61
Suggestive List of Subjects.
Elementary Vegetable Anatomy and Physiology. Poisonous Plants of Nebraska. General Principles of Breeding. Points of the Thoroughbred. Anatomy and Physiology of Horses and Cattle in Relation to Feeding. Stable and Farm Hygiene. Soundness in Animals. The Horse's Foor; and Horse Shooing. Infectious Diseases of Stock. The Care of Milk, for the Market; and for Butter and Cheese Making. The Diseases of Cattle as Affecting Milk and Flesh. How to Take Care of and Orchard, Vinyard, etc. How to Graft. Best Vines and Fruit Trees for Nebraska. Best Hedge, and How and When to Care for It. The Farmer's Kitchen Garden. Value of Different Kinds of Fodder, When to Cut Them, etc.
62
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA CHANCELLORS OFFICE LINCOLN, NEB. Nov. 2nd, 1891
Prof. Chas. E. Bessey, University of Nebraska.
Dear Prof. Bessey:
I wish you would name to me the subjects of one or more somewhat popular Addresses, Lectures, or Talks which you will be willing to give at points that I may name, and under arrangements that I may make, at any time after the first of January next.
I hope to have these delivered before Reading Clubs, Circles, and other literary bodies of light nature. They should not be to exceed one hour in length, and I think myself that fifty minutes is better; and should be arranged to reach and attract the average audience and the average Nebraska town.
What I care about most is putting you into a community in such a way as to give you a welcome and enable you to tie yourself and to us some of the people who are interested- or should be interested- in University work, and some of the younger people who ought to finish their education here.
I will, of course, make the necessary arrangements for your expenses, but I think we ought not to expect any remuneration; and will see that your class work here does not suffer in your absence. By this I do not mean the classes can be carried while you are away, but that I will co-operate with you in making some arrangement by which they themselves may push on their work advantageously for a day or two without your presence.
Very Cordially Yours, James H. Canfield, Chancellor.
63
Greensburg, Pa., Oct., 3, 1891.
Prof. Charles E. Bessey: Dear Friend, I write you thus soon again, on account of a sudden change in my surroundings. I think that I mentioned to you before leaving the West, that I had in view a candidacy for a college Presidency in one of our Eastern schools. When I arrived here, I found things apparently favorable, there being a vacancy in the Presidency, with an Acting President who declined the Presidency, and no canidate in the field. I had expected however, to wait, before presenting my name to the Board, until I had cultivated a personal acquaintance with some of the members of the Board, that I might not be as it were an absolutely unknown juantity to them. The sudden death of the Acting President, just as the college season opened, has completely upset my plans, and I have been forced to present my name to them at once. That you may be the better able to judge of my fitness for the position to which I aspire, I will take a moment to inform you of the present status of the College I have in view. It had run down so a few years ago that it was on the point of collapsing, but was taken in hand by a young manand was distinctly on the up grade, when he died. He had selected an almost entirely new faculty of
64
2. young men so that there is, at the present time, only one man on the faculty, who has been out of college as long as myself. Another man was then selected as President, who had been engaged in the Missionary work as Secretary of the Foreign Society, and who refused to give up that work upon taking the Presidency. The result was, that, feeling that he could no longer carry the double work, he resigned last Spring, and Vice-President, refusing the offered Presidency, was left in charge for the ensuing year. His sudden death makes it obligatory upon the Board to take some immediate action, and hence this letter. In presenting my name, I have referred several members to you as having knowledge of my work and general reputation. I write this, to ask that, if you can conscienciously do so, you will send me at your earliest convience, a written commendation of my canidacy for this specific position. The name of this College is Bethany College, situated in Bethany, W. Va. I am sorry that the fungus stood the trip so poorly, Would it have been better to have dried it before sending? The spoiled one was a reticulated variety. I was sorry not to be able to send you the one growing out of the pupa. Hoping that my rejuest may not put you to serious trouble, I am, Sincerely, Ypur friend, A..M. Chamberlain
65
Greensburg, Pa., Sept., 11, 1891.
Prof. Chas. E. Bessey: Dear Freind, I am barely settled down here in a church pastorate while waiting for an avaliable opening in school work. Have been here about ten days. Last night I happened to meet a man who had been out on Chestnut Ridge, botanizing for fungi. He had, I should think, forty or fifty specimens, some very curious, and he said new to him. He gave me one or two duplicates which I send to you by same mail with this. I presume there will be nothing new to you, but thought you would be able to make use of them in some way. The gentleman had one specimen which was very curious and which, he said he had never heard of as occuring in this country, though common in New Zealand. It was a fungus, a Spheria I believe he called it growing out of an insect pupa. This one was orange colored, while the New Zealand variety was white. The occurance may not be new, I have no means of judging as to that, but thought that it might be interesting to you. If you find anything of interest in this, I presume I can procure other specimens through the same source. Best wishes for your work, Sincerely, [?]