talltalk’’mightattain。Itwastheapotheosisofblather;
butasmyeyewanderedovertheassemblage，Inoticedthatmanyfacesworesmiles，anditwascleartomethatthemembershadmerelywishedtoexhibittheirmostamusingspecimen。
IfeltthatiftheycouldstanditIcould，andso，havingbiddentheSpeakerandMr。Donnellygood—bye，passedoutandmadetheacquaintanceoftheneighboringcityofSt。
Paul，whichstruckmeasevenmorebeautifulthanEdinburghintheviewsfromitsprincipalstreetsoverhills，valleys，andmountains。
AttheUniversityofMichigan，inviewofmyrecentvisit，Ididnotagainstop，butatHarvardandYaleI
addressedthestudents，andreturnedhomefromtheexcursionwithnewfaithinthefutureofthecountry。JamesBryceisrightwhenhedeclaresthatinouruniversitiesliethebesthopesoftheUnitedStates。
EarlyintheyearfollowingtheelectionIwasappointedbythePresidentambassadortoGermany。Ihadnotsoughttheposition;indeed，IhaddistinctlydeclinedtospeakofthemattertoanyofthosewhoweresupposedtohavethemanagementofpoliticalaffairsintheState。
Itcametome，directlyandunsought，fromPresidentMcKinley;Ithereforeprizedit，andshalleverprizetheremembranceofit。
Whileitwasannouncedaspending，IwasurgedbyvariousfriendstospeakofthesubjecttoMr。Platt，whoastheonlyRepublicansenatorfromNewYorkandtheheadoftheRepublicanorganization，wassupposedtohavelargerightsinthematter。ItwashintedtomethatsomestatementtoMr。PlattonthesubjectwasrequiredbypoliticaletiquetteandwouldsmooththePresident’sway。MyanswerwasthatIfeltrespectandfriendshipforMr。Platt;thatIcalledathisroomsfromtimetotimesocially，anddiscussedvariouspublicmatterswithhim;butthatIcouldnevermakearequesttohiminthepremises;thatIcouldnotputmyselfintheattitudeofasuppliant，evenintheslightestdegree，tohimoreventothePresident。
TheresultwasthatthePresidenthimselfspoketoMr。
Plattonthesubject，and，asIwasafterwardinformed，thesenatorrepliedthathewouldmakenoobjection，butthattheappointmentoughtnottobechargedagainsttheclaimsoftheStateofNewYork。
Thepresidentialcampaignof1900，inwhichMr。McKinleywaspresentedforrelection，touchedmebutslightly。
TherecamevariouslettersurgingmetobecomeacandidatefortheVice—Presidency，andsundrynewspaperspresentedreasonsformynomination，themainargumentbeingthesamewhichhadbeenformerlyusedasregardedthegovernorshipofNewYork——thattheGerman—AmericanswereestrangedfromtheRepublicanpartybythehightariff，andthatIwastheonlyRepublicanwhocoulddrawthemtotheticket。AllthisIdeprecated，andrefusedtotakeanypartinthematter，meantimewritingmynephew，whohadbecomemysuccessorintheStateSenate，myfriendDr。Holls，andothers，tourgethe，nameofTheodoreRoosevelt。Ihadknownhimformanyyearsandgreatlyadmiredhim。Hisintegritywasproofagainstallattack，hiscourageundoubted，andhisvigoramazing。
Itwasclearthathedesiredrenominationfortheplacehealreadyheld——thegovernorshipofNewYork——partlybecausehewasdevotedtocertainreforms，whichhecouldcarryoutonlyinthatposition，andpartlybecausehepreferredactivityasgovernorofagreatStatetotheusuallypassiveconditionofaVice—PresidentoftheUnitedStates。
Moreover，heundoubtedlyhadaspirationstothePresidency。
Thesewereperfectlylegitimate，andindeedhon—
orable，inhim，astheyareinanymanwhofeelsthathehasthequalitiesneededinthathighoffice。HeandhisfriendsclearlyfeltthatthetransitionfromthegovernorshipofNewYorktothePresidencyfouryearslaterwouldbemorenaturalthanthatfromtheVice—Presidency;butinmylettersIinsistedthathisnamewouldgreatlystrengthenthenationalticket，andthathisroadtothePresidencyseemedtomemoreeasyfromtheVice—Presidencythanfromthegovernorship;that，althoughduringrecentyearsVice—Presidentshadnotbeennominatedtothehigheroffice，duringformeryearstheyhadbeen;andthatIcouldseenoreasonwhyhemightnotbringaboutareturntotheearliercustom。Astomyself，atmyage，I
greatlypreferredthedutiesofambassadortothoseofVice—President。TheRepublicanpartywaswiseenoughtotakethisview，andattheNationalConventionhewasnominatedbyacclamation。
