eachstirredthemembersofthelegislaturefromitslocalitytoopposeallaidtotheStateuniversity;each，initsreligiousassemblages，itssynods，conferences，andthelike，soughttostirprejudiceagainsttheStateinstitutionas``godless。’’Theresultwasthatthedoctor，inspiteofhiseloquentspeeches，becamethebuttofvariouswretcheddemagoguesinthelegislature，andheveryrarelysecuredanythinginthewayofeffectiveappropriations。TheuniversityhadbeenfoundedbyagrantofpubliclandsfromtheUnitedStatestoMichigan;andoneofhisargumentswasbasedonthefactthatanimmenselyvaluabletract，onwhichaconsiderablepartofthecityofToledonowstands，hadbeentakenawayfromtheuniversitywithoutanysuitableremuneration。Buteventhisavailedlittle，anditbecamequiteapastimeamongdemagoguesattheStateCapitoltobaitthedoctor。Ononeoftheseoccasionshewasinspiredtomakeaprophecy。Disgustedatthepoor，cheapblackguardism，heshookthedustofthelegislatureoffhisfeet，andsaid:``Thedaywillcomewhenmystudentswilltakeyourplaces，andthensomethingwillbedone。’’Thatprophecywasfulfilled。InadecadetheleadingmeninthelegislaturebegantobethegraduatesoftheStateuniversity;andnowthesegraduatesarelargelyincontrol，andtheyhavedealtnoblywiththeiralmamater。TheStatehasjustlybecomeproudofit，andhaswiselydevelopedit。
　　Dr。Tappan’sworkwasgreat，indeed。HestoodnotonlyatthebeginningoftheinstitutionatAnnArbor，butreallyatthebeginningoftheotheruniversitiesoftheWesternStates，fromwhichthecountryisgainingsomuchatpresent，andissuretogainvastlymoreinthefuture。Thedaywillcomewhenhisstatuewillcommemoratehisservices。
　　ButtherewasanotherfeatureinhisadministrationtowhichIreferwithextremereluctance。Hehadcertain``defectsofhisqualities。’’Big，hearty，frank，andgenerous，heeasilybecamethepreyofthosewhowroughtuponhisfeelings;and，inanevilhour，hewasdrawnintoaquarrelnothisown，betweentwoscientificprofessors。
　　Thisquarrelbecameexceedinglyvirulent;attimesitalmostparalyzedtheuniversity，andfinallyitconvulsedtheState。Itbecamethemainobjectofthedoctor’sthoughts。
　　Themenwhohaddrawnhimintoitquietlyretiredundercover，andlefthimtofighttheirbattleintheopen。Hedidthispowerfully，buthisvictorieswerenolesscalamitousthanhisdefeats;foroneoftheprofessors，whenovercome，fellbackuponthechurchtowhichhebelonged，anditsconferencewasledtopassresolutionswarningChristianpeopleagainsttheuniversity。Theforcesofthosehostiletotheinstitutionweremarshaledtothesoundofthesectariandrum。Thequarrelatlastbecamepolitical;
　　andwhenthedoctorunwiselyenteredthepoliticalfieldinhopesofdefeatingthecandidatesputforwardbyhisopponents，hewasbeatenatthepolls，andhisresignationfollowed。Asmallnumberofus，includingJudgeCooleyandProfessorsFrieze，Fasquelle，Boise，andmyself，simplymaintainedan``armedneutrality，’’standingbytheuniversity，andrefusingtobedrawnintothiswhirlpoolofintrigueandobjurgation。Personally，welovedthedoctor。Everyoneofusbesoughthimtogiveupthequarrel，butinvain。Hewouldnot;hecouldnot。Itwentontillthecrashcame。HewasvirtuallydrivenfromtheState，retiredtoEurope，andneverreturned。
　　Yearsafterward，thecitizensofMichiganinallpartsoftheStatesoughttomakeamendstohim。Thegreatbodyofthegraduates，wholovedandrespectedhim，withleadingmenthroughoutthecommonwealth，joinedinaletterinvitinghimtoreturnasapublicguest;buthedeclined，andneveragainsawhisnativeland。HisfirstmainplaceofresidencewasBasel，where，attheuniversity，hesuperintendedtheeducationofhisgrandson，who，atalaterperiod，becameaprofessoratHeidelberg。Finally，heretiredtoabeautifulvillaontheshoresofLakeLemanandthere，withhisfamilyabouthim，peacefullyfollowedhischosenstudies。AthisdeathhewasburiedamidthevineyardsandorchardsofVevey。
