A hurry-up father once approached future U.S. president James A. Garfield while he was still the president of a local college: ‘‘Is there any way you can get my son through this institution faster than four years?’’ he implored. ‘‘Time is running short, and the business world is waiting!’’ ‘‘It all depends on what you want,’’ Garfield wisely replied. ‘‘Squash will take only three months, but if you want oak, that requires four years.’’