EarlyinAugust，havingtakenaleaveofabsenceforsixtydays，IarrivedinNewYork，andonlandingreceivedaninvitationfromMr。Roosevelttopassthedaywithhimathishouseinthecountry。Ifoundhimthesameearnest，energetic，straightforwardmanasofold。ThoughnominatedtotheVice—Presidencyagainsthiswill，hehadthrownhimselfheartilyintothecampaign;andthediscussionathishouseturnedmainlyonthesecuringofapropercandidateforthegovernorshipoftheStateofNewYork。
IrecommendedCharlesAndrews，who，althoughinthefullestvigorofmindandbody，hadbeenretiredfromthechief—justiceshipoftheStateonhisarrivalattheageofseventyyears。ThisrecommendationMr。Rooseveltreceivedfavorably;butlateritwasfoundimpossibletocarryitout，theRepublicanorganizationintheStatehavingdecidedinfavorofMr。Odell。
DuringmyentirestayintheUnitedStatesIwasconstantlyoccupiedwitharrearsofpersonalbusinesswhichhadbeentoolongneglected;but，attherequestofvariousfriends，wrotesundryopenlettersandarticles，whichwerewidelycirculatedamongGerman—Americans，showingtheinjusticeofthechargesoconstantlymadeagainstPresidentMcKinley，ofhostilitytoGermanyandGermaninterests。Nothingcouldbemoreabsurdthansuchanimputation。Theveryoppositewasthecase。
IalsogaveafarewelladdresstoagreatassemblageofstudentsatCornellUniversity，mytopicbeing``TheTrueConductofStudentLife’’;butinthecourseofmyspeech，havingalludedtotheimportanceofsobrietyofjudgment，Itestedbyitsundrypoliticalcontentionswhichwerestronglymadeonbothsides，alludingespeciallytoGoldwinSmith’sveryearnestdeclarationthatoneofthegreatestdangerstoournationarisesfromplutocracy。
Itookpainstoshowthatthewholespiritofourlawsisinfavoroftherapiddispersionofgreatproperties，andthat，withintheremembranceofmanypresent，alargenumberofthegreatestfortunesintheUnitedStateshadbeenwidelydispersed。Astootherdeclarationsregardingdangersarisingfromtheacquisitionofforeignterritoryandthelike，Iinsistedthatallthesedangerswereasnothingcomparedtooneofwhichwewerethenhavingastrikingillustration——namely，demagogism;andIurged，whatIhavelongdeeplyfelt，thatthemainsourceofdangertorepublicaninstitutionsisnow，andalwayshasbeen，thedemagogismwhichseekstoarraylaboragainstcapital，employeeagainstemployer，professionagainstprofession，classagainstclass，sectionagainstsection。I
mentionedthenameofnoone;butitmusthavebeencleartoallpresenthowdeeplyIfeltregardingtheissueswhicheachpartyrepresented，andespeciallyregardingtheresorttothelowestformofdemagogismwhichMr。Bryanwasthenmaking，inthedesperateattempttosavehisfallingfortunes。
DuringthisstayinAmericaImadetwovisitstoWashingtontoconferwiththePresidentandtheStateDepartment。
ThefirstofthesewasduringthehottestweatherI
haveeverknown。Therewerefewpeopleatthecapitalwhocouldleaveit，andattheArlingtonHoteltherewerenotmorethanadozenguests。Allweredistressedbytheheat。Moreover，therewasanamazingcomplicationofpoliticalmattersatthistime，calculatedtoprostratetheWashingtonofficials，eveniftheheathadnotdoneso;and，amongthese，thoserelatingtoAmericancontrolinthePhilippineIslands;thebitterstrugglethengoingoninChinabetweentherepresentativesofforeignpowers，includingourown，andtheChineseinsurrectionists;thedifficultiesarisingoutofthesuccessfulresultoftheSpanishWarinCuba;complicationsinthenewadministrationofPortoRico;andthemyriadofquestionsarisinginaheatedpoliticalcampaign，whichwasthenrunningfastandfurious。
