April 21, 1904.
Dr. Charles H. Levermore,
Adelphi College,
Brooklyn.
My dear Levermore:
I received your letter of the 20th, and the same mail brought a letter from the Chinese Minister saying that he cannot accept the invitation. I am sure it will be impossible to get a man like Senator Beveridge for our Commencement on the fourteenth, which is the week proceding the National Convention at Chicago. I had planned to go West about the end of the week preceding the week of Commencement and getting in Chicago in time for the National Convention. I am sorry to find that Commencement falls on the 14th of June. I will, however, try to adjust my business affairs so as to be on hand.
I am sorry to hear about Gilmore. I spent the evening with him ten days ago and he did not refer to the matter.
I think you did well in accepting the resignations of Johnson, Coler, Briggs and Jamison, and I think the three men you have decided to elect are all good men, although I only know one, McDermott, personally. By the way, did Cora ever pay his subscription!
About the Commencement orator, you will have to do the best you can. I presume it will be all right to get Mr. Taylor, although it is unfortunate that we cannot get a man with some reputation. I am too busy to do anything on this line now, and I think it is imperative that you get somebody immediately. I have been away from the office, off and on, for the past three months and absent altogether for the past three weeks, so you can, perhaps, imagine how busy I am and what on accumulation of mail there is to answer.
Believe me with best wishes,
Yours very sincerely,