[Letter] Dec.7,1887,Smith College [to F.H. Giddings]

Dec. 7, 1887, Smith College.

Dear Friend,
            Just. It is
true that I had not
anticipated that the Hartford
bureau would send us Mr.
Hotchkiss instead of Mr.
Biddle, nor had I expected
Mr. Biddle at once. I
may, however, have said to
Mr. Bemis that at some time
it would not be a bad idea
to have Mr. Biddle. He is
not, in so far as I know,
known in a way that
would make his presence
here very offensive to
Prof. Hadley. In the case
of Mr. Hotchkiss, whom I
do not know at all, the
fact is different. I had
not intended ever to ask
him; but now that he
has been asked would it
not make a worse 'bobbery'
to me - ask him?
 On the whole I cannot
help thinking it might.
We can take the ground
that We want to hear all
parties that have anything
to say (I fear Mr. H. may
not have, as yet, very much)
though Mr. Biddle naturally
expresses a good opinion of
him) and, if necessary
can write a little
explanatory note to Prof. Hadley.
My present impression
would be, though subject
to your judgment and
that of the other Springfield
friends, that it might now
be better to let Mr. H. come.
I rather think Dr. Bemis
is honest in the motives
he assigns. He may, as Mr.
D. says, dislike me, though
he has reason for the
opposite feeling; yet I
incline to think there is no
real personal dislike. There
may be a little irritation
and latent jealousy that
Dr. B. has not the tact to
conceal, not to say fully
suppress. Let us make the
best of the situation and
of Dr. B.
 Ginn & Co. write that
Mr. Smith - chief Boston
manager - has been ill,
but that now they will take
up the matter of publication
and push it with little
delay.

        Yours Very Truly,
              J. B. Clark