In the city, despite his youth, he was already well known as a speaker, and was a favorite orator on agreeable occasions of a semi-public nature.  This was a sort of prestige that was well worth cultivating.  In the State, and even outside of it, he had many connections through various activities, and by deft correspondence he easily put himself in line for such honors as they had to offer.  Invitations to speak came rolling in in the most gratifying way.  His plan was to mount upon these to invitations of an even higher class.  In December he made a much admired address before the Associated Progress Boards.  The next month, through much subtle wire-pulling, he got himself put on the toast list at the annual banquet of the distinguished American Society for the Promotion of the Higher Education.  There his name met on equal terms with names as yet far better known.  He spoke for ten minutes and sat down with the thrill of having surpassed himself.  A famous financier who sat with him at the speaker’s table told him that his speech was the best of the evening, because the shortest, and asked several questions about Blaines College.  The young President returned home in a fine glow, which the hostile trustees promptly subjected to a cold douche.

“I’d like to inquire,” said James E. Winter, sombrely, at the January board meeting, “what is the point, if any, of the President of Blaines College trapesing all over the country to attend these here banquets.”

They used unacademic as well as plain language in the Blaines board meeting by this time.  West smiled at Trustee Winter’s question.  To him the man habitually seemed as malapropos as a spiteful old lady.

“The point is, Mr. Winter, to get in touch with the sources of endowment funds.  Blaines College on its present foundation cannot hope to compete with enlightened modern colleges of from five to one hundred times its resources.  If we mean to advance, we must do it by bringing Blaines favorably to the attention of philanthropists who—­”

“No, sir!” roared Winter, bringing his contractor’s fist down thuddingly upon the long table.  “Such noo-fangled ideas are against the traditions of old Blaines College, I say!  Old Blaines College is not asking for alms.  Old Blaines College is not a whining beggar, whatever those Yankee colleges may be.  I say, gentlemen, it’s beneath the dignity of old Blaines College for its president to go about Noo York bowing and scraping and passing the hat to Rockyfeller, and such-like boocaneers.”

To West’s unfeigned surprise, this view of the matter met with solid backing.  Reminiscences of the “tainted money” controversy appeared in the trustees’ talk.  “Subsidized education” was heard more than once.  One spoke bitterly of Oil Colleges.  No resolution was introduced, James E. Winter having inadvertently come unprepared, but the majority opinion was clearly that old Blaines College (founded 1894) should draw in her traditional skirts from the yellow flood then pouring over the country, and remain, small it may be, but superbly incorruptible.