ArrivingattheWhiteHouse，IpassedanhourwiththePresident，andfoundhim，ofallmeninWashington，theonlyonewhoseemednotatalltroubledbytheheat，bythecomplicationsinChina，bythedifficultiesinCubaandPortoRico，orbytherushandwhirlofthecampaign。HecalmlydiscussedwithmethedraftofapoliticalnotewhichwastobeissuednextdayinanswertotheRussiancommunicationsregardingthemodeofprocedureinChina，whichhadstartedsomeverytryingquestions;andthenshowedmealetterfromex—PresidentClevelanddecliningapositionontheInternationalArbitrationTribunalattheHague，andacceptedmysuggestionnottoconsideritafinalanswer，buttomakeanothereffortforMr。Cleveland’sacceptance。Duringthisfirstvisitofmine，theSecretaryofStateandtheFirstAssistantSecretarywerebothabsent，havingbeenalmostprostratedbytheextremeheat。AtasecondvisitinOctober，IagainsawthePresident，foundhiminthesameequableframeofmind，notallowinganythingtotroublehim，quietlydischarginghisdutiesinthecalmfaiththatallwouldturnoutwell。DiningwithSecretaryHay，ImentionedthisequanimityofthePresident，whenhesaid:``Yes;itisasourceofperpetualamazementtousall。Heallowsnoquestion，nomatterhowcomplicatedorvexatious，todisturbhim。Sometimesince，atameetingofthecabinet，oneofitsmembersburstoutintoabitterspeechagainstsomegovernmentofficialwhohadbeenguiltyofgrossrudeness，andsaid，`Mr。President，hehasinsultedyou，andhehasinsultedme’;thereuponthePresidentsaidcalmly，`Mr。Secretary，ifhehasinsultedME，Iforgivehim;
ifhehasinsultedyou，Ishallremovehimfromoffice。’’’
NewspaperswereteemingwithmisrepresentationsofthePresident’scourse，buttheyfailedtorufflehim。OnhisaskingifIwastakinganypartinthecampaign，I
referredtoaspeechthatIhadmadeontheFourthofJulyinLeipsic，andanothertotheCornellUniversitystudentsjustbeforemydeparture，withtheremarkthatIfeltthataforeigndiplomaticrepresentativecominghomeandthrowinghimselfeagerlyintothecampaignmightpossiblydomoreharmthangood。Inthisremarkheacquiesced，andsaid:``Ishallnot，myself，makeanyspeecheswhatever;norshallIgiveanypublicreceptions。MyrecordisbeforetheAmericanpeople，andtheymustpassjudgmentuponit。InthisrespectIshallgobacktowhatseemstomethebetterpracticeoftheearlyPresidents。’’
Iwasstruckbythejusticeofthis，andtoldhimso，althoughIfeltobligedtosaythathewouldbeunderfearfultemptationtospeakbeforethecampaignhadgonemuchfarther。Hesmiled，butheldtohisdetermination，despitethefactthathisopponentinvadedallpartsoftheUnioninanoratoricalfrenzy，inonecasemakingaspeechathalf—pasttwointhemorningtoacrowdassembledatarailwaystation，andmakingduringonedaythirty—onespeeches，teemingwitheverykindofcampaignmisrepresentation;
butthePresidentwasfaithfultohispromise，utterednowordinreply，andwasrelected。
Notonlyathome，butabroad，asIcanamplytestify，thenewsofhisrelectionwasreceivedwithgeneralsatisfaction，andmostofallbythosewhowishwelltoourcountryandcherishhopesthatgovernmentbythepeopleandforthepeoplemaynotbebroughttonaughtbythewilddemagogismwhichhaswreckedallgreatrepublicsthusfar。
Butalas！thetriumphwasshort—lived。OnemorninginSeptember，whileIwasslowlyrecoveringfromtwoofthegreatestbereavementswhichhaveeverbefallenme，camethefrightfulnewsofhisassassination。Shortlyafterward，forfamilyandbusinessreasons，IwentforafewweekstotheUnitedStates，and，inthecourseofmyvisit，conferredwiththenewPresidentthreetimes——firstattheYalebicentennialcelebration，afterwardinhisprivateoffice，andfinallyathistableintheWhiteHouse。
Hardindeedwasitformetorealizewhathadtakenplace——thatPresidentMcKinley，whomIhadsorecentlyseeninhischairattheheadofthecabinettable，wasgoneforever;
thatinthoserooms，whereIhad，atfourdifferenttimes，chattedpleasantlywithhim，hewasnevertobeseenmore;andthathere，inthatsameseat，wassittingmyoldfriendandco—laborer。HardwasittorealizethatthelasttimeIhadmetMr。RooseveltinthatsameroomwaswhenwebesoughtPresidentHarrisontoextendthecivilservice。
InterestingasthenewPresident’sconversationwas，therewasconstantlyinmymind，whetherinhisofficeorhisparlorsorthedining—roomattheWhiteHouse，onedeepundertone。Itwaslikethepedalbassofanorgan，steadilygivingthegroundtoneofarequiem——thevanityandevanescenceofallthingsearthly。TherehadIseen，inthemidstoftheirjubilantsupporters，Pierce，Lincoln，Grant，Hayes，Garfield，Cleveland，Harrison，and，finally，soshortatimebefore，McKinley。Itseemedalladream。