　　ThoughIabsolutelyrefusedtobedrawnintoanyofhisquarrels，myrelationswiththedoctorremainedkindlyandnotasinglefeelingwasleftwhichmarredmyvisittohiminafteryearsatBasel，ormylaterpilgrimagetohisgraveontheshoresofLakeLeman。TonomanisanysuccessImayhaveafterwardhadintheadministrationofCornellUniversitysogreatlydueastohim。
　　InthissummaryIhavehardlytoucheduponthemostimportantpartofmyduty，——namely，thepurposeofmylecture—courses，withtheirrelationstothatperiodinthehistoryofourcountry，andtothequestionswhichthinkingmen，andespeciallythinkingyoungmen，werethenendeavoringtosolve，——sinceallthishasbeengiveninmypoliticalreminiscences。
　　SomuchformymainworkattheUniversityofMichigan。
　　ButIhadonerecreationwhichwasnotwithoutitsuses。ThelittlecityofAnnArborisabeautifulplaceontheHuronRiver，andfromtheoutsetinterestedme。
　　Evenitsoriginhadapeculiarcharm。Aboutaquarterofacenturybeforemyarrival，threefamiliescamefromtheEasttotakeupthelandwhichtheyhadboughtoftheUnitedStates;and，astheirthreeholdingstouchedeachotheratonecorner，theybroughtboughsoftreestothatspotanderectedasortofhut，orarbor，inwhichtoliveuntiltheirloghouseswerefinished。OncomingtogetherinthisarbortheydiscoveredthattheChristiannameofeachofthethreewiveswasAnn:
　　hencethenameoftheplace;andthisfactgaveapoeticcoloringtoitwhichwasapermanentpleasuretome。Itwasanunendingsatisfactiontoreflectthatnomisguidedpatriothadbeenallowedtoinflictuponthatcharminguniversitytownthenameof``Athens，’’or``Oxford，’’or``Socratopolis，’’or``Anacreonsburg，’’or``Platoville，’’or``Emporium，’’or``Eudaimonia。’’What，butforthosethreegoodwomen，thenamemighthavebeen，maybejudgedfromthefactthatoneofthefoundersoftheuniversitydidhisbesttohaveitcalleda``Katholopistemiad’’！
　　Buttherewasonedrawback。The``campus，’’onwhichstoodthefourbuildingsthendevotedtoinstruction，greatlydisappointedme。Itwasaflat，squareinclosureoffortyacres，unkemptandwretched。Throughoutitswholespacetherewerenotmorethanascoreoftreesoutsidethebuildingsitesallottedtoprofessors;
　　unsightlyplankwalksconnectedthebuildings，andineverydirectionweremeanderingpaths，whichindryweatherweredustyandinwetweathermuddy。Coming，asIdid，fromthegloriouselmsofYale，allthisdistressedme，andoneofmyfirstquestionswaswhynotreeshadbeenplanted。Theanswerwasthatthesoilwassohardanddrythatnonewouldgrow。Butonexaminingtheterritoryintheneighborhood，especiallythelittleinclosuresabouttheprettycottagesofthetown，Ifoundfinelargetrees，andamongthemelms。Atthis，withoutpermissionfromanyone，Ibeganplantingtreeswithintheuniversityinclosure;established，onmyownaccount，severalavenues;andsetoutelmstoovershadowthem。
　　Choosingmytreeswithcare，carefullyprotectingandwateringthemduringthefirsttwoyears，andgraduallyaddingtothemaconsiderablenumberofevergreens，I
　　preachedpracticallythedoctrineofadorningthecampus。
　　Graduallysomeofmystudentsjoinedme;oneclassafteranotheraidedinsecuringtreesandinplantingthem，othersbecameinterested，until，finally，theuniversityauthoritiesmademe``superintendentofthegrounds，’’
　　andappropriatedtomyworkthemunificentsumofseventy—fivedollarsayear。Sobeganthesplendidgrowthwhichnowsurroundsthosebuildings。Thesetreesbecametomeasmyownchildren。WheneverIrevisitAnnArbormyfirstcareistogoamongthem，toseehowtheyprosper，andespeciallyhowcertainpeculiarexamplesareflourishing;
　　andatmyrecentvisit，forty—sixyearsaftertheirplanting，Ifoundoneofthemostbeautifulacademicgrovestobeseeninanypartoftheworld。
　　ThemostsaddeningthingduringmyconnectionwiththeuniversityIhavetoucheduponinmypoliticalreminiscences。ThreeyearsaftermyarrivaltheCivilWarbrokeout，andtherecameagreatexodusofstudentsintothearmies，thevastmajoritytakinguparmsfortheUnion，andafewfortheConfederateStates。Theverynoblestofthemthuswentforth——manyofthem，alas！
　　nevertoreturn，andamongthemnotafewwhomIlovedasbrothersandevenasmyownchildren。Ofalltheexperiencesofmylife，thiswasamongthemostsaddening。
