Chapter 148 Gentle

When Cai Yuan stepped into Peking University for the first time, he left a deep impression on people.At that time, the workers lined up at the school gate to welcome the principal "Master" who was wearing a long robe and mandarin jacket. Cai Yuanpei hurriedly got out of the car, took off his top hat, and respectfully returned the salute.This is a "strange thing" that the workers have never encountered before.Since then, every day when he passed the school gate, he took off his hat and bowed to return the salute to the school police.Cai Yuanpei treats all Peking University people equally, without distinction of superiority or inferiority.People in the old Peking University, regardless of teachers, students and staff, all called Cai Yuanpei "Mr. Cai". This has been the case for decades, and they never called him by his name or title.This reflects the admiration and love of the old Peking University people for Mr. Cai.

In 1928, when the Nanjing government established the Fifth Academy, Cai Yuanpei declined the post of president of the Supervisory Yuan: "I am a good man, how can I do supervisory work?" When Cai Yuanpei lived in the office of Academia Sinica in Chengxian Street, Nanjing, the outside of his room was lived by a certain gentleman.He will pass through here when he goes in and out.One day, Mr. Cai Yuanpei got up early and wanted to go outside, but a certain gentleman outside was still asleep. He was afraid of disturbing the good dream of the gentleman, so he went back to his room to read in silence until the gentleman woke up. , before going out to wash.

Feng Youlan recalled Cai Yuanpei: In 1921, when I was at Columbia University in New York, he (Cai Yuanpei) visited the United States and arrived in New York.The classmates of Peking University organized a team of entourages to accompany him to various places in turn.Some days, we are often together.One day, in the hotel, everyone took out a piece of paper and asked him to write.I happen to have a folding fan, so I asked him to write it too.He wrote a few sentences to each, each different.Another night, Chinese students in New York held a meeting to welcome him, and many people came.As soon as Cai Yuanpei entered the venue, all the people stood up at the same time, as if someone was there to direct.Yang Yinyu, an international student at the time, said: "I have been in the Chinese education circle for many years, and I have never seen such a good relationship between the principal and the students. The students of Peking University have always had a high self-esteem, but when I met the old principal, I am so respectful. I really admire it now." Mr Cai."

Feng Youlan also talked about a little thing about Cai Yuanpei: When I was a student at Peking University, I only went to Cai Yuanpei's principal's office twice.At that time, my younger brother Jing Lan was studying in the preparatory course of Peking University, and the Henan provincial government recruited foreign students. He was going to Kaifeng to take the exam, and he needed a certificate from Peking University.Time was running out, and it was already too late according to the usual procedures.I wrote a letter and ran directly to the principal's office.The principal's office is a separate house, located in an old courtyard of the school building on Jingshan East Street.There was no messenger at the door, so I opened the door and went in. There was a big curtain hanging in the middle of the house. I lifted the curtain and saw Cai Yuanpei sitting behind his desk reading documents.When I walked up, he bowed and asked what was the matter.I handed the letter to him, he read it, and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, you can go out and have a look." I said: "Then ask the principal to approve a few words." He picked up the pen and wrote Two words: "According to the hair".I took his instructions to the clerical department, watched them complete the certificate, and left with the certificate.