InhisconversationsthenewPresidentshowedthesamequalitiesthatIhadbeforeknowninhim——earnestness，vigor，integrity，fearlessness，and，attimes，asenseofhumor，blendingplayfullywithhisgreaterqualities。ThemessagehegavemetotheEmperorWilliamwascharacteristic。
IwasnaturallychargedtoassuretheEmperorofthePresident’skindfeeling;buttothiswasadded，inatoneofunmistakabletruth:``TellhimthatwhenIsaythis，Imeanit。IhavebeenbroughtuptoadmireandrespectGermany。Mylifeinthatcountryandmyreadingsincehavesteadilyincreasedthisrespectandadmiration。’’
InoticedonthetableaGermanbookwhichhehadjustbeenreading，itsauthorbeingmyoldfriendProfessorHansDelbrckoftheBerlinUniversity。Atthecloseofthemessage，whichreferredtosundrymattersofcurrentbusiness，cameaplayfulpostlude。``TellhisMajesty，’’
saidthePresident，``thatIamahunterand，assuch，envyhimonethingespecially:hehasdonewhatIhaveneveryetbeenabletodo——hehaskilledawhale。ButsaytohimthatifhewillcometotheUnitedStates，IwilltakehimtotheRockyMountainstohuntthemountainlions，whichisnobadsport，——andthatifhekillsone，ashedoubtlesswill，hewillbethefirstmonarchwhohaskilledalionsinceTiglath—Pileser。’’Ineedhardlyaddthatwhen，afewweekslater，IdeliveredthemessagetotheEmperoratPotsdam，itpleasedhim。ManypeopleonbothsidesoftheAtlantichavenotedasimilarityinqualitiesbetweenthesetworulers，and，fromcloseobservation，Imustconfessthatthisisbetterfoundedthanaremostsuchattributedresemblances。TheEmperorhasindeedseveralaccomplishments，moreespeciallyinartisticmatters，which，sofarasIcanlearn，thePresidenthasnot;butbothareambitiousinthenoblestsense;bothareyoungmenofdeepbeliefsandhighaims;earnest，vigorous，straightforward，clear—sighted;goodspeakers，yetsturdyworkers，andanxiousfortheprosperity，butaboveallthingsjealousforthehonorofthepeoplewhoseaffairstheyarecalledtoadminister。ThePresident’saccountsofdifficultiesinfindingmenforresponsiblepositionsinvariousbranchesoftheservice，andhisclearstatementsoftheproperlinetobeobservedinpoliticaldealingsbetweentheUnitedStatesandEuropewhereSouthAmericaninterestswereconcerned，showedhimtobeabroad—mindedstatesman。Duringmystaywithhim，wealsodiscussedoneortwopointsinhisforthcomingmessagetoCongress，andinduetimeitwasreceivedatBerlin，attractinggeneralrespectandadmirationinGermany，asthroughoutEuropegenerally。
PARTIII
ASUNIVERSITYPROFESSOR
CHAPTERXV
LIFEATTHEUNIVERSITYOFMICHIGAN——1857—1864
AsIlookedoutupontheworldduringmychildhood，thereloomedupwithinmylittlehorizoncertainpersonagesasideals。Foremostofthesewasthesurplicedclergymanoftheparish。Sostrongwasmyadmirationforhimthatmydearmother，duringherentirelife，neverrelinquishedthehope，andindeedtheexpectation，thatI
wouldadopttheclericalprofession。
Anotherobjectofmyadmiration——towhoseprofessionIaspired——wasthevillagecarpenter。He``didthings，’’
andfromthatdaytothisIhavemostadmiredthemenwho``dothings。’’
YetanotherofthesepersonageswastheprincipalofCortlandAcademy。AsIsawhimaddressinghisstudents，orsittinginthemidstofthemobservingwithatelescopethesatellitesofJupiter，Iwasoverawed。Asenseofmylittlenessovercameme，andIhardlydaredthinkofaspiringtodutiessoexalted。
Butattheageofsevenanewidealappeared。ThefamilyhadremovedfromthelittletownwhereIwasborntoSyracuse，thenarisingvillageofaboutfivethousandinhabitants。Therailways，eastandwest，hadjustbeencreated，——thebeginningsofwhatisnowtheNewYorkCentralRailroad，——andeveryday，sofaraspossible，I
wentdown—town``toseethecarsgoout。’’Duringalargepartoftheyeartherewasbutonepassenger—trainineachdirection，andthiswasmadeupofbutthreeorfoursmallcompartment—carsdrawnbyalocomotivewhichwouldnowbeconsideredridiculouslysmall，attherateoftwelvetofifteenmilesanhour。