　　MyimmediateconnectionwiththeUniversityofMichiganasresidentprofessorofhistorylastedaboutsixyears;
　　andthen，onaccountpartlyofbusinessinterestswhichresultedfromthedeathofmyfather，partlyofmyelectiontotheNewYorkStateSenate，andpartlyofmyelectiontothepresidencyofCornellUniversity，IresidedincentralNewYork，butretainedalectureshipattheWesterninstitution。Ilefttheworkandthefriendswhohadbecomesodeartomewiththegreatestreluctance，andaslongaspossibleIcontinuedtorevisittheoldscenes，andtogivecoursesoflectures。ButatlastmydutiesatCornellabsolutelyforbadethis，andsoendedaconnectionwhichwastomeoneofthemostfruitfulinusefulexperiencesandpregnantthoughtsthatIhaveeverknown。
　　PARTIV
　　ASUNIVERSITYPRESIDENT
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　EVOLUTIONOF``THECORNELLIDEA’’——1850—1865
　　ToTrinityHallatHobartCollegemaybeassignedwhateverhonorthatshadowypersonage，thefuturehistorian，shallthinkduetheplacewherewasconceivedandquickenedthegermideaofCornellUniversity。InthatlittlestonebarrackontheshoreofSenecaLake，rudeinitsarchitecturebutlovelyinitssurroundings，aroomwasassignedmeduringmyfirstyearatcollege;andinaneighboringapartment，withcharmingviewsoverthelakeanddistanthills，wasthelibraryoftheHermeanSociety。ItwasthelargestcollectionofbooksIhadeverseen，——fourthousandvolumes，——embracingamassofliteraturefrom``ThePirate’sOwnBook’’totheworksofLordBacon。InthisparadiseIreveled，browsingthroughitatmywill。Thisprivilegewasofquestionablevalue，sinceitdrewmesomewhatfromcloserstudy;butitwasnotwithoutitsuses。OnedayIdiscoveredinitHuberandNewman’sbookontheEnglishuniversities。Whatanewworlditopened！Mymindwassensitivetoanyimpressionitmightmake，ontwoaccounts:first，because，ontheintellectualside，Iwaswoefullydisappointedattheinadequacyofthelittlecollegeasregardeditsteachingforceandequipment;andnext，because，ontheestheticside，I
　　lamentedtheabsenceofeverythinglikebeautyorfitnessinitsarchitecture。
　　AsIreadinthisnew—foundbookofthecollegesatOxfordandCambridge，andporedovertheengravedviewsofquadrangles，halls，libraries，chapels，——ofallthenobleanddignifiedbelongingsofagreatseatoflearning，——myheartsankwithinme。EveryfeatureofthelittleAmericancollegeseemedallthemoresordid。ButgraduallyIbeganconsolingmyselfbybuildingair—castles。
　　Thesetooktheformofstructuressuitedtoagreatuniversity:——withdistinguishedprofessorsineveryfield，withlibrariesasrichastheBodleian，hallsaslordlyasthatofChristChurchorofTrinity，chapelsasinspiringasthatofKing’s，towersasdignifiedasthoseofMagdalenandMerton，quadranglesasbeautifulasthoseofJesusandSt。John’s。InthemidstofallotheroccupationsIwasconstantlyrearingthesestructuresonthatqueenlysiteabovethefinestoftheNewYorklakes，anddreamingofauniversityworthyofthecommonwealthandofthenation。
　　Thisdreambecameasortofobsession。Itcameuponmeduringmyworkinghours，intheclass—rooms，inramblesalongthelakeshore，intheevenings，whenIpacedupanddownthewalksinfrontofthecollegebuildings，andsawrisingintheirplaceandextendingtotheprettyknollbehindthem，theworthyhomeofagreatuniversity。Butthisuniversity，thoughbeautifulanddignified，likethoseatOxfordandCambridge，wasintwoimportantrespectsveryunlikethem。First，Imadeprovisionforotherstudiesbesideclassicsandmathematics。
　　Thereshouldbeprofessorsinthegreatmodernliteratures——aboveall，inourown;thereshouldalsobeaprofessorofmodernhistoryandalectureronarchitecture。
　　Andnext，myuniversityshouldbeundercontrolofnosinglereligiousorganization;itshouldbefreefromallsectarianorpartytrammels;inelectingitstrusteesandprofessorsnoquestionsshouldbeaskedastotheirbeliefortheirattachmenttothisorthatsectorparty。Sofar，atleast，IwentinthosedaysalongtheroadtowardthefoundingofCornell。
　　Theacademicyearof1849—1850havingbeenpassedatthislittlecollegeinwesternNewYork，IenteredYale。
