Jane Lathrop Stanford Papers

38

besides shouldering all the Department responsibilities. In the spring Dr. Willoughby had to leave five weeks before the end of the semester and I took one of his classes. Through all this year I was in such a condition through over-work that the least excitement sent a nervous shock through me.

In the fall of 1897 four of us began work and things looked bright for the Department. But on Oct. 10, Prof. Powers left and Dr. Warner gave up a little later. I took one of Prof. Powers' classes and took over so many students from the interrupted courses that I had 335 students or one third of the University on my hands. After six weeks of this crushing burden I broke down, as Dr. Wood could tell you, with heart over-strain and for two months and a half lay on my back except when I was teaching. Yet I kept up my work though I could not lecture standing. At the end of the year I was so collapsed that Dr. Jordan was reluctantly complled [sic] to let me have my Sabbathical [sic] year.

In short, I have four time[s] taken upon my already loaded shoulders work that was not mine, that I had not allowed for, and every time my health has suffered under the strain.

Now why, Mrs. Stanford did I do this? No professor is responsible for the class of another, and if I had let these abandoned students shift for themselves as best they might, no one would have blamed me. I will tell you why, it was because I loved this University and for her credit's sake could not bear to see students turn away dissatisfied. Rather than see a class go to pieces I have drawn upon those reserves of strength which a young man has, but which he must not draw upon too often.