YetIdoubtwhethertheexpresstrainsontheNewYorkCentral，drawnbyhundred—tonlocomotivesataspeedofsixtymilesanhour，produceontheyouthofthepresentgenerationanythingliketheimpressionmadebythosesimplebeginnings。Thenewpersonagewhonowattractedmyhomagewasthelocomotive—driver。Tomehisprofessiontranscendedallothers。Ashemountedthelocomotive，andespeciallyashepulledthestarting—bar，allotherfunctionsseemedinsignificant。EverydayIcontemplatedhim;oftenIdreamedofhim;sawhiminmymind’seyedashingthroughthedarknight，throughtherainandhail，throughdriftingsnow，throughperilsof``wash—
outs’’and``snake—heads，’’andnochildinthemiddleageseverthoughtwithmoreaweofacrusadingknightleadinghistroopstotheHolyCitythandidIthinkofthisherostandingathispostinallweathers，conductinghistraintoitsdestinationbeyondthedistanthills。Itwasindeedthedayofsmallthings。ThetravelerpassingfromNewYorktoBuffalointhosedayschangedfromthesteameratAlbanytothetrainforSchenectady，therechangedtothetrainforUtica，thencetookthetrainforSyracuse，therestayedovernight，thentookatrainforAuburn，wherehefoundthetrainforRochester，andaftertwomorechangesarrivedinBuffaloafterajourneyoftwodaysandanight，whichisnowmadeinfromeighttotenhours。
Butthelocomotive—driverwasnonethelessapersonage，andImustconfessthatmyoldfeelingofrespectforhimclingstomestill。TothishourIneverseehimcontrollinghisfierysteedwithoutinvestinghimwithsomeoftheattributeswhichIdiscernedinhimduringmychildhood。
Itisevidenttomethatthenextheroeswhompoetswillexploitwillbethedriversofourrailwaytrainsandthepilotsofouroceansteamers。Onepoethas，indeed，madeabeginningalready，——andthispoettheSecretaryofStateoftheUnitedStatesunderwhomIamnowserving，theHon。
JohnHay。Stillanotherpoet，honoredthroughouttheworld，hasalsofoundaherointheengine—driver，andRudyardKiplingwillnodoubtbefollowedbyothers。
Butmydreamofbecomingalocomotive—driverfaded，andwhileincollegeIspeculatednotalittleastowhat，afterall，shouldbemyprofession。Theideaofbecomingaclergymanhadlongsinceleftmymind。Themedicalprofessionhadneverattractedme。ForthelegalprofessionIsoughttopreparemyselfsomewhat，butasIsawitpractisedbythevastmajorityoflawyers，itseemedawasteofallthatwasbestinhumanlife。Politicswerefromanearlyperiodrepulsivetome，and，aftermyfirstsightofWashingtoninitsshabby，sleazy，dirty，unkemptconditionundertheoldslaveoligarchy，politicallifebecameabsolutelyrepugnanttomytastesanddesires。Attimesalongingcameovermetosettledowninthecountry，tomakeanhonestlivingfromafarm——alongingwhichtookitsorigininavisitwhichIhadmadeasachildtothefarmofanunclewholivedupontheshoresofSenecaLake。Hewasamanofculture，who，bytheaidofapracticalfarmerandanincomefromothersources，gotalongverywell。Hisroomy，old—fashionedhouse，hispleasantlibrary，hisgroundsslopingtothelake，hispeach—orchard，whichatmyvisitwasfilledwithdeliciousfruit，andthepleasantpathsthroughtheneighboringwoodscaptivatedme，andforseveralyearstheagriculturalprofessionlingeredinmyvisionsasthemostattractiveofall。
AsInowlookbacktomyearlymanhood，itseemsthatmynaturalinclinationshouldhavebeentowardjournalism;
butalthoughsuchacareerprovesattractivetomanyofourbestuniversity—bredmennow，itwasnotsothen。
Inthosedaysmendidnotprepareforit;theydriftedintoit。Idonotthinkthatatmygraduationtherewasoneoutoftheonehundredandeightmembersofmyclasswhohadtheslightestexpectationofpermanentlyconnectinghimselfwithanewspaper。Thisseemsallthemoresingularsincethatclasshassinceproducedalargenumberofprominentjournalists，andamongtheseGeorgeWashburneSmalley，themosteminent，byfar，amongAmericannewspapercorrespondentsofourtime;EvartsGreene，aleadingeditorofWorcester;DelanoGoddard，lateeditorofthe``BostonAdvertiser’’;KinsleyTwining，foraconsiderabletimeaneditorofthe``Independent’’;
IsaacBromley，whoforyearsdelightedtheRepublicanpartywithhiscontributionstotheeditorialpageofthe``Tribune’’;Dr。JamesMorrisWhiton，aleadingwriterforthe``Outlook’’;andothers。Yetinthosedaysprobablynotoneoftheseeverthoughtofturningtojournalismasacareer。Therewereindeedatthattimeeminenteditors，likeWeed，Croswell，Greeley，Raymond，andWebb，butfewcollege—bredmenthoughtofjournalismasaprofession。
