Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White

PART I-ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION Chapter I. Boyhood in Central New York — 1832-1850 PAGE

The " Military Tract " of New York. A settlement on the headwaters of the Susquehanna. Arrival of my grandfathers and grandmothers. Growth of the new settlement. First recollections of it. General character of my environment. My father and mother. Cortland Academy. Its twofold effect upon me. First schooling. Methods in primary studies. Physical education. Removal to Syracuse. The Syracuse Academy. Joseph Allen and Professor Root; their influence; moral side of the education thtis obtained. General education outside the school. Removal to a "classical school "; a catastrophe. James W. Hoyt and his influence. My early love for classical studies. Discovery of Scott's novels. "The Gallery of British Artists." Effect of sundry conventions, public meetings, and lectures. Am sent to Geneva College ; treatment of faculty by students. A " Second Adventist" meeting; Howell and Clark; my first meeting with Judge Folger. Philosophy of student dissipation at that place and time 3

Chapter II. Yale and Europe — 1850-1857

My coup d'6tat. Removal to Yale. New energy in study and reading. Influence of Emerson, Carlyle, and Ruskin. Yale in 1850. My disappointment at the instruction; character of president and professors; perfunctory methods in lower-class rooms; "gerund-grinding" vs. literature; James Hadley — his abilities and influence; other professors; influence of President Woolsey, Professors Porter, Silliman, and Dana; absence of literary instruction ; character of that period from a literary point of view ; influences from fellow-students. Importance of political questions at that time. Sundry successes in essay writing. Physical education at Yale ; boating. Life abroad after graduation ; visit to Oxford ; studies at the Sorbonne and College de France ; afternoons at the Invalides ; tramps through western and central France. Studies at St. Petersburg. Studies at Berlin. Journey in Italy ; meeting with James Russell Lowell at Venice. Frieze, Fishburne, and studies in Rome. Excursions through the south of France. Return to America. Influence of Buckle, Lecky, and Draper. The atmosphere of Darwin and Spencer. Educational environment at the University of Michigan 23

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PART II-POLITICAL LIFE Chapter III. From Jackson to Fillmore — 1832-1851 PAGE

Political division in my family ; differences between my father and grandfather; election of Andrew Jackson. First recollections of American politics ; Martin Van Buren. Campaign of 1840 ; campaign songs and follies. Efforts by the Democrats ; General Crary of Michigan ; Corwin's speech. The Ogle gold-spoon speech. The Sub-Treasury Question. Election of General Harrison ; his death. Disappointment in President Tyler. Carelessness of nominating conventions as to the second place upon the ticket. Campaign of 1844. Clay, Birney, and Polk. Growth of anti-slavery feeling. Senator Hale's lecture. Henry Clay's proposal. The campaign of 1848 ; General Taylor vs. General Cass. My recollections of them both. State Conventions at this period. Governor Bouck ; his civility to Bishop Hughes. Fernando Wood ; his method of breaking up a State Convention. Charles O'Conor and John Van Buren ; boyish adhesion to Martin Van Buren against General Taylor ; Taylor's election ; his death. My recollections of Millard Fillmore. The Fugitive Slave Law 45

