knew most
about running a modern institution of the higher learning. Only the
perfectest bloom of his ardor faded under the constant handling of rough
fingers. The interval separating Blaines College and the University of
Paris began to loom larger than it had seemed in the halcyon
summer-time, and the classic group of noble piles receded further and
further into the prophetic haze. But West's fine energy and optimism
remained. And he continued to see in the college, unpromising though the
outlook was in some respects, a real instrument for the uplift.

The president sat up late on those evenings when social diversions did
not claim his time, going over and over his faculty list with a critical
eye, and always with profound disapproval. There were only three Ph.D.'s
among them, and as a whole the average of attainment was below, rather
than above, the middle grade. They were, he was obliged to admit, a lot
of cheap men for a cheap college. With such a staff, a distinguished
standard was clearly not to be hoped for. But what to do about it? His
general idea during the summer had been mercilessly to weed out the weak
brothers in the faculty, a few at a time, and fill their places with men
of the first standing. But now a great obstacle presented itself. Men of
the first standing demanded salaries of the first standing. Blaines
College was not at present in position to pay such salaries. Obviously
one of two courses remained. Either the elevation of the faculty must
proceed in a very modest form, or else Blaines College must get in
position to pay larger salaries. West decided to move in both
directions.

There was one man on the staff that West objected to from the first
faculty meeting. This was a man named Harkly Young, a youngish,
tobacco-chewing fellow of lowly origin and unlessoned manners, who was
"assistant professor" of mathematics at a salary of one thousand dollars
a year. Professor Young's bearing and address did anything but meet the
president's idea of scholarliness; and West had no difficulty in
convincing himself of the man's incompetence. Details came to his
attention from time to time during the autumn which served to strengthen
his snap-shot judgment, but he made the mistake, doubtless, of failing
to communicate his dissatisfaction to Professor Young, and so giving him
an inkling of impending disaster. West knew of just the man for this
position, a brilliant young assistant superintendent of schools in