But,whilehethusleftthegeneraleducationalfeaturestome,heuttered,duringoneofourconversations,wordswhichshowedthathehadarrivedatthetrueconceptionofauniversity。Heexpressedthehopethatintheproposedinstitutioneverystudentmightfindinstructioninwhateverstudyinterestedhim。Hencecamethelegendnowsurroundinghismedallionportraitupontheuniversityseal:``Iwouldfoundaninstitutionwhereanypersoncanfindinstructioninanystudy。’’
Theintroductionofthisnewbillintothelegislaturewasasignalforwar。Nearlyallthedenominationalcollegesgirdedthemselvesforthefray,andsenttheiragentstofightusatAlbany;theyalsostirredupthesecularpress,withoutdistinctionofparty,intheregionswheretheyweresituated,andthereligiousorgansoftheirvarioussectsinthegreatcities。
AtthecenterofthemovementagainstuswasthePeople’sCollege;ithadralliedinforceandwonoverthechairmanoftheeducationalcommitteeintheAssembly,sothatundervariouspretextshedelayedconsideringthebill。Worstofall,thereappearedagainstus,lateinthesession,aprofessorfromtheGeneseeCollege——amanofhighcharacterandgreatability;andhedidhisworkmostvigorously。Hebroughtthewholeforceofhissecttobearuponthelegislature,andinsistedthateveryothercollegeintheStatehadreceivedsomethingfromthepublicfunds,whilehishadreceivednone。
Asafirstresultcameaproposalfromsomeofhisassociatesthattwenty—fivethousanddollarsoftheland—grantfundbepaidtoGeneseeCollege;butthisthefriendsoftheCornellbillresisted,onthegroundthat,ifthefundwerebrokenintoinonecase,itwouldbeinothers。
ItwasnextproposedthatMr。Cornellshouldagreetogivetwenty—fivethousanddollarstoGeneseeCollegeonthepassageofthebill。ThisMr。Cornellutterlyrefused,sayingthatnotforthepassageofanybillwouldhemakeanyprivateofferorhaveanyprivateunderstanding;thateveryconditionmustbeputintothebill,whereallmencouldseeit;andthathewouldthenacceptorrejectitashemightthinkbest。Theresultwasthatouropponentsforcedintothebillaclauserequiringhimtogivetwenty—
fivethousanddollarstoGeneseeCollege,beforehecouldbeallowedtogivefivehundredthousanddollarstotheproposeduniversity;andthefriendsofthebill,notfeelingstrongenoughtoresistthisclause,andnotbeingwillingtoseetheenterprisewreckedforthewantofit,allowedittogounopposed。Thewholematterwasvexatioustothelastdegree。Amanoflessfirmnessandearnestness,thustreated,wouldhavethrownuphismunificentpurposeindisgust;butMr。Cornellquietlypersevered。
Yetthetroublesoftheproposeduniversityhadonlybegun。Mr。CharlesCook,who,duringhissenatorship,hadsecuredtheUnitedStateslandgrantof1862forthePeople’sCollege,wasamanofgreatforce,abornleaderofmen,anxioustobuilduphispartoftheState,andespeciallythetownfromwhichhecame,thoughhehadnospecialdesiretoputanyconsiderablepartofhisownwealthintoapublicinstitution。Hehadseentheopportunitiesaffordedbythelandgrant,hadcapturedit,andwasnowdeterminedtofightforit。Thestrugglebecamebitter。Hisemissaries,includingthemembersoftheSenateandAssemblyfromhispartoftheState,madecommoncausewiththesectariancolleges,andwithvariouscorporationsandpersonswho,havingbillsoftheirowninthelegislature,werereadytoexchangeservicesandvotes。
ThecoalitionofalltheseforcesagainsttheCornellUniversitybillsoonbecameveryformidable,andthecommitteeoneducationintheAssembly,towhichthebillhadbeenreferred,seemedmoreandmorecontrolledbythem。
Ouronlyhopenowwastoenlightenthegreatbodyofthesenatorsandassemblymen。TothisendMr。Cornellinvitedthembysquads,sometimestohisroomsatCongressHall,sometimestomineattheDelavanHouse。Therehelaidbeforethemhisgeneralproposalandthefinancialsideoftheplan,whileIdweltupontheneedofauniversityinthetruesenseoftheword;upontheopportunitynowofferedbythisgreatfund;uponthenecessityofkeepingittogether;upontheneedoflargemeanstocarryoutanyschemeoftechnicalandgeneraleducationsuchaswascontemplatedbythecongressionalactof1862;
showedtheproofsthatthePeople’sCollegewouldandcoulddonothingtomeetthiswant;thatdivisionofthefundamongtheexistingcollegeswassimplytheannihilationofit;and,ingeneral,didmybesttoenlightenthereasonandarousethepatriotismofthemembersonthesubjectofaworthyuniversityinourState。ThesepointsandotherswerefinallyembodiedinmyspeechbeforetheSenate,andthishavingbeenpublishedinthe``AlbanyJournal,’’Mr。CornellprovidedforitscirculationbroadcastovertheStateandthusarousedpublicopinion。
InthiswaywewontooursupportseveralstrongfriendsinbothHouses,amongthemsomemenofgreatnaturalforceofcharacterwhohadneverenjoyedtheprivilegeofmuchearlyeducation,butwhowerenonethelessanxiousthatthosewhocameafterthemshouldhavethebestopportunities。OftheseImaynameespeciallySenatorsCookofSaratogaandAmesofOswego。Menofhigheducationandculturealsoaidedus,especiallyMr。Andrews,Mr。Havens,and,finally,JudgeFolgerintheSenate,withMr。LordandMr。WeaverintheAssembly。
Whilewewerethuslaboringwiththelegislatureasawhole,seriousworkhadtobedonewiththeAssemblycommittee;andMr。Cornellemployedaveryeminentlawyertopresenthiscase,whileMr。Cookemployedonenolessnotedtotaketheoppositeside。ThesessionofthecommitteewasheldintheAssemblychamber,andtherewasalargeattendanceofspectators;but,unfortunately,thelawyeremployedbyMr。Cornellhavingtakenlittlepainswiththecase,hisspeechwascold,labored,perfunctory,andfellflat。Thespeechontheothersidewasmuchmoreeffective;itwasthinanddemagogical,butthespeakerknewwellthebesttricksforcatchingtheaverageman。HeindulgedineloquenttiradesagainsttheCornellbillasa``monopoly,’’a``wildproject,’’a``selfishscheme,’’a``job,’’a``grab,’’andthelike;denouncedMr。
Cornellas``seekingtoerectamonumenttohimself’’;
hintedthathewas``planningtorobtheState’’;and,beforehehadfinished,hadpicturedMr。Cornellasaswindlerandtherestofusasdupesorknaves。
IcanneverforgetthequietdignitywithwhichMr。
Cornelltookthisabuse。Mrs。Cornellsatathisright,I
athisleft。Inoneoftheworsttiradesagainsthim,heturnedtomeandsaidquietly,andwithouttheslightestangerorexcitement:``IfIcouldthinkofanyotherwayinwhichhalfamillionofdollarswoulddoasmuchgoodtotheState,Iwouldgivethelegislaturenomoretrouble。’’
Shortlyafterward,whentheinvectivewasagainespeciallybitter,heturnedtomeandsaid:``IamnotsurebutthatitwouldbeagoodthingformetogivethehalfamilliontooldHarvardCollegeinMassachusetts,toeducatethedescendantsofthemenwhohangedmyforefathers。’’
Therewasmorethanhisusualquainthumorinthis——therewasthatdeepreverencewhichhealwaysboretowardhisQuakerancestry,andwhichseemedtohavebecomepartofhim。IadmiredMr。Cornellonmanyoccasions,butnevermorethanduringthathourwhenhesat,withouttheslightestanger,mildlytakingtheabuseofthatprostitutedpettifogger,theindifferenceofthecommittee,andthelaughteroftheaudience。Itwasasceneforapainter,andItrustthatsomedayitwillbefitlyperpetuatedfortheuniversity。
Thisstrugglebeingended,theAssemblycommitteecouldnotbeinducedtoreportthebill。Itwaseasy,aftersuchaspeech,foritsmemberstoposeasprotectorsoftheStateagainstaswindlerandamonopoly;thechairman,who,shortlyafterthecloseofthesession,wasmysteriouslygivenapositionintheNewYorkcustom—house,madepretextafterpretextwithoutreporting,untilitbecameevidentthatwemusthaveastruggleintheAssemblyanddragthebilloutofthecommitteeinspiteofhim。
Todothisrequiredatwo—thirdsvote。Allourfriendsweresettowork,andsomepainstakentoscarethecorporationswhichhadalliedthemselveswiththeenemy,inregardtothefateoftheirownbills,bymakingthemstandthat,unlesstheystoppedtheirinterestedoppositiontotheuniversitybillintheHouse,afeelingwouldbecreatedintheSenateveryunfortunateforthem。
InthiswaytheirclutchuponsundrymembersoftheAssemblywassomewhatrelaxed,andthesewereallowedtovoteaccordingtotheirconsciences。
TheCornellbillwasadvocatedmostearnestlyintheHousebyMr。HenryB。Lord:inhisunpretentiouswayhemarshaledtheuniversityforces,andmovedthatthebillbetakenfromthecommitteeandreferredtotheCommitteeoftheWhole。Nowcameastruggle。MostofthebestmenintheAssemblystoodbyus;butthewaverers——menwhofearedlocalpressure,sectarianhostility,ortheoppositionofMr。Cooktomeasuresoftheirown——
attempted,ifnottoopposetheCornellbill,atleasttoevadeavoteuponit。Inordertogivethemalittletoneandstrength,Mr。CornellwentwithmetovariousleadingeditorsinthecityofNewYork,andweexplainedthewholemattertothem,securingeditorialarticlesfavorabletotheuniversity,themostprominentamongthesegentlemenbeingHoraceGreeleyofthe``Tribune,’’Eras—
tusBrooksofthe``Express,’’andMantonMarbleofthe``World。’’Thisdidmuchforus,yetwhenthevotewastakentheoldcowardicewasagainshown;butseveralofusstoodinthecloak—roomandfairlyshamedthewaverersbackintotheirplaces。Asaresult,tothesurpriseanddisgustofthechairmanoftheAssemblycommittee,thebillwastakenoutofhiscontrol,andreferredtotheCommitteeoftheWholeHouse。
Anotherlongstrugglenowensued,butthebillwasfinallypassedintheAssemblyandcamebacktotheSenate。Therethestrugglewasrenewed,allkindsofdelayingtacticswereresortedto,butthebillwasfinallycarried,andreceivedthesignatureofGovernorFenton。
Nowcameanewdanger。Duringtheirstruggleagainstthebill,ourenemieshadbeenstrongenoughtoforceintoitaclauseenablingthePeople’sCollegetoretainthelandfund,providedthatinstitutionshouldbeshown,withinsixmonthsofthepassageofthebill,tobeinpossessionofasumsuchastheBoardofRegentsshoulddeclarewouldenableittocomplywiththeconditionsonwhichithadoriginallyreceivedthegrant。TheBoardofRegentsnowreportedthatthepossessionofonehundredandfiftythousanddollarswouldbesufficientforsuchacompliance,andwouldinsurethefundtothePeople’sCollege。Naturallywewatched,inmuchuneasysuspense,duringthosesixmonths,toseewhetherMr。CookandthePeople’sCollegeauthoritieswouldraisethissumofmoney,sosmallincomparisonwiththatwhichMr。
Cornellwaswillingtogive,inordertosecurethegrant。
Butourfearswerebaseless;andonthefifthdayofSeptember,1865,thetrusteesofCornellUniversitywereassembledforthefirsttimeatIthaca。
ThencametothemarevelationofaqualityinMr。Cornellunknowntomostofthembefore。InoneofthepetitionsforwardedfromIthacatothelegislaturebyhisfellow—citizensithadbeenstatedthat``heneverdidlessthanhepromised,butgenerallymore。’’Soitwasfoundinthiscase。Heturnedovertothetrustees,notonlythesecuritiesforthefivehundredthousanddollarsrequiredbythecharter,butalsogavetwohundredacresoflandasasite。ThuscameintobeingCornellUniversity。
YettheservicesofMr。Cornellhadonlybegun:heatoncesubmittedtousaplanfordoingwhatnoothercitizenhaddoneforanyotherState。Intheothercommonwealthswhichhadreceivedthelandgrant,theauthoritieshadtakenthescriprepresentingtheland,solditatthemarketprice,and,asthemarketwasthusglutted,hadrealizedbutasmallsum;butMr。Cornell,withthatforesightwhichwashismoststrikingcharacteristic,sawclearlywhatcouldbedonebyusingthescriptotakeuplandfortheinstitution。Todothishesoughtaidinvariousways;butnoonedaredjoinhim,andatlasthedeterminedtobearthewholeburdenhimself。Scriprepresentingoversevenhundredthousandacresstillremainedinthehandsofthecomptroller。ThetrusteesreceivedMr。
Cornell’splanfordealingwiththescripsomewhatdoubtfully,buttheenablingactwaspassed,bywhichhewaspermittedto``locate’’thislandforthebenefitoftheuniversity。Soearnestwasheinthismatterthathewasanxioustotakeuptheentireamount,butherehisnearfriendsinterposed:wesawtoowellwhatacrushingloadthetaxesandotherexpensesonsuchavasttractoflandwouldbecomebeforeitcouldbesoldtoadvantage。Finallyheyieldedsomewhat:itwasagreedthatheshouldtakeupfivehundredthousandacres,andhenowgavehimselfdayandnighttothisgreatpartoftheenterprise,whichwastoprovideaproperfinancialbasisforauniversitysuchaswehopedtofound。
Meanwhile,atMr。Cornell’ssuggestion,Idevotedmyselftoamorecarefulplanofthenewinstitution;and,atthenextmeetingoftheboard,presenteda``planoforganization,’’whichsketchedoutthepurposeandconstitutionofsuchauniversityasseemedneededinagreatcommonwealthlikeours。Mr。Cornellstudieditcarefully,gaveithisapproval,andacopyofitwithmarginalnotesinhisownhandisstillpreserved。
IhadsupposedthatthiswastoendmyrelationswithMr。Cornell,sofarastheuniversitywasconcerned。A
multitudeofmattersseemedtoforbidmytakinganyfurthercareforit,andacalltoanotherpositionveryattractivetomedrewmeawayfromallthoughtofconnectionwithit,save,perhaps,suchaswasinvolvedinmeetingthetrusteesonceortwiceayear。
Mr。Cornellhadaskedme,fromtimetotime,whetherIcouldsuggestanypersonforthepresidencyoftheuniversity。Imentionedvariouspersons,andpresentedtheargumentsintheirfavor。Onedayhesaidtomequietlythathealsohadacandidate;Iaskedhimwhoitwas,andhesaidthathepreferredtokeepthemattertohimselfuntilthenextmeetingofthetrustees。Nothingmorepassedbetweenusonthatsubject。Ihadnoinklingofhispurpose,butthoughtitmostlikelythathiscandidatewasaWesterngentlemanwhoseclaimshadbeenstronglypresseduponhim。Whenthetrusteescametogether,andthesubjectwasbroughtup,Ipresentedthemeritsofvariousgentlemen,especiallyofonealreadyattheheadofanimportantcollegeintheState,who,Ithought,wouldgiveussuccess。Uponthis,Mr。Cornellrose,and,inaverysimplebutearnestspeech,presentedmyname。Itwasentirelyunexpectedbyme,andIendeavoredtoshowthetrusteesthatitwasimpossibleformetotaketheplaceinviewofotherduties;thatitneededamanofmorerobusthealth,ofgreaterage,andofwiderreputationintheState。ButMr。Cornellquietlypersisted,ourcolleaguesdeclaredthemselvesunanimouslyofhisopinion,and,withmanymisgivings,Igaveaprovisionalacceptance。
TherelationthusbegunendedonlywithMr。Cornell’slife,andfromfirsttolastitgrewmoreandmoreinterestingtome。WewerethrownmuchtogetheratAlbany,atIthaca,andonvariousjourneysundertakenfortheuniversity;and,themoreIsawofhim,thedeeperbecamemyrespectforhim。Therewere,indeed,towardtheendofhislife,somethingstryingtooneofmytemperament,andamongthesethingsImaymentionhisexceedingreticence,andhiswillingnessnotonlytolaborbuttowait;
butthesestoodnotatallinthewayofmyrespectandaffectionforhim。
Hisliberalitywasunstinted。Whileusinghisfortuneintakingupthelands,hewasconstantlydoinggenerousthingsfortheuniversityandthoseconnectedwithit。OneofthefirstofthesewashisgiftofthelibraryinclassicalliteraturecollectedbyDr。CharlesAnthonofColumbiaCollege。Nothingcouldapparentlybemoreoutsidehissympathythanthedepartmentneedingtheseseventhousandvolumes;butherecognizeditsimportanceinthegeneralplanofthenewinstitution,boughtthelibraryforovertwelvethousanddollars,andgaveittotheuniversity。
ThencametheJewettcollectioningeology,whichhegaveatacostoftenthousanddollars;theWardcollectionofcasts,atacostofthreethousand;theNewcombcollectioninconchology,atacostofsixteenthousand;anadditiontotheuniversitygrounds,valuedatmanythousandsmore;anditwasonlytheclaimsofamultitudeofminoruniversitymattersuponhispursewhichpreventedhiscarryingoutafavoriteplanofgivingagreattelescope,atacostoffiftythousanddollars。Atalaterperiod,toextinguishtheuniversitydebt,toincreasetheequipment,andeventuallytoprovidefreescholarshipsandfellowships,hemadeanadditionalgiftofabouteightythousanddollars。
Whiledoingthesethings,hewasconstantlyadvancinglargesumsinlocatingtheuniversitylands,andinpayinguniversitysalaries,forwhichourfundswerenotyetavailable;whilefromtimetotimehemademanygiftswhich,thoughsmaller,werenolessstrikingevidencesofthelargenessofhisview。Imaymentionafewamongtheseastypical。
Havingfound,inthecatalogueofaLondonbook—
seller,asetofPiranesi’sgreatworkonthe``AntiquitiesofRome,’’——asuperbcopy,thegiftofapopetoaroyalduke,——Ishowedittohim,whenheatonceordereditforourlibraryatacostofaboutathousanddollars。Atanothertime,seeingtheneedofsomecostlyworkstoillustrateagriculture,hegavethemtousatasomewhatgreatercost;and,havingheardProfessorTyndall’slecturesinNewYork,heboughtadditionalphysicalapparatustoenableourresidentprofessortorepeatthelecturesatIthaca,andthiscosthimfifteenhundreddollars。
Characteristicofhim,too,wasanotherpieceofquietmunificence。Whentheclauseforcedintotheuniversitycharter,requiringhimtogivetwenty—fivethousanddollarstoanotherinstitutionbeforehecouldbeallowedtogivehalfamilliontohisown,wasnoisedabroadthroughtheState,therewasageneralfeelingofdisgust;andatthenextsessionofthelegislatureabillwasbroughtintorefundthetwenty—fivethousanddollarstohim。Uponthis,heremarkedthatwhatheoncegavehenevertookback,butthatiftheuniversitytrusteeswouldacceptithehadnoobjection。Thebillwasmodifiedtothiseffect,andthusthewrongwasrighted。
DuringmystayinEurope,throughthesummerof1868,underinstructionstostudyvariousinstitutionsfortechnicaleducation,tomakelargepurchasesofbooks,andtosecureoneortwomengreatlyneededinspecialdepartmentsnotthenmuchcultivatedinthiscountry,hisgenerositywasunfailing。LargeaswerethepurchaseswhichIwasauthorizedtomake,thenumberofdesirablethingsoutsidethislimitsteadilygrewlarger;butmyletterstohiminvariablybroughtbackthecommissiontosecurethisadditionalmaterial。
DuringthisoccupationofmineinEurope,hewasquiteasbusyinthewoodsoftheupperMississippiandontheplainsofKansas,selectinguniversitylands。Nofatigueorexpendituredeterredhim。
AtvariousperiodsIpassedmuchtimewithMr。Cornellonhishomefarm。Helivedgenerously,inakindofpatriarchalsimplicity,andmanyofhisconversationsinterestedmeintensely。Hisreticencegraduallyyielded,andhegavememuchinformationregardinghisearlieryears:theyhadbeenfulloftoilandstruggle,butthroughthewholetherewasclearevidenceofanoblepurpose。Whateverworthyworkhishandhadfoundtodo,hehaddoneitwithhismight:thesteamersofCayugaLake;thetunnelwhichcarriesthewatersofFallCreektothemillsbelow;themillsthemselves;thedamsagainstthatturbulentstream,whichhebuiltafterothershadfailed,andwhichstandfirmlytothisday;thecalendarclocksforwhichIthacahasbecomefamous,andofwhichhefurnishedtheoriginalhint——allthesehetouchedupon,thoughsomodestlythatIneverfoundouthisfullagencyinthemuntilalaterperiod,whenIhadmadetheacquaintanceofmanyofhistownsmen。
EspeciallyinterestingwerehisreferencestothebeginningsofAmericantelegraphicenterprise,withwhichhehadsomuchtodo。
Hisconnectionwithitbeganinacuriousway。TravelinginnorthernNewEnglandtodisposeofaplowwhichhehadinvented,heenteredtheofficeofagentlemanwhohadtakenthecontractforlayingthefirsttelegraphicwiresundergroundbetweenWashingtonandBaltimore,andfoundhiminmuchdoubtandtrouble:thedifficultywastolaytheleadenpipecontainingthetwoinsulatedwiresatacostwithinthetermsofthecontract。Hearingthis,Mr。
Cornellsaid:``Iwillbuildyouamachinewhichwilldigthetrench,laythepipeandwires,andcoverthemwithearthrapidlyandcheaply。’’
Thisproposalwasatfirstderided;but,asMr。Cornellinsisteduponit,hewasatlastallowedtoshowwhathecoulddo。Themachinehavingbeenconstructed,heexhibitedittoacommittee;butwhenthelonglineofhorsesattachedtoitwerestarted,itwassothrownaboutbytheinequalitiesofthesurfacethatthecommitteedeclareditafailure。PresentlyMr。Cornelltookthemtothegroundoverwhichthemachinehadjustpassed,and,showingthemalineofnewlyturnedearth,askedthemtodiginit。Havingdonethis,theyfoundthepipeincasingthewires,acknowledgedhistriumph,andimmediatelygavehimandhismachinepermanentemployment。
Butbeforelonghebecameconvincedthatthiswasnotthebestway。HavingstudiedallthebooksonelectricitythathecouldfindintheCongressionalLibrary,hehadsatisfiedhimselfthatitwouldbefarbetterandcheapertostringthewiresthroughtheopenairbetweenpoles。
Thisideathemencontrollingtheschemeforatimeresisted。Someofthemregardedsuchinterferenceinascientificmatterbyonewhomtheyconsideredaplainworking—manasaltogethertoopresuming。ButonedayProfessorMorsecameouttodecidethematter。FindingMr。Cornellathismachine,theprofessorexplainedthedifficultiesinthecase,especiallythedangerofshakingtheconfidenceofCongress,andsolosingthenecessaryappropriation,shouldanychangeinplanbeadopted,andthenaskedhimifhecouldseeanywayoutofthedifficulty。
Mr。Cornellansweredthathecould,whereuponProfessorMorseexpressedawishthatitmightbetaken。AtthisMr。Cornellgavethewordtohismen,startedupthelonglineofhorsesdraggingtheponderousmachine,guideditwithhisownhandsintoaboulderlyingnear,andthusderangedthewholemachinery。
Asanaturalresultitwasannouncedbyvariousjournalsatthenationalcapitalthatthemachineryforlayingthewireshadbeenbrokenbythecarelessnessofanemployee,butthatitwoulddoubtlesssoonberepairedandtheworkresumed。Thankstothisstratagem,thenecessarytimewasgainedwithoutshakingtheconfidenceofCongress,andMr。Cornellatoncebeganstringingthewiresuponpoles:theinsulationwasfoundfarbetterthanintheundergroundsystem,andtherewasnomoretrouble。
Theconfidenceofthepromotersoftheenterprisebeingthusgained,Mr。Cornellwasemployedtodotheirworkinallpartsofthecountry;andhissturdyhonesty,energy,andpersistencejustifiedtheirconfidenceandlaidthefoundationsofhisfortune。
Verystrikingweretheaccountsofhistroublesandtrialsduringtheprosecutionofthistelegraphicwork——
troublesfrommenofpretendedscience,fromselfishmen,fromstupidmen——allchronicledbyhimwithouttheslightestbitternessagainstanyhumanbeing,yetwithaquainthumorwhichmadethestoryveryenjoyable。
Throughhispersonalhistory,asIthenbegantolearnit,ranathread,orratherastrongcord,ofstoicism。
Hehadclungwithsuchdesperatetenacitytohisfaithinthefutureofthetelegraphicsystem,that,soonerthanpartwithhisinterestinit,evenwhenitsstockwasutterlydiscredited,hesufferedfrompoverty,andalmostfromwant。
Whilepressingonhistelegraphicconstruction,hehadbeenterriblywoundedinaWesternrailroadaccident,buthadextricatedhimselffromthedeadanddying,and,asI
learnedfromothers,hadbornehissufferingswithoutamurmur。Atanothertime,overtakenbyship—feveratMontreal,andthoughttobebeyondhelp,hehadquietlymadeuphismindthat,ifhecouldreachacertainhydropathicestablishmentinNewYork,hewouldrecover;andhaddraggedhimselfthroughthatlongjourney,desperatelyillashewas,inrailwaycars,steamers,andstages,untilhereachedhisdesiredhaven;andtherehefinallyrecovered,thoughnearlyeveryotherpersonattackedbythediseaseathisMontrealhotelhaddied。
Pursuinghistelegraphicenterprise,hehadbeenobligedattimestofightmanystrongmenandgreatcombinationsofcapital;butthissamestoicismcarriedhimthrough:
heusedtosaylaughinglythathiswaywasto``tirethemout。’’
When,atlast,fortunehadbeguntosmileuponhim,hispublicspiritbegantoshowitselfinmorestrikingforms,thoughnotinformsmorereal,thaninhisearlierdays。
Evidencesofthismettheeyeofhisvisitorsatonce,andamongthesewerethefinecattle,sheep,fruit—trees,andthelike,whichhehadbroughtbackfromtheLondonExpositionof1851。HisobservationsoftheagriculturalexperimentsofLawesandGilbertatRothamsteadinEngland,andhisvisitstovariousagriculturalexhibitions,ledhimtoattemptsimilarworkathome。Everythingthatcouldimprovethecommunityinwhichhelivedwasmatterofconcerntohim。Hetooktheleadinestablishing``CascadillaPlace,’’inordertogiveaverygiftedwomananopportunitytoshowherabilitiesinadministeringhydropathictreatmenttodisease;hispubliclibrary,whenIfirstvisitedIthaca,wasjustcompleted。
Henevershowedtheslightestapproachtodisplayorvanityregardinganyofthesethings,andmostofthemI
heardoffirst,atalaterperiod,fromothers。
Althoughhisreligiousideaswereveryfarfromthosegenerallyconsideredorthodox,hehadadeepsympathywitheverygoodeffortforreligionandmorality,nomatterbywhommade;andhecontributedfreelytochurchesofeverynameandtogoodpurposesofeverysort。Hehadquaintwaysattimesinmakingsuchgifts,andfromthemanystoriesshowingtheseIselectoneascharacteristic。
DuringtheCivilWar,theyoungwomenofthevillageheldlargesewing—circles,doingworkforthesoldiers。
WhenMr。Cornellwasaskedtocontributetotheirfunds,hedeclined,tothegreatsurpriseofthosewhoaskedhim,andsaiddryly:``Ofcoursethesewomendon’treallycometogethertosewforthesoldiers;theycometogethertogossip。’’Thiswassaid,nodoubt,withthatpeculiartwinkleoftheeyewhichhisoldfriendscanwellremember;
but,ontheyoungladiesprotestingthathedidtheminjustice,heanswered:``IfyoucanprovethatIamwrong,Iwillgladlycontribute;ifyouwillonlysewtogetheralloneafternoon,andnooneofyouspeakaword,Iwillgiveyouahundreddollars。’’Thesocietymet,andcompletesilencereigned。Theyoungmenofthecommunity,hearingofthis,andseeinganadmirablechancetoteasetheirfairfriends,cameinlargenumberstothesewing—circle,andtriedtoengagetheminconversation。Atfirsttheirattemptswereinvain;but,finally,toaquestionskilfullyput,oneoftheyoungladiesmadeareply。Thisbrokethespell。Ofcourse,thewholeassemblywereveryunhappy;
but,whenallwastoldtoMr。Cornell,hesaid:
``Theyshallhavetheirhundreddollars,fortheyhavedonebetterthananyotherwomeneverdid。’’
ButIoughttosayherethatthislittleepisodewouldbegrosslymisunderstoodwereitsupposedtoindicateanytendencyinhisheartormindtowardacynicalviewofwomankind。Nothingcouldbemoremanlyandnoblethanhisreferencetoherwhohadstoodathissidecourageously,hopefully,andcheerilyduringhisyearsofstruggleandwantofappreciation。Wellmighthespeakofher,ashedidonceinmyhearing,as``thebestwomanthateverlived。’’Andhisgentlecourtlinessandthoughtfulkindnesswerealsodeeplyappreciatedinotherhouseholds。Hisearnestness,too,inbehalfofthehighereducationofwomen,andoftheirfairtreatmentinvariousprofessionsandoccupations,showedsomethingfardeeperthanconventionalpoliteness。
FromthetimewhenIbegantoknowhimbest,hismainthoughtwasconcentratedupontheuniversity。Hisownbusinessinterestswerefreelysacrificed;histime,wealth,andeffortwereallyieldedtohisworkintakingupitslands,tosaynothingofsupplementaryworkwhichbecameinmanywaysaheavyburdentohim。
Duringthesummerprecedingtheopeningoftheuniversity,thislaborandcarebegantowearuponhim,andhewasattackedbyanoldmaladywhichgavehimgreatpain;yethisstoicismasserteditself。Throughnightafternight,asIlayintheroomnexthisathisfarm—house,I
couldhearhimgroan,andtomynaturalsympathywasaddedafearlesthemightnotlivethroughthismostcriticalperiodinthehistoryofthenewinstitution;but,invariably,whenImethimnextmorningandaskedhowhefelt,hisanswerwas,``Allright,’’or``Verywell。’’I
cannotremembereverhearinghimmakeanycomplaintofhissufferingsorevenanyreferencetothem。
Nordidpaindiminishhissteadyserenityorgenerosity。
Irememberthatononehotafternoonofthatsummer,whenhehadcomeintothehousethoroughlyweary,ayoungmancalleduponhimtoaskforaidinsecuringschool—books。Mr。Cornellquestionedhimclosely,andthenrose,walkedwithhimdownthehillintothetown,andboughtthebookswhichwereneeded。
Asthedayapproachedfortheformalopeningoftheuniversity,hewasobligedtoremaininbed。Careandtoilhadprostratedmealso;andbothofus,asorrycoupleindeed,hadtobetakenfromourbedstobecarriedtotheopeningexercises。
AgreatcrowdhadassembledfromallpartsoftheState:——manyenthusiastic,moredoubtful,andsomedecidedlyinclinedtoscoff。
Somewhowereexpectedwerenotpresent。TheGovernoroftheState,thoughhehadbeeninIthacathedaybefore,quietlylefttownontheeveoftheopeningexercises。HisExcellencywasaverywisemaninhisgeneration,andevidentlyfeltthatitwasnotbestforhimtohavetoomuchtodowithaninstitutionwhichthesectarianpresshadsogenerallycondemned。IshallnotsoonforgetthewayinwhichMr。Cornellbrokethenewstome,andtheaccentofcalmcontemptinhisvoice。Fortunatelythereremainedwithusthelieutenant—governor,GeneralStewartLyndonWoodford。Hecametothefrontnobly,andstoodbyusfirmlyandmunificentlyeverafterward。
Mr。Cornell’sspeechonthatoccasionwasverysimpleandnoble;hiswholeposition,toonewhoknewwhathehadgonethroughinthewayofobloquy,hardwork,andself—sacrifice,wastouching。Worndownbyillness,hewasunabletostand,andhethereforereadhisaddressinalowtonefromhischair。Itwasveryimpressive,almostincapacitatingmefromspeakingafterhim,andIsawtearsintheeyesofmanyintheaudience。Nothingcouldbemoresimplethanthisspeechofhis;itwasmainlydevotedtoaplainassertionofthetrueuniversitytheoryinitsmostelementaryform,andtoapleathatwomenshouldhaveequalprivilegeswithmeninadvancededucation。Inthemidstofitcameatouchofhisquaintshrewdness;for,inreplyingtoarecentchargethateverythingattheuniversitywasunfinished,heremarkedinsubstance,``Wehavenotinvitedyoutoseeauniversityfinished,buttoseeonebegun。’’
Theopeningdayseemedasuccess,butthisverysuccessstirreduptheenemy。AbitterletterfromIthacatoaleadingdenominationalorganinNewYorkgavethesignal,andsoonthewholesectarianpresswasinfullcry,steadilypressinguponMr。Cornellandthosewhostoodnearhim。Verymanyofthesecularpressesalsothoughtitwisetojoinintheattack,anditwasquicklyextendedfromhisideastohishonor,andeventohishonesty。ItseemedbeyondtheconceptionofmanyofthesegentlementhataHicksiteQuaker,who,ifhegaveanythoughtatalltothisorthatcreed,orthisorthat``planofsalvation,’’
passeditallbyasutterlyirrelevantandinadequate,couldbeareligiousman;andafargreaternumberseemedtofinditjustasdifficulttobelievethatamancouldsacrificehiscomfortandriskhisfortuneinmanagingsogreatalandedpropertyforthepublicinterestwithoutanyconcealedschemeofplunder。
Butheboreallthiswithhisusualstoicism。Itseemedtoincreasehisdevotiontotheinstitution,ratherthantodiminishit。Whenthereceiptsfromtheendowmentfellshortorweredelayed,hecontinuedtoadvancemoneyfreelytomeetthesalariesoftheprofessors;andforapparatus,books,andequipmentofeverysorthispursewasconstantlyopened。
Yet,inthosedaysoftoilandcareandobloquy,thereweresomethingswhichencouragedhimmuch。AtthatperiodallpatrioticAmericansfeltdeepgratitudetoGoldwinSmithforhiscourageandeloquenceinstandingbyourcountryduringtheCivilWar,andgreatadmirationforhisprofoundandbrillianthistoricallecturesatOxford。
Naturally,onarrivinginLondon,Isoughttoengagehimforthenewuniversity,andwasauthorizedbyMr。Cornelltomakehimlargepecuniaryoffers。ProfessorSmithenteredatonceintoourplansheartily;wrotetoencourageus;cametous;livedwithusamidwhat,tohim,musthavebeengreatprivations;lecturedforusyearafteryearasbrilliantlyashehadeverlecturedatOxford;gavehislibrarytotheuniversity,withalargesumforitsincrease;
lenthisaidveryquietly,butnonethelesseffectually,toneedyandmeritoriousstudents;andsteadilyrefusedthen,ashehaseversincedone,andnowdoes,toacceptadollarofcompensation。NothingevergaveMr。Cornellmoreencouragementthanthis。For``Goldwin,’’ashecalledhiminhisQuakerway,therewasalwaysaverywarmcornerinhisheart。
Healsofoundespecialpleasureinmanyofthelecture—
coursesestablishedattheopeningoftheuniversity。ForProfessorAgassizheformedawarmfriendship;andtheirdiscussionsregardinggeologicalquestionswereveryinteresting,elicitingfromAgassizastrikingtributetoMr。Cornell’sclosenessofobservationandsagacityinreasoning。ThelecturesonhistorybyGoldwinSmith,andonliteraturebyJamesRussellLowell,GeorgeWilliamCurtis,andBayardTaylor,healsoenjoyedgreatly。