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Doctor Gilman was； who the Sultan was； what a Grand Cross
was； and why America's greatest historian was not without
honor save in his own country。 Columns of this were paid for
and appeared as 〃patent insides；〃 with a portrait of Doctor
Gilman taken from the STILLWATER COLLEGE ANNUAL； and a
picture of the Grand Cross drawn from imagination； in eight
hundred newspapers of the Middle； Western； and Eastern
States。 special articles； paragraphs； portraits； and pictures
of the Grand Cross followed； and； using Stillwater as his
base； Stetson continued to flood the country。 Young Hines；
the local correspondent； acting under instructions by cable
from Peter； introduced him to Doctor Gilman as a traveller
who lectured on Turkey； and one who was a humble admirer of
the author of the 〃Rise and fall。〃 Stetson； having studied it
as a student crams an examination； begged that he might sit
at the feet of the master。 And for several evenings； actually
at his feet； on the steps of the ivy…covered cottage；
the disguised press…agent drew from the unworldly and
unsuspecting scholar the simple story of his life。 To this；
still in his character as disciple and student； he added
photographs he himself made of the master； of the master's
ivy…covered cottage； of his favorite walk across the campus；
of the great historian at work at his desk； at work in his
rose garden； at play with his wife on the croquet lawn。 These
he held until the insignia should be actually presented。 This
pleasing duty fell to the Turkish ambassador； who； much to
his astonishment； had received instructions to proceed to
Stillwater； Massachusetts； a place of which he had never
heard； and present to a Doctor Gilman； of whom he had never
heard； the Grand Cross of the Crescent。 As soon as the
insignia arrived in the official mail…bag a secretary brought
it from Washington to Boston； and the ambassador travelled
down from Bar Harbor to receive it； and with the secretary
took the local train to Stillwater。
The reception extended to him there is still remembered by
the ambassador as one of the happiest incidents of his
distinguished career。 Never since he came to represent his
imperial Majesty in the Western republic had its barbarians
greeted him in a manner in any way so nearly approaching his
own idea of what was his due。
〃This ambassador；〃 Hines had explained to the mayor of
Stillwater； who was also the proprietor of its largest
department store； 〃is the personal representative of the
Sultan。 So we've got to treat him right。〃
〃It's exactly；〃 added Stetson； 〃as though the Sultan himself
were coming。〃
〃And so few crowned heads visit Stillwater；〃 continued Hines；
〃that we ought to show we appreciate this one； especially as
he comes to pay the highest honor known to Europe to one of
our townsmen。〃
The mayor chewed nervously on his cigar。
〃What'd I better do？〃 he asked。
〃Mr。 Stetson here；〃 Hines pointed out； 〃has lived in Turkey；
and he knows what they expect。 Maybe he will help us。〃
〃Will you？〃 begged the mayor。
〃I will；〃 said Stetson。
Then they visited the college authorities。 Chancellor Black
and most of the faculty were on their vacations。 But there
were half a dozen professors still in their homes around the
campus； and it was pointed out to them that the coming honor
to one lately of their number reflected glory upon the
college and upon them； and that they should take official
action。
It was also suggested that for photographic purposes they
should wear their academic robes； caps； and hoods。 To these
suggestions； with alacritypartly because they all loved
Doctor Gilman and partly because they had never been
photographed by a moving…picture machinethey all agreed。 So
it came about that when the ambassador； hot and cross and
dusty stepped off the way…train at Stillwater station he
found to his delighted amazement a red carpet stretching to a
perfectly new automobile； a company of the local militia
presenting arms； a committee； consisting of the mayor in a
high hat and white gloves and three professors in gowns and
colored hoods； and the Stillwater silver Cornet Band playing
what； after several repetitions； the ambassador was
graciously pleased to recognize as his national anthem。
The ambassador forgot that he was hot and cross。 He forgot
that he was dusty。 His face radiated satisfaction and
perspiration。 Here at last were people who appreciated him
and his high office。 And as the mayor helped him into the
automobile； and those students who lived in Stillwater
welcomed him with strange yells； and the moving…picture