Lookingbackuponallthis，Ifeelcertainthat，wereItobeginlifeagainwithmypresentexperience，thatwouldbethecareerforwhichIwouldendeavortofitmyself。Ithasinitatpresentmanyadmirablemen，butfarmorewhoaremanifestlyunfit。Itscapacitiesforgoodorevilareenormous，yetthemajorityofthoseatpresentinitseemtomelikesavageswhohavefoundawatch。I
canthinkofnoprofessioninwhichyoungmenproperlyfitted——giftedwithideasandinspiredbyarealwishtodosomethingfortheirlandandtime——canmorecertainlydogoodworkandwindistinction。Tosupplantthepresentraceofjournalisticprostitutes，whoaremakingmanyofournewspapersasfoulinmorals，aslowintone，andasvileinutteranceaseventheworstoftheFrenchpress，mightwellbetheambitionofleadingthinkersinanyofouruniversities。Thereisnothingsogreatlyneededinourcountryasanupliftingofthedailypress，andthereisnoworkpromisingbetterreturns。
ButduringmystudentlifeinParisandBerlinanothervistabegantoopenbeforeme。IhadneverlostthatrespectfortheteachingprofessionwhichhadbeenarousedinmychildhoodbythesightofPrincipalWoolworthenthronedamongthestudentsofCortlandAcademy，andthisearlyimpressionwasnowgreatlydeepenedbymyexperienceattheSorbonne，theCollegeofFrance，andtheUniversityofBerlin。MyfavoritestudiesatYalehadbeenhistoryandkindredsubjects，butthesehadbeentaughtmainlyfromtext—books。Lectureswerefewanddry。EventhoseofPresidentWoolseywerenotinspiring;
heseemedparalyzedbythesystemofwhichheformedapart。ButmenlikeArnould，St。MarcGirardin，andLaboulayeinFrance，andLepsius，Ritter，vonRaumer，andCurtiusinGermany，lecturingtolargebodiesofattentivestudentsonthemostinterestingandinstructiveperiodsofhumanhistory，arousedinmeanewcurrentofideas。GraduallyIbegantoaskmyselfthequestion:WhynothelpthebeginningsofthissystemintheUnitedStates？
IhadlongfeltdeeplytheshortcomingsofourAmericanuniversities，andhadtriedhardtodevisesomethingbetter;
yetmyideasastowhatcouldreallybedonetoimprovethemhadbeencrudeandvague。Butnow，inthesegreatforeignuniversities，onemeansofmakingareformbecameevident，andthiswas，firstofall，thesubstitutionoflecturesforrecitations，andthecreationofaninterestinhistorybytreatingitasalivingsubjecthavingrelationstopresentquestions。UponthisIreflectedmuch，anddaybydaytheideagrewuponme。SofarasIcanremember，therewasnotatthattimeaprofessorofhistorypureandsimpleinanyAmericanuniversity。Therehadbeencoursesofhistoricallecturesatafewinstitutions，buttheywere，asarule，spasmodicandperfunctory。HowhistorywastaughtatYaleisshowninanotherchapterofthesereminiscences。ThelecturesofPresidentSparkshadevidentlytrainedupnoschoolofhistoricalprofessorsatHarvard。TherehadbeenanotedprofessoratWilliamandMaryCollege，Virginia，——doubtless，inhistime，thebesthistoricallecturerintheUnitedStates，——Dr。WilliamDew，thenotesofwhoselectures，asafterwardpublished，wereadmirable;buthehadleftnosuccessor。FrancisLieber，attheUniversityofSouthCarolina，hadtaughtpoliticalphilosophywithmuchdepthofthoughtandwealthofhistoricalillustration;butneithertherenorelsewheredidthereexistanythinglikesystematiccoursesinhistorysuchashavenowbeendevelopedinsomanyofouruniversitiesandcolleges。
DuringmystayasresidentgraduateatYaleaftermyreturnfromEuropein1856，IoftendiscussedthesubjectwithmyoldfriendandcompanionGilman，nowpresidentoftheCarnegieInstitution，andwithmybelovedinstructor，ProfessorPorter。BothwerekindenoughtourgemetoremainatNewHaven，assuringmethatintimeaprofessorshipwouldbeestablished。TopromotethisIwroteanarticleon``GermanInstructioninGeneralHistory，’’
whichwaswellreceivedwhenpublishedinthe``NewEnglander，’’andpreparedsundrylectures，whichwerereceivedbytheuniversitypeopleandbytheNewYorkpressmorefavorablythanInowthinktheydeserved。Butthereseemed，afterall，nochanceforaprofessorshipdevotedtothislineofstudy。Moreandmore，too，IfeltthatevenifI