Chapter IV. Early Manhood — 1851-1857

"Jerry"; his sudden fame. Speeches of Daniel Webster and Henry Clay at Syracuse on the Fugitive Slave Law ; their prophecies. The "Jerry Rescue." Trials of the rescuers. My attendance at one of them. Bishop Loguen's prayer and Gerrit Smith's speech. Characteristics of Gerrit Smith. Effects of the rescue trials. Main difficulty of the anti-slavery party. "Fool Reformers." Nominations of Scott and Pierce ; their qualities. Senator Douglas. Abolition of the Missouri Compromise. Growth of ill feeling between North and South. Pro-slavery tendencies at Yale. Stand against these taken by President Woolsey and Leonard Bacon. My candidacy for editorship of the "Yale Literary Magazine." Opposition on account of my anti-slavery ideas. My election. Temptations to palter with my conscience ; victory over them. Professor Hadley's view of duty to the Fugitive Slave Law. Lack of opportunity to present my ideas. My chance on Commencement Day. "Modern Oracles." Effect of my speech on Governor Seymour. Invitation to his legation at St. Petersburg after my graduation. Effect upon me of Governor Seymour's ideas regarding Jefferson. Difficulties in discussing the slavery question. My first discovery as to the value of political criticism in newspapers. Return to America. Presidential campaign of 1856. Nomination of Fremont. My acquaintance with the Democratic nominee, Mr. Buchanan. My first vote. Argument made for the " American Party." Election of Buchanan. My first visit to Washington. President Pierce at the White House. Inauguration ■of the new President. Effect upon me of his speech and of a first sight of the United States Senate. Impression made by the Supreme Court. General impression made by Washington. My first public lecture — " Civilization in Russia " ; its political bearing ; attacks upon it and vindications of it. Its later history 61

Chapter V. The Civil War Period — 1857-1864

My arrival at the University of Michigan. Political side of professorial life. General purpose of my lectures in the university and throughout the State.

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My articles in the "Atlantic Monthly." President Buchanan, John Brown, Stephen A. Douglas, and others. The Chicago Convention. Nomination of Lincoln. Disappointment of my New York friends. Speeches by Carl Schurz. Election of Lincoln. Beginnings of Civil War. My advice to students. Reverses ; Bull Run. George Sumner's view. Preparation for the conflict. Depth of feeling. Pouring out of my students into the army. Kirby Smith. Conduct of the British Government. Break in my health. Thurlow Weed's advice to me. My work in London. Discouragements there. My published answer to Dr. Russell. Experiences in Ireland and France. My horror of the French Emperor. Effort to influence opinion in Germany. William Walton Murphy ; his interview with Baron Rothschild. Fourth of July celebration at Heidelberg in 1863. Turning of the contest in favor of the United States. My election to the Senate of the State of New York 83

Chapter VI. Senatorship at Albany — 1864-1865

My arrival at Albany as State Senator. My unfitness. Efforts to become acquainted with State questions. New acquaintances. Governor Horatio Seymour, Charles James Folger, Ezra Cornell, and others on the Republican side; Henry C. Murphy and Thomas C. Fields on the Democratic side. Daniel Manning. Position assigned me on committees. My maiden speech. Relations with Governor Seymour. My chairmanship of the Committee on Education. The Morrill Act of 1862. Mr. Cornell and myself at loggerheads . Codification of the Educational Laws. State Normal School BUI. Special Committee on the New York Health Department. Revelations made to the Committee. The Ward's Island matter. Last great effort of the State in behalf of the Union. The Bounty Bill. Opposition of Horace Greeley to it. Embarrassment caused by him at that period. Senator Allaben's speech against the Bounty Bill. His reference to French Assignats; my answer; results ; later development of this speech into a political pamphlet on " Paper Money Inflation in France." Baltimore Convention of 1864; its curious characteristics ; impression made upon me by it. Breckinridge, Curtis, and Raymond. Renomination of Lincoln ; my meeting him at the White House. Sundry peculiarities then revealed by him. His election 100

Chapter VII. Senatorship at Albany — 1865-1867

My second year in the State Senate. Struggle for the Charter of Cornell University. News of Lee's surrender. Assassination of Lincoln. Service over his remains at the Capitol in Albany. My address. Question of my renomination. Elements against me; the Tammany influence; sundry priests in New York, and clergymen throughout the State. Senatorial convention ; David J. Mitchell ; my renomination and election. My third year of service, 1866. Speech on the Health Department in New York ; monstrous iniquities in that Department; success in replacing it with a better system. My Phi Beta Kappa address at Yale ; its purpose. My election to a Professorship at Yale ; reasons for declining it. State Senate sits as Court to try a judge ; his offense ; pathetic complications ; his removal from office. Arrival of President Johnson, Secretary Seward, General Grant, and Admiral Farragut in Albany ; their reception by the Governor and Senate ; impressions made on me thereby ; part taken by Governor Fenton and Secretary Seward ; Judge Folger's remark to me. Ingratitude of the State thus far to its two greatest Governors, DeWitt Clinton and Seward 123 x TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTEE VIII. ROSCOE CONKLING AND JUDGE FOLGEE —