machine aimed at him point blank； he beamed with
condescension。 But inwardly he was ill at ease。
inwardly he was chastising himself for having； through his
ignorance of America； failed to appreciate the importance of
the man he had come to honor。 When he remembered he had never
even heard of Doctor Gilman he blushed with confusion。 And
when he recollected that he had been almost on the point of
refusing to come to Stillwater； that he had considered
leaving the presentation to his secretary； he shuddered。 What
might not the Sultan have done to him！ What a narrow escape！
Attracted by the band； by the sight of their fellow townsmen
in khaki； by the sight of the stout gentleman in the red fez；
by a tremendous liking and respect for Doctor Gilman； the
entire town of Stillwater gathered outside his cottage。 And
inside； the old professor； trembling and bewildered and yet
strangely happy； bowed his shoulders while the ambassador
slipped over them the broad green scarf and upon his only
frock coat pinned the diamond sunburst。 In woeful
embarrassment Doctor Gilman smiled and bowed and smiled； and
then； as the delighted mayor of Stillwater shouted； 〃Speech；〃
in sudden panic he reached out his hand quickly and covertly；
and found the hand of his wife。
〃Now； then； three Long ones！〃 yelled the cheer leader。 〃Now；
then； 'See the Conquering Hero！'〃 yelled the bandmaster。
〃Attention！ Present arms！〃 yelled the militia captain； and
the townspeople and the professors applauded and waved their
hats and handkerchiefs。 And Doctor Gilman and his wife； he
frightened and confused； she happy and proud； and taking it
all as a matter of course； stood arm in arm in the frame of
honeysuckles and bowed and bowed and bowed。 And the
ambassador so far unbent as to drink champagne； which
appeared mysteriously in tubs of ice from the rear of the
ivy…covered cottage； with the mayor； with the wives of the
professors； with the students； with the bandmaster。 Indeed；
so often did he unbend that when the perfectly new automobile
conveyed him back to the Touraine； he was sleeping happily
and smiling in his sleep。
Peter had arrived in America at the same time as had the
insignia； but Hines and Stetson would not let him show
himself in Stillwater。 They were afraid if all three
conspirators foregathered they might inadvertently drop some
clew that would lead to suspicion and discovery。
So Peter worked from New York； and his first act was
anonymously to supply his father and Chancellor Black with
All the newspaper accounts of the great celebration at
Stillwater。 When Doctor black read them he choked。 Never
before had Stillwater College been brought so prominently
before the public； and never before had her president been so
utterly and completely ignored。 And what made it worse was
that he recognized that even had he been present he could not
have shown his face。 How could he； who had； as every one
connected with the college now knew； out of spite and without
cause； dismissed an old and faithful servant； join in
chanting his praises。 He only hoped his patron； Hallowell
senior； might not hear of Gilman's triumph。 But Hallowell
senior heard little of anything else。 At his office； at his
clubs； on the golf…links； every one he met congratulated him
on the high and peculiar distinction that had come to his pet
college。
〃You certainly have the darnedest luck in backing the right
horse；〃 exclaimed a rival pork…packer enviously。 〃Now if I
pay a hundred thousand for a Velasquez it turns out to be a
bad copy worth thirty dollars； but you pay a professor three
thousand and he brings you in half a million dollars' worth
of free advertising。 Why； this Doctor Gilman's doing as much
for your college as Doctor Osler did for Johns Hopkins or as
Walter Camp does for Yale。〃
Mr。 Hallowell received these Congratulations as gracefully as
he was able； and in secret raged at Chancellor Black。 Each
day his rage increased。 It seemed as though there would never
be an end to Doctor Gilman。 The stone he had rejected had
become the corner…stone of Stillwater。 Whenever he opened a
newspaper he felt like exclaiming： 〃Will no one rid me of
this pestilent fellow？〃 For the 〃Rise and Fall；〃 in an
edition deluxe limited to two hundred copies； was being
bought up by all his book…collecting millionaire friends； a
popular edition was on view in the windows of every book…
shop； It was offered as a prize to subscribers to all the
more sedate magazines； and the name and features of the
distinguished author had become famous and familiar。 Not a
day passed but that some new hono