werecalledtoahistoricalprofessorshipatYale，theold—
fashionedorthodoxywhichthenprevailedmustfetterme:
Icouldnotuttertheshibbolethsthendemanded，andthefutureseemeddarkindeed。Yetmybeliefinthevalueofbetterhistoricalinstructioninouruniversitiesgrewmoreandmore，andamosthappyimpulsewasnowgiventomythinkingbyabookwhichIreadandreread——
Stanley’s``LifeofArnold。’’Itshowedmemuch，butespeciallytwothings:first，howeffectivehistorymightbemadeinbringingyoungmenintofruitfultrainsofthoughtregardingpresentpolitics;and，secondly，howrealaninfluenceanearnestteachermightthusexerciseuponhiscountry。
WhileinthisstateofmindImetmyclassassembledattheYalecommencementof1856totakethemaster’sdegreeincourse，afterthemannerofthosedays。Thiswastheturning—pointwithme。Ihadbeenforsometimemoreandmoreuneasyandunhappybecausemywaydidnotseemtoclear;butatthiscommencementof1856，whileloungingamongmyclassmatesinthecollegeyard，IheardsomeonesaythatPresidentWaylandofBrownUniversitywasaddressingthegraduatesintheHalloftheAlumni。
Goingtothedoor，Ilookedin，andsawatthehightableanoldman，strong—featured，heavy—browed，withspectaclesrestingonthetopofhishead，andjustatthatmomenthespokeveryimpressivelyasfollows:``ThebestfieldofworkforgraduatesisnowintheWEST;ourcountryisshortlytoarriveataswitching—offplaceforgoodorevil;
ourWesternStatesaretoholdthebalanceofpowerintheUnion，andtodeterminewhetherthecountryshallbecomeablessingoracurseinhumanhistory。’’
Ihadneverseenhimbefore;Ineversawhimafterward。
Hisspeechlastedlessthantenminutes，butitsettledagreatquestionforme。IwenthomeandwrotetosundryfriendsthatIwasacandidatefortheprofessorshipofhistoryinanyWesterncollegewheretherewasachancetogetatstudents，andasaresultreceivedtwocalls——onetoaSouthernuniversity，whichIcouldnotacceptonaccountofmyanti—slaveryopinions;theothertotheUniversityofMichigan，whichIaccepted。MyoldcollegefriendswerekindenoughtotendermelatertheprofessorshipinthenewSchoolofArtatYale，butmybeliefwasfirminthevalueofhistoricalstudies。ThewordsofWaylandranginmyears，andIwentgladlyintothenewfield。
OnarrivingattheUniversityofMichiganinOctober，1857，althoughIhadmuchtodowithotherstudents，Itookespecialchargeofthesophomoreclass。Itincludedmanyyoungmenofabilityandforce，buthadthereputationofbeingthemostunmanageablebodywhichhadbeenknownthereinyears。Thusfarithadbeenunderthechargeoftutors，andithadmadelifeaburdentothem。ItspreparationfortheworkIsoughttodowaswretchedlyimperfect。
Amongmydutieswastheexaminationofentranceclassesinmoderngeographyasapreliminarytotheiradmissiontomycourseinhistory，andIsoondiscoveredaseriousweaknessinthepublic—schoolsystem。InherpreparatoryschoolstheStateofMichigantookespecialpride，butcertainlyatthattimetheywerefarbelowtheirreputation。Ifanysubjectwassupposedtobethoroughlytaughtinthemitwasgeography，butIsoonfoundthatinthegreatmajorityofmystudentstherewasnotatraceofrealknowledgeofphysicalgeographyandverylittleofpolitical。WiththisstateofthingsIatoncegrappled，andimmediately``conditioned’’inthesestudiesaboutninetenthsoftheenteringclass。Atfirstthereweremanyprotests;butIsaidtomyingenuousyouthsthatnopedanticstudywasneeded，thatallIrequiredwasapreparationsuchaswouldenableanyoneofthemtoreadintelligentlyhismorningnewspaper，andtothisendIadvisedeachoneofthemtoaccepthisconditions，toabjurealllearningbyrotefromtext—books，totakeupsimplyanyconvenientatlaswhichcametohand，studyingfirstthemapofourowncountry，withitsmaindivisions，physicalandpolitical，itswatercommunications，trendofcoasts，spurringofmountains，positionsofleadingcities，etc。，andthentodothesamethingwitheachoftheleadingcountriesofEurope，andfinallywiththeothermaindivisionsoftheworld。