　　Thiswasnearermyideal;foritsprofessorsweremoredistinguished，itsequipmentmoreadequate，itsstudentsmorenumerous，itsgeneralscopemoreextended。Butitwasstillfarbelowmydreams。Itssinglecourseinclassicsandmathematics，throughwhichallstudentswereforcedalike，regardlessoftheirtastes，powers，oraims;
　　itssubstitutionofgerund—grindingforancientliterature;
　　itswantofallinstructioninmodernliterature;itssubstitutionofrecitalsfromtext—booksforinstructioninhistory——allthiswasfarshortofmyideal。Moreover，Yalewasthenfarmoreunderdenominationalcontrolthanatpresent——itspresident，ofnecessity，aswasthensupposed，aCongregationalminister;itsprofessors，asarule，membersofthesamesect;anditstutors，towhomourinstructionduringthefirsttwoyearswasalmostentirelyconfined，studentsintheCongregationalDivinity。
　　Then，too，itsoutwardrepresentationwassordidandpoor。Thelonglineofbrickbarracks，thecheapestwhichcouldbebuiltformoney，repelledme。WhatacontrasttoOxfordandCambridge，and，aboveall，tomyair—
　　castles！Therewere，indeed，twoarchitecturalconsolations:
　　one，thelibrarybuilding，whichhadbeenbuiltjustbeforemyarrival;andtheother，theAlumniHall，begunshortlyafterward。Thesewereofstone，andIsnatchedanespecialjoyfromthegrotesqueGothicheadsinthecornicesofthelibrarytowersandfromthelittlelatticedwindowsattherearoftheAlumniHall。Bothseemedtomefeaturesworthyof``collegesandhallsofancientdays。’’
　　Theredeemingfeatureofthewholewasitssetting，the``green，’’withsuperbavenuesoverarchedbyelms;
　　andafurthercharmwasaddedbyEastandWestRock，andbytheviewsoverNewHavenHarborintoLongIslandSound。AmongthesescenesIerectednewair—
　　castles。Firstofall，agreatquadrangle，notunlikethatwhichisnowdevelopingatYale，and，asaleadingfeature，agate—towerlikethatsinceerectedinmemoryofWilliamWalterPhelps，but，unlikethat，adornedwithstatuesinnichesandoncorbels，likethoseontheentrancetowerofTrinityatCambridge——statuesofoldYalensianworthies，suchasElihuYaleinhiscostumeoftheGeorgianperiod，BishopBerkeleyinhisrobes，PresidentDwightinhisGenevagown，andNathanHaleinfetters。Therewasalsoinmydreamanotherspecialfeature，whichnoonehasasyetattemptedtorealize——aloftycampanile，whichIplacedsometimesattheintersectionofCollegeandChurch，andsometimesattheintersectionofCollegeandElmstreets——aclock—towerlookingproudlydowntheslope，overthetrafficofthetown，andbearingadeep—tonedpealofbells。
　　MygeneralideasonthesubjectwerefurtherdevelopedbyCharlesAstorBristed’sbook，``FiveYearsinanEnglishUniversity，’’andbysundrypublicationsregardingstudentlifeinGermany。Still，myopinionsregardingeducationwerewretchedlyimperfect，asmaybejudgedfromonecircumstance。ThenewlyestablishedSheffieldScientificSchoolhadjustbegunitscareerintheoldpresident’shouseinfrontoftheformerDivinityHallonthecollegegreen;and，onedayinmysenioryear，lookingtowarditfrommywindowinNorthCollege，Isawastudentexaminingacoloredliquidinatest—tube。Afeelingofwondercameoverme！Whatcoulditallbeabout？
　　Probablynotamanofusinthewholeseniorclasshadanyideaofachemicallaboratorysaveasasortofsmallkitchenbackofalecture—desk，likethatinwhichanassistantandacoloredservantpreparedoxygen，hydrogen，andcarbonicacidforthelecturesofProfessorSilliman。I
　　wastoldthatthisnewlaboratorywasintendedforexperiment，andmywonderwassucceededbydisgustthatanyhumanbeingshouldgivehistimetopursuitssofutile。
　　Thenextperiodintheformationofmyideasregardingauniversitybegan，aftermygraduationatYale，duringmyfirstvisittoOxford。Thenandatlatervisits，bothtoOxfordandCambridge，Inotonlyreveledinthearchitecturalgloriesofthosegreatseatsoflearning，butlearnedtheadvantagesofcollegelifeincommon——ofthe``halls，’’
　　andthegeneralsociallifewhichtheypromote;ofthe``commons’’and``combinationrooms，’’whichgiveastillcloserrelationbetweenthosemostdirectlyconcernedinuniversitywork;ofthequadrangles，whichgiveasenseofscholarlyseclusion，eveninthemidstofcrowdedcities;
