FIVE

The Whirlwind Campaign in Mariposa

It was Mullins, the banker, who told Mariposa all about the plan of a
Whirlwind Campaign and explained how it was to be done. He'd happened
to be in one of the big cities when they were raising money by a
Whirlwind Campaign for one of the universities, and he saw it all.

He said he would never forget the scene on the last day of it, when
the announcement was made that the total of the money raised was even
more than what was needed. It was a splendid sight,--the business men
of the town all cheering and laughing and shaking hands, and the
professors with the tears streaming down their faces, and the Deans
of the Faculties, who had given money themselves, sobbing aloud.

He said it was the most moving thing he ever saw.

So, as I said, Henry Mullins, who had seen it, explained to the
others how it was done. He said that first of all a few of the
business men got together quietly,--very quietly, indeed the more
quietly the better,--and talked things over. Perhaps one of them
would dine,--just quietly,--with another one and discuss the
situation. Then these two would invite a third man,--possibly even a
fourth,--to have lunch with them and talk in a general way,--even
talk of other things part of the time. And so on in this way things
would be discussed and looked at in different lights and viewed from
different angles and then when everything was ready they would go at
things with a rush. A central committee would be formed and
sub-committees, with captains of each group and recorders and