Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

men of the type described:
Walter Stewart was very clear that we ought in view of exist-
ing experiments and conditions to make a fresh 2nd scientific
approach from the historic side. P.e was of the opinion that
we would not get fsr with men who had already emitted them-
selves about so mny of the problens with which a school of
this sort must concern itself. He thought in the long run we
should do far better to tske younger uen of promise for a
period of prolonged probation. It will be a slow development
compared vith rrathemtics, but Stewart thought that this
method of approach offered the best cknces of uzking a con-
tribution of value to the field.
Frankfurter seemed to &gree, but observed that suc5 young men were
"scrrce as white crows. ,A2
At the same meting Flexner and Dr. Sabin introduced the name
of Dr. Edward Meade brle to the Trustees. He was a y0ur.g professor of
history at Barnard and Colmrbic who was ill with what ~1-r chose to
call "an attack of tuberculosis." It w ill be recslled that Flexner had
suggested his name for the Board of Trustees in May, 1930. This like
his frequent cheerful letters to the sick man, had probably a therapeutic
design. Earle was recornended highly by Dr. Beard. The following letter
was one of the many which Dr. Flexner sent the sick mul to encourage him
in his uphill fight for life. It refers to the Board discussion.
Walter Stewart was present, and I previously had +sked him
to think the thing over and give us his views. They win-
cided vith the views which have been grsdually maturing in
my am mind: namely, that we cannot begin in econmics and
history with a group of seasoned and distinguished persons
as we hzve begun in mtheuatics...but that we shall have t o
take younger men and give them opportunity to shov what is
in them. So far I had gone in my wn thiking.' .
Stewart went further. He made the point that.
inasmuch as economists have almost all published things, they
have cmitted themselves to one form or another of economic
thinking, whereas the econanic world in which we are now liv-
ing should be re-examined and not particularly from an econ-