Tostimulatetheirinterestandshowthemwhatwasmeant，Igaveashortcourseoflecturesonphysicalgeography，showingsomeofitsmorestrikingeffectsonhistory;thenanothercourseonpoliticalgeography，withasimilarpurpose;andfinallynotifiedmyyoungmenthattheywereadmittedtomyclassesinhistoryonlyunderconditionthat，sixweekslater，theyshouldpassanexaminationingeography，full，satisfactory，andfinal。Theyoungfellowsnowtooktheirconditionsverykindly，fortheyclearlysawthejusticeofthem。Oneyoungmansaidtome:``Professor，youareentirelyrightinconditioningme，butIwasneversosurprisedinmylife;iftherewasanythingwhichIsupposedIknewwellitwasgeography;why，Ihavetaughtit，andverysuccessfully，inalargepublicschool。’’Onmyaskinghimhowhetaughtasubjectinwhichhewassodeficient，heansweredthathehadtaughthispupilsto``sing’’it。Irepliedthatifhewouldsingtheanswerstomyquestions，Iwouldadmithimatonce;butthishedeclined，sayingthathemuchpreferredtoaccepttheconditions。InaboutsixweeksIheldthefinalexaminations，andtheirsuccessamazedusall。
Notamanfailed，andsomereallydistinguishedthemselves。
Theyhadallgoneattheworkcordiallyandheartily，arrangingthemselvesinsquadsandclubsformutualstudyandexaminationoneachphysicalandpoliticalmap;
anditiscertainthatbythissimple，common—sensemethodtheylearnedmoreinsixweeksthantheyhadpreviouslylearnedinyearsofploddingalongbyrote，dayafterdaythroughtext—books。
Norwasthismere``cram。’’Theirgeographicalknowledgelastedandwasincreased，aswasprovedatmyhistoricalexaminationsafterward。
Isoonbecameintenselyinterestedinmywork，andlookedforwardtoiteverydaywithpleasure。Thefirstpartofitwasinstructioninmodernhistoryasabasisformylectureswhichweretofollow，andforthispurposeI
usedwiththesophomorestwotext—books。ThefirstofthesewasRobertson’s``PhilosophicalViewoftheMiddleAges，’’whichformstheintroductiontohis``LifeofCharlestheFifth。’’Althoughsupersededinmanyofitspartsbymoderninvestigation，verydefectiveinseveralimportantmatters，andinsomethings——as，forexample，initsappreciationofmedievalliterature——entirelymistaken，itwas，whenwrittenonehundredyearsago，recognizedasaclassic，anditremainssotothisday。Itwasaworkofgenius。Supplementedbyelucidationsandextensions，itservedanadmirablepurposeinintroducingmystudentstothethingsreallyworthknowinginmodernhistory，withoutconfusingthemwithmassesofpedanticdetail。
Thenexttext—bookwhichItookupwasDr。JohnLord’s``ModernHistory，’’thesamewhichPresidentWoolseyhadusedwithmyclassduringitssenioryearatYale。Itwasimperfectineveryrespect，withnoendofgapsanderrors，butithadonerealmerit——itinteresteditsreaders。
Itwas，aseverysuchworkoughttobe，largelybiographic。
Therewasenthusiasm，asortof``go，’’inDr。Lord，andthisqualityhehadcommunicatedtohisbook，sothat，withallitsfaults，itformedthebestbasisthenobtainableforfurtherinstruction。ItsomissionsanderrorsIsoughttorectify——asWoolsey，Iamsorrytosay，hadneverdonetoanyextent——byoffhandtalksandbypointingoutsupplementaryreading，suchassundrychaptersofGibbonandHallam，essaysbyMacaulay，extractsfromLingard，Ranke，Prescott，Motley，andothers。Onceafortnightthroughthewinter，theclassassembledatmyhousesocially，``themoreattractiveyoungwomenofthelittlecitybeinginvitedtomeetthem;butthesocialpartwasalwaysprecededbyanhourandahalf’sreadingofshortpassagesfromeminenthistoriansortravelers，bearingonourclassroomworkduringthepreviousfortnight。ThesepassageswerereadbystudentswhomIselectedforthepurpose，andtheyprovedusefulfromthehistorical，literary，andsocialpointofview。
Fortheclassnextabove，thejuniors，ItookfortextbookpreparationGuizot’s``HistoryofCivilizationinEurope’’——abooktingedwiththedoctrinairismofitsauthor，butaworkofgenius;aGREATwork，stimulatingnewtrainsofthought，andopeningnewvistasofknowledge。This，withsundrysupplementarytalks，andwithshortreadingsfromGibbon，Thierry，Guizot’s``HistoryofCivilizationinFrance，’’andSirJamesStephen’s``LecturesonFrenchHistory，’’servedanexcellentpurpose。
NorwastheuseofGuizot’sbookentirelyconfinedtohistoricalpurposes。CallingattentiontotheAbb