　　andofallthesurroundingswhichgiveadignitybefittingthesevastestablishments。StillmoremarkedprogressinmyideaswasmadeduringmyattendanceattheSorbonneandtheCollgedeFrance。Inthoseinstitutions，duringtheyears1853—1854，IbecameacquaintedwiththeFrenchuniversity—lecturesystem，withitsclearness，breadth，wealthofillustration，anditsholduponlargeaudiencesofstudents;andIwasseizedwiththedesiretotransfersomethinglikeittoourowncountry。Mycastlesintheairwerenowrearedmoreloftilyandbroadly;fortheybegantoincludelaboratories，museums，andevengalleriesofart。
　　EvenSt。Petersburg，duringmyattachshipin1854—
　　1855，contributedtotheseairystructures。Inmydiaryforthatperiod，IfinditjotteddownthatIobservedandstudiedatvarioustimestheMichaelPalaceinthatcityasaverysuitablestructureforauniversity。Twentyyearsafterward，whenIvisited，asministeroftheUnitedStates，theGrandDuchessCatherine，theauntoftheEmperorAlexanderIII，inthatsamepalace，andmentionedtohermyoldadmirationforit，shegavemeamostinterestingaccountofthebuildingofit，andofthelayingoutofthebeautifulparkaboutitbyherfather，theoldGrandDukeMichael，andagreedwithmethatitwouldbeanoblehomeforaninstitutionoflearning。
　　MystudentlifeatBerlin，duringtheyearfollowing，furtherintensifiedmydesiretodosomethingforuniversityeducationintheUnitedStates。ThereIsawmyidealofauniversitynotonlyrealized，butextendedandglorified——
　　withrenownedprofessors，withamplelecture—halls，witheverythingpossibleinthewayofillustrativematerials，withlaboratories，museums，andaconcourseofyouthfromallpartsoftheworld。
　　Ihavealreadyspoken，inthechapteronmyprofessorshipattheUniversityofMichigan，regardingtheinfluenceonmyideasofitspresident，HenryPhilipTappan，andofthewholeworkinthatinstitution。ThoughmanygoodthingsmaybejustlysaidfortheUniversityofVirginia，therealbeginningofauniversityintheUnitedStates，inthemodernsense，wasmadebyDr。TappanandhiscolleaguesatAnnArbor。Itsonlydefectsseemedtomethatitincludednotechnicalside，anddidnotyetadmitwomen。Astothefirstofthesedefects，theStatehadseparatedtheagriculturalcollegefromtheuniversity，placingitinwhat，atthatperiod，wasaremoteswampneartheStateCapitol，andhadasyetdonenothingtowardprovidingforothertechnicalbranches。Astothesecond，thoughafewofusfavoredtheadmissionofwomen，PresidentTappanopposedit;and，probably，inviewoftheconditionoftheuniversityandofpublicopinionatthattime，hisoppositionwaswise。
　　RecalledtoSyracuseafterfiveyearsinMichigan，myolddesiretoseeauniversityrisingintheStateofNewYorkwasstrongerthanever。Michiganhadshownmesomeofmyidealsmadereal;whymightnotourownmuchgreatercommonwealthbesimilarlyblessed？
　　Thefirstthingwastodeviseaplanforasuitablefaculty。AsIfeltthatthismustnotdemandtoolargeanoutlay，Idrewupaschemeprovidingforafewresidentteacherssupportedbyendowments，andforabodyofnonresidentprofessorsorlecturerssupportedbyfees。Theselecturersweretobechosenfromthemosteminentprofessorsintheexistingcollegesandfromthebestmentheninthepublic—lecturefield;andmyconfidantinthematterwasGeorgeWilliamCurtis，whoenteredintoitheartily，andwhoafterward，inhisspeechatmyinaugurationaspresidentofCornell，referredtoitinawaywhichtouchedmedeeply。[5]
　　[5]SeeMr。Curtis’sspeech，September8，1868，publishedbytheuniversity。
　　Thenextthingwastodecideuponasite。ItmustnaturallybeinthecentralpartoftheState;and，rathercuriously，thatwhichIthenmostcoveted，frequentlyvisited，walkedabout，andinspectedwastherisinggroundsoutheastofSyracusesinceselectedbytheMethodistsfortheirinstitutionwhichtakesitsnamefromthatcity。
　　Mynexteffortwastomakeabeginningofanendowment，andforthispurposeIsoughttoconvertGerritSmith。
