perfectly standardized. And because it was not perfectly standardized it had no share in the Carnegie pension fund or any other pension fund.

Nobody doubted that good work was done in the college, but after all the home folks cared most for the academy.

The college commencement of 1915 was over, and the bachelors of arts had gone off to forget their Greek, and academy commencement was at hand. The whole village had eaten an early supper, and the mothers were washing the dishes while the daughters were getting into their white muslins.

The young president of the college put on his straw hat and wandered out into the evening. The campus oaks rustled softly. From the little river came the murmur of waters flowing past the ruins of the old mill, the reminder of pioneer days when all the county brought its wheat to Warrenville to be ground.

He wandered down to the mill and discovered there his best friend and most valued counselor. Professor Rich was reclining on the bank of the river. His form had a certain wiry ancient elegance. His thick white hair was like a halo, but his beard was small and his features were small, after the manner of certain old New England families.

“Good evening, doctor.”

“Sit down, Mr. President. Heaven has sent you. I am telling you that I have got to quit.”

“No, Dr. Rich. You told me that last October, but you never taught better than in the year that has just closed. I simply can’t consider a resignation. Your health is good, your spirit is young, and your name is our only glory.”

“My dear Charlie, when we elected you president, we did so partly because your manner of speech is so ingratiating. It remains such. You speak me fair and cover my ancient cheeks with blushes, but when you open college in October I shall not be here.”

“Why?”

“For the same reason that I gave you in October. We are going to be drawn into the war, and I’m too old to stand the strain. I served in one war, but you can’t expect a man to pump up the proper amount of hatred at sixty-nine.”

“I tell you we are not going to be drawn in.”

“Charlie, did my boy’s valedictory make so little impression on you?”

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