ssive spirit of this early Faculty. This came to be so well
recognized that Dr. Angell remarked in his inaugural address that the
drift of intelligent opinion had been for twenty years towards some of
the positions early adopted by the University, such as elective studies
and larger opportunities for the study of history, modern languages, and
the natural sciences. He also took occasion to suggest that the
University would always have to be in a measure dependent upon the
alumni, since the Legislature would never become so generous in its
appropriations as to make private gifts undesirable or unnecessary.

While the liberal policy which laid the foundation for this expansion of
the University's field may properly be said to have been formed during
President Tappan's administration, it was continued and wisely expanded
under his successors. President Haven's first years were difficult, but
he had the support of his colleagues and was fortunate in the
appointment of the new members of the Faculty necessitated by the
reorganization which ushered in his administration. One of the first of
his appointments was that of Dr. Bruennow's favorite pupil, James C.
Watson, '57, to succeed him as Professor of Astronomy and Director of
the Observatory. Professor Watson's brilliant work had already
attracted wide attention, he "was bagging asteroids as though he lured
them with a decoy" though he was at that time still a very young man,
and his methods as a teacher somewhat peculiar. He paid scant attention
to those not vitally interested in his subject, and, as one chronicler
observed, showed the folly of a set course of studies and contributed in
this way not a little to the eventual adoption of the elective system in
the University. His lectures were sometimes brilliant and always lucid,
though he was not exacting in recitations or in examinations. The story
is told of his passing one student in an examination who had died
earlier in the year; he had merely taken the name from the roll prepared
the first day of the semester. Whatever were Professor Watson's personal
qualifications, however, the long list of eminent astronomers who were
his pupils during the years from 1863 to 1879 are ample evidence of his
genius, for they include such names as those of his successor Professor
Harrington, '68, Otto J. Klotz, '72_e_, of the Observatory of the
Dominion of Canada, Monroe B. Snyder, '72, Director of the Philadelphia
Observatory, Robert S