Rochambeau College was denominational and of the blue Presbyterian
order, under the care of the Synod. This connection was, however, almost
purely theoretical and we were very much left alone to our own devices
so long as no attempt was made by the President or members of the
Faculty to blow loud heretical trumpets. Most of the members of the
Board of Trustees were good fellows, mildly interested in the church and
very much interested in educating young men. This real interest was
manifested in an unmistakeable manner by their steady contributions to
the College finances which at this time were not in too flourishing a
condition. Not a few of the Trustees were depriving themselves of
luxuries and even necessities in order that the Faculty might have
decent living conditions. Not all the members of the Faculty appreciated
this, but I did. Most of the members of our Board were earnest men
worthy of respect and I, for one, did thoroughly respect them. The
President, Dr. Camden, was a genial old chap, prone to discover all
sorts of excellencies in the members of his Faculty and active in
proclaiming them to the Board and to the world. He used the same methods
with the students and was able to rule without despotism.
Some of his methods were, however quite near the border line which
divides the good from the bad, and aroused the condemnation of some more
rigid members of the Faculty who were rich enough to be independent. In
most cases his makeshift measures were made necessary by lack of funds,
and were, therefore, forgivable.
On my return home I found a letter awaiting me, and next morning, after
my first class had recited I went to see the President. He came peering
into the room with a frown on his face. On recognizing me his face
lighted up and he advanced with both hands open and a beaming face.
“My dear Brown! I am so glad to see you.”
“I came over, Doctor,” said I, “to see whether you would be so good as
to advise me? I have just had an offer from Ashton University, and am
undecided what I had better do. I like my work very much here but they
have offered me more money.”
“It is very good of you, Brown, to come to me at once and I appreciate
it. I should be very sorry to have you leave, and if you will tell me
whether a small addition to your salary will induce you to stay I will
ask the Trustees to add, let us say, $200.00 to your allowance. But now,
my dear fellow I must ask you to do me a favor. You know that Professor
Last is to leave us at the end of the year and I want you to teach
Metallurgy. Only two lectures a week for one term, you know?”
“But, Doctor, I am not posted on Metallurgy.”
“Oh, but I feel sure you can do excellently well. It is very simple. You
put the ore and fuel into a furnace, light the fire and there you are.
And Brown! now we have settled that, I want you to take tea with me
to-morrow evening. I must try to see more of you. I must see that you
are taken care of.”