Letterhead
Brooklyn, N.Y., Jan. 8, 1904.
Hon. Timothy L. Woodruff,
287 Broadway, New York.
My dear Woodruff:-
I think that there was a laugh in Lorimer's joke about the pup who got his meat at the price of running himself to death to shake off the can. At the same time I agree with you that the man of millions has good reasons for generally imposing such conditions as Mr. Rockefeller usually does impose. Nevertheless I believe that it ought not to be necessary to require that every gift shall be balanced by an equal amount raised by subscription. When a man of great wealth is dealing with an institution as poor as many colleges, hospitals and similar institutions are, he may sometimes be imposing in such a condition a burden too heavy for it to carry. Certainly the community of Brooklyn, wealthy as it is, could not often be interested in benevolence so extensively as you succeeded in interesting it two years ago. J. D. R. has several times made unconditional gifts to Chicago Univ. Adelphi is approaching the time when it will sorely need unhampered bequests or donations.
There is one other matter of business which we ought to begin to consider early, and perhaps it is not too early to consider it now. That is the question of a Commencement orator. We have thus far made a brilliant record in Commencement orations at the Academy of Music. We have had two there, and each time the Academy was packed from the platform to the remotest corner of the top gallery. It behooves us to continue to maintain our high standard, if we can, and I think that the continued success of that feature of our Commencement program must depend very largely on your action.
You are likely to know who the forceful speakers are, and to be able to induce such people to come to us. Please think this over and see if you can discover some suitable candidates. I am not now able to make any nominations that seem to me very good, with the possible exception of Woodrow Wilson of Princeton, whom I presume I can myself get, if anybody can, as I know him very well. But my belief is that it would be useless to try to get him this year. He is working now up to the limit of his strength and perhaps a little beyond it, and is very reluctant to do anything more, unless he feels that the interests of Princeton University demand it.
The only remaining individual who has been seriously considered in the former years, as I now remember the list, is the Rev. Amory H. Bradford of Montclair. I have no personal knowledge of him. He has been mentioned favorably by some members of our faculty and I think by Mr. Benedict.
Yours very sincerely,
Charles H. Levermore
P.S. Concerning place of Commencement I should add that Mrs. Hecht, manager of the Montauk, writes me that that theater will be closed in the middle of May. I fancy that we will have to go either to the Baptist Temple, or to the Grand Opera House on Elm Place, or possibly to the Columbia Theater - if open.
It is quite likely that all the large theaters will be closed.
I am
CHL