631
my cordial respect and support.
At least I can not think that a year's probation would compromise the University. It would be my own care to see that it did not compromise me.
I feel that my future as a scientific man is to a great extent in the hands of you and Prof. [?] – and I am sure, from the kindly interest that you have always taken in me, that it is in friendly hands. Whatever you yourselves approve of in this matter, I shall [?] [acquiesce on?].
I spent a delightful holiday vacation in N. Y. Friday I go down to Washington with [?] [?], where I mean to shake hands with [??] and carry away a lasting memory with which to entertain my open-mouthed grandchildren – [?] [lines?] in this [?].
I hope Mrs Bessey and the boys keep well during this winter weather [&?] is an unpleasant season.
Very Respectfully Conway [MacMillian?]
632
1887
Minn. University Minneapolis May [?]
Dear Professor Bessey:–
I am now fairly at work. Last night I talked for forty minutes before the "Minn. Academy of Sciences" on [Cuccinia graminis?] – I had prepared a couple of charts and [interested?] the small audience with long names of Greek derivation. This afternoon I have been painting a chart of the yeast plant for my Freshmen.
The work is pleasant. I have to do about as Prof. H. says and this is a little tiresome. let me give you the professor's philosophy. He is a logical fellow and reasons as follows,
(1) Sub-Freshmen are non-sentient beings.
633
(2) Non-sentient beings can not comprehend structural Botany.
(3) They are not expect to know everything when they get through the work of the [lesson?].
(4) Therefore it makes no diference whether they are [?] in one way or in another.
Carrying out this delightful plan the Professor give each Sub-Freshman a copy of your shorter coruse and a compound-microscope and permits him to break all the [?]-slips he wants to.
I [?], but Prof. H. assures me that it makes no difference. Sub-Freshman are really not to be considered as human and it is not worth while to [?] really to make them understand.
It makes me feel like [??]
[?] [?] every time a Sub-Freshman touches a microscope.
The Freshman classes and [botany?] [?] expect the [usual Gray?] but I keep them ex cited by outlandish botanical metaphors and jokes, with an occasional reference to protoplasm [?].
Prof. H. positively objects to [??] [?]. he usually won't have it at all.
I am getting along splendidly.
Prof. H. suggests that I continue in [?] (as far as practicable for an [?]) and elect a summer school. What do you think about it? Please tell me how much itpaid you. That would guide me.
Give my kindest regards to Mrs. Bessey and remember me to the boys, [and?] know that I am very grateful to you for your continued interest in my welfare.
Very sincerely, Conway McMillan.
634
Conway [MacMillan?]
[?] Ap. 25th 1887
Dear Professor Bessey
This is Monday morn. [???] will be the first day of my last month here, and then for home again. —f There is not much news to tell. You may be interested [??] now that I have been [?] successful so far as my work. My classes complain of [?] to [?]. This you see is in direct conflict with preconceived ideas of botanical methods and in the [?] of their complaints they [?] the [?] of something new. My Freshman Literary and Classical have finished that text book and are now working on plants. I have them get all notes of things [?] them of, make drwaings and descriptions and hand the whole in to me. This leaves [the boys?] [free?] for [going?] on past work, "short talks on great subjects" and that sort of thing. I was pleased to find that fully one-half of the class considered a [?] a [?] or gourd fruit until cutting into it. They are also delighted to find that apples have some definite structure. Previously they had supposed that there was apple and seeds in it. Now they
635
This page is not transcribed, please Help Transcribe this page