　　Hewas，forthosedays，enormouslywealthy。Hisproperty，whichwasestimatedatfromtwotothreemillionsofdollars，heusedmunificently;andhisdearfriendandmine，SamuelJosephMay，hadtoldmethatitwasnottoomuchtohopethatMr。Smithmightdosomethingfortheimprovementofhigherinstruction。Tohim，therefore，I
　　wrote，proposingthatifhewouldcontributeanequalsumtoauniversityatSyracuse，Iwouldgivetoitonehalfofmyownproperty。Inhisanswerhegavereasonswhyhecouldnotjoinintheplan，andmyschemeseemednonearerrealitythanmyformerair—castles。Itseemed，indeed，tohavefadedawaylike``Thebaselessfabricofavision’’
　　andtohaveleft``Notawrackbehind’’——
　　whenallitsmainfeaturesweremaderealinawayandbymeansutterlyunexpected;fornowbeganthetrainofeventswhichledtomyacquaintance，friendship，andclosealliancewiththemanthroughwhommyplansbecameareality，largerandbetterthananyeverseeninmydreams——EzraCornell。
　　CHAPTERXVIII
　　EZRACORNELL——1864—1874
　　Onthefirstdayoftheyear1864，takingmyseatforthefirsttimeintheStateSenateatAlbany，Ifoundamongmyassociatesatall，spareman，apparentlyveryreservedandaustere，andsoonlearnedhisname——EzraCornell。
　　Thoughhischairwasnearmine，therewasatfirstlittleintercoursebetweenus，andthereseemedsmallchanceofmore。Hewassteadilyoccupied，andseemedtohavenodesirefornewacquaintances。Hewas，perhaps，theoldestmanintheSenate;I，theyoungest:hewasamanofbusiness;Iwasfreshfromauniversityprofessorship:
　　and，upontheannouncementofcommittees，ourpathsseemedseparatedentirely;forhewasmadechairmanofthecommitteeonagriculture，whiletomefellthechairmanshipofthecommitteeoneducation。
　　Yetitwasthislastdifferencewhichdrewustogether;
　　foramongthefirstthingsreferredtomycommitteewasabilltoincorporateapubliclibrarywhichheproposedtofoundinIthaca。
　　OnreadingthisbillIwasstruck，notmerelybyhisgiftofonehundredthousanddollarstohistownsmen，butevenmorebyacertainbreadthandlargenessinhiswayofmakingit。Themoststrikingsignofthiswashismodeofformingaboardoftrustees;for，insteadoftheusualefforttotieuptheorganizationforeverinsomesect，party，orclique，hehadnamedthebestmenofhistown——
　　hispoliticalopponentsaswellashisfriends;andhadaddedtothemthepastorsofalltheprincipalchurches，CatholicandProtestant。Thisbreadthofmind，evenmorethanhismunificence，drewmetohim。Wemetseveraltimes，discussedhisbill，andfinallyIreporteditsubstantiallyasintroduced，andsupportedituntilitbecamealaw。
　　Ournextrelationswerenot，atfirst，sopleasant。ThegreatLandGrantof1862，fromtheGeneralGovernmenttotheState，forindustrialandtechnicaleducation，hadbeenturnedover，ataprevioussessionofthelegislature，toaninstitutioncalledthePeople’sCollege，inSchuylerCounty;buttheAgriculturalCollege，twentymilesdistantfromit，wasseekingtotakeawayfromitaportionofthisendowment;andamongthetrusteesofthisAgriculturalCollegewasMr。Cornell，whonowintroducedabilltodividethefundbetweenthetwoinstitutions。
　　OnthisIatoncetookgroundagainsthim，declaringthatthefundoughttobekepttogetheratsomeoneinstitution;thatonnoaccountshoulditbedivided;thatthepolicyforhighereducationintheStateofNewYorkshouldbeconcentration;thatwehadalreadysufferedsufficientlyfromscatteringourresources;thattherewerealreadyovertwentycollegesintheState，andnotoneofthemdoinganythingwhichcouldjustlybecalleduniversitywork。
　　Mr。Cornell’sfirsteffortwastohavehisbillreferred，nottomycommittee，buttohis;hereIresistedhim，and，asasolutionofthedifficulty，itwasfinallyreferredtoajointcommitteemadeupofboth。Onthisdouble—headedcommitteeIdeliberatelythwartedhispurposethroughouttheentiresession，delayingactionandpreventinganyreportuponhisbill。
　　Mostmenwouldhavebeenvexedbythis;buthetookmycoursecalmly，andevenkindly。Heneverexpostulated，andalwayslistenedattentivelytomyargumentsagainsthisview;meanwhileIomittednoopportunitytomaketheseargumentsasstrongaspossible，andespeciallytoimpressuponhimtheimportanceofkeepingthefundtogether。
　　Afterthecloseofthesession，duringthefollowingsummer，asithadbecomeevidentthatthetrusteesofthePeople’sCollegehadnointentionofraisingtheadditionalendowmentandprovidingtheequipmentrequiredbytheactwhichgavethemthelandgrant，therewasgreatdangerthatthewholefundmightbelosttotheStatebythelapsingofthetimeallowedinthecongressionalactforitsacceptance。JustatthisperiodMr。CornellinvitedmetoattendameetingoftheStateAgriculturalSociety，ofwhichhewasthepresident，atRochester;and，whenthemeetinghadassembled，hequietlyproposedtoremovethedifficultyIhadraised，bydrawinganewbillgivingtheStateAgriculturalCollegehalfofthefund，andbyinsertingaclauserequiringthecollegetoprovideanadditionalsumofthreehundredthousanddollars。Thissumhepledgedhimselftogive，and，asthecomptrolleroftheStatehadestimatedthevalueofthelandgrantatsixhundredthousanddollars，Mr。Cornellsupposedthatthiswouldobviatemyobjection，sincethefundoftheAgriculturalCollegewouldthusbemadeequaltothewholeoriginalland—grantfundasestimated，whichwouldbeequivalenttokeepingthewholefundtogether。
　　Theentireaudienceapplauded，aswelltheymight:itwasanobleproposal。But，muchtothedisgustofthemeeting，Ipersistedinmyrefusaltosanctionanybilldividingthefund，declaredmyselfnowmoreopposedtosuchadivisionthanever;butpromisedthatifMr。CornellandhisfriendswouldaskfortheWHOLEgrant——keepingittogether，andaddinghisthreehundredthousanddollars，asproposed——Iwouldsupportsuchabillwithallmymight。
　　Iwasledtomakethisproposalbyacourseofcircumstanceswhichmight，perhaps，becalled``providential。’’
　　ForsomeyearsIhadbeendreamingofauniversity;hadlookedintothequestionsinvolved，athomeandabroad;
　　hadapproachedsundrywealthyandinfluentialmenonthesubject;buthadobtainednoencouragement，untilthisstrangeandunexpectedcombinationofcircumstances——agreatlandgrant，theuseofwhichwastobedeterminedlargelybythecommitteeofwhichIwaschairman，andthisnoblepledgebyMr。Cornell。
　　Yetforsomemonthsnothingseemedtocomeofourconference。Attheassemblingofthelegislatureinthefollowingyear，itwasmoreevidentthaneverthatthetrusteesofthePeople’sCollegeintendedtodonothing。
　　Duringtheprevioussessiontheyhadpromisedthroughtheiragentstosupplytheendowmentrequiredbytheircharter;but，thoughthischarterobligedthem，asaconditionoftakingthegrant，tohaveanestateoftwohundredacres，buildingsfortheaccommodationoftwohundredstudents，andafacultyofnotlessthansixprofessors，withasufficientlibraryandotherapparatus，yetourcommittee，onagaintakingupthesubject，foundhardlythefaintestpretenseofcomplyingwiththeseconditions。Moreover，theircharterrequiredthattheirpropertyshouldbefreefromallencumbrance;andyettheso—calleddonorofit，Mr。CharlesCook，couldnotbeinducedtocancelasmallmortgagewhichhehelduponit。Stillworse，beforethelegislaturehadbeeninsessionmanydays，itwasfoundthathisagenthadintroducedabilltorelievethePeople’sCollegeofallconditions，andtogiveit，withoutanypledgewhatever，thewholelandgrant，amountingtoverynearlyamillionofacres。
　　Butevenworsethanthiswasanotherdifficulty。InadditiontothestronglobbysentbyMr。CooktoAlbanyinbehalfofthePeople’sCollege，therecamerepresentativesofnearlyallthesmallerdenominationalcollegesintheState，meneminentandinfluential，clamoringforadivisionofthefundamongtheirvariousinstitutions，thoughthefragmentwhichwouldhavefallentoeachwouldnothavesufficedtoendowevenasingleprofessorship。
　　Whileallthiswasuncertain，andthefundseemedlikelytobeutterlyfritteredaway，IwasonedaygoingdownfromtheStateCapitol，whenMr。Cornelljoinedmeandbeganconversation。Hewas，asusual，austereandreservedinappearance;butIhadalreadyfoundthatbelowthisappearancetherewasawarmheartandnoblepurpose。NoobservantassociatecouldfailtonoticethattheonlymeasuresinthelegislaturewhichhecaredforwerethoseproposingsomesubstantialgoodtotheStateornation，andthathedespisedallpoliticalwranglingandpartizanjugglery。
　　Onthisoccasion，aftersomelittlegeneraltalk，hequietlysaid，``Ihaveabouthalfamilliondollarsmorethanmyfamilywillneed:whatisthebestthingIcandowithitfortheState？’’Ianswered:``Mr。Cornell，thetwothingsmostworthyofaidinanycountryarecharityandeducation;
　　but，inourcountry，thecharitiesappealtoeverybody。
　　Anyonecanunderstandtheimportanceofthem，andtheworthypoororunfortunatearesuretobetakencareof。Astoeducation，thelowergradeswillalwaysbecaredforinthepublicschoolsbytheState;buttheinstitutionsofthehighestgrade，withoutwhichthelowercanneverbethoroughlygood，canbeappreciatedbyonlyafew。ThepolicyofourStateistoleavethispartofthesystemtoindividuals;itseemstome，then，thatifyouhavehalfamilliontogive，thebestthingyoucandowithitistoestablishorstrengthensomeinstitutionforhigherinstruction。’’IthenwentontoshowhimtheneedofalargerinstitutionforsuchinstructionthantheStatethenhad;thatsuchacollegeoruniversityworthyoftheStatewouldrequirefarmoreinthewayoffacultyandequipmentthanmostmensupposed;thatthetimehadcomewhenscientificandtechnicaleducationmustbeprovidedforinsuchaninstitution;andthateducationinhistoryandliteratureshouldbethebloomofthewholegrowth。
　　Helistenedattentively，butsaidlittle。Thematterseemedtoendthere;butnotlongafterwardhecametomeandsaid:``Iagreewithyouthattheland—grantfundoughttobekepttogether，andthatthereshouldbeanewinstitutionfittedtothepresentneedsoftheStateandthecountry。Iamreadytopledgetosuchaninstitutionasiteandfivehundredthousanddollarsasanadditiontotheland—grantendowment，insteadofthreehundredthousand，asIproposedatRochester。’’
　　Asmaywellbeimagined，Ihailedthisproposaljoyfully，andsoonsketchedoutabillembodyinghispurposesofaraseducationwasconcerned。ButhereIwishtosaythat，whileMr。CornellurgedIthacaasthesiteoftheproposedinstitution，henevershowedanywishtogivehisownnametoit。Thesuggestiontothateffectwasmine。
　　Heatfirstdoubtedthepolicyofit;but，onmyinsistingthatitwasinaccordancewithtime—honoredAmericanusage，asshownbythenamesofHarvard，Yale，Dartmouth，Amherst，Bowdoin，Brown，Williams，andthelike，heyielded。
　　Wenowheldfrequentconferencesastotheleadingfeaturesoftheinstitutiontobecreated。IntheseIwasmoreandmoreimpressedbyhissagacityandlargenessofview;and，whenthesketchofthebillwasfullydeveloped，——itsfinancialfeaturesbyhim，anditseducationalfeaturesbyme，——itwasputintoshapebyCharlesJ。FolgerofGeneva，thenchairmanofthejudiciarycommitteeoftheSenate，afterwardchiefjudgeoftheCourtofAppeals，andfinallySecretaryoftheTreasuryoftheUnitedStates。
　　Theprovisionforbiddinganysectarianorpartizanpredominanceintheboardoftrusteesorfacultywasproposedbyme，heartilyacquiescedinbyMr。Cornell，andputintoshapebyJudgeFolger。TheState—scholarshipfeatureandthesystemofalumnirepresentationontheboardoftrusteeswerealsoacceptedbyMr。Cornellatmysuggestion。
　　Irefertothesethingsespeciallybecausetheyshowonestrikingcharacteristicoftheman——namely，hisreadinesstobeadvisedlargelybyothersinmatterswhichhefelttobeoutsidehisownprovince，andhiswillingnesstogivethelargestmeasureofconfidencewhenhegaveanyconfidenceatall。
　　Ontheotherhand，thewholeprovisionfortheendowment，thepartrelatingtothelandgrant，and，aboveall，thesupplementarylegislationallowinghimtomakeacontractwiththeStatefor``locating’’thelands，werethoughtoutentirelybyhimself;andinallthesemattersheshowed，notonlyapublicspiritfarbeyondthatdisplayedbyanyotherbenefactorofeducationinhistime，butaforesightwhichseemedtomethen，andseemstomenow，almostmiraculous。Healone，ofallmenintheUnitedStates，wasabletoforeseewhatmightbedonebyanindividualtodeveloptheland—grantfund，andhealonewaswillingtomakethegreatpersonalsacrificetherebyrequired。