1867-1868

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Fourth year in the State Senate, 1867. Election of a United States Senator ; feeling throughout the State regarding Senators Morgan and Harris; Mr. Cornell's expression of it. The candidates ; characteristics of Senator Harris, of Judge Davis, of Roscoe Conkling. Services and characteristics of the latter which led me to support him ; hostility of Tammany henchmen to us both. The legislative caucus. Presentation of candidates ; my presentation of Mr. Conkling ; reception by the audience of my main argument ; Mr. Conkling elected. Difficulties between Judge Folger and myself ; question as to testimony in criminal cases ; Judge Folger's view of it ; his vexation at my obtaining a majority against him. Calling of the Constitutional Convention ; Judge Folger's candidacy for its Presidency ; curious reason for Horace Greeley's opposition to him. Another cause of separation between Judge Folger and myself. Defeat of the Sodus Canal Bill. Constitutional Convention ; eminent men in it ; Greeley's position in it ; his agency in bringing the Convention into disrepute ; his later regret at his success ; the new Constitution voted down. Visit to Agassiz at Nahant. A day with Longfellow. His remark regarding Mr. Greeley. Meeting with Judge Rockwood Hoar at Harvard. Boylston prize competition ; the successful contestant ; Judge Hoar's remark regarding one of the speakers. My part in sundry political meetings. Visit to Senator Conkling. Rebuff at one of my meetings ; its effect upon me 133

Chapter IX. G-eneeal Geant and Santo Domingo — 1868-1871

Distraction from politics by Cornell University work during two or three years following my senatorial term. Visits to scientific and technical schools in Europe. The second political campaign of General Grant. My visit to Auburn ; Mr. Seward's speech ; its unfortunate characteristics ; Mr. Cornell's remark on my proposal to call Mr. Seward as a commencement orator. Great services of Seward. State Judiciary Convention of 1870 ; my part in it ; nomination of Judge Andrews and Judge Folger ; my part in the latter ; its effect on my relations with Folger. Closer acquaintance with General Grant. Visit to Dr. Henry Field at Stockbridge ; Burton Harrison's account of the collapse of the Confederacy and the flight of Jefferson Davis. Story told me by William Preston Johnston throwing light on the Confederacy in its last hours. Delegacy to the State Republican Convention of 1870. Am named as Commissioner to Santo Domingo. First meeting with Senator Charles Sumner. My acquaintance with Senator McDougal. His strange characteristics. His famous plea for drunkenness. My absence in the West Indies .... 150

Chapter X. The Geeeley Campaign — 1872

First meeting with John Hay. Speech of Horace Greeley on his return from the South ; his discussion of national affairs ; his manner and surroundings ; lastahours and death of Samuel J. May. The Prudence Crandall portrait. Addresses at the Yale alumni dinner. Dinner with Longfellow at Craigie House. The State Convention of 1871 ; my chairmanship and presidency of it. My speech ; appointment of committees ; anti-administration demonstration ; a stormy session ; retirement of the anti-administration forces ; attacks

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in consequence ; rally of old friends to ray support. Examples of the futility of such attacks ; Senator Carpenter, Governor Seward, Senator Conkling. My efforts to interest Conkling in a reform of the civil service. Republican National Convention at Philadelphia in 1872 ; ability of sundry colored delegates ; nomination of Grant and Wilson. Mr. Greeley's death. Characteristics of General Grant as President. Reflections on the campaign. Questions asked me by a leadiug London joiirnalist regarding the election. My first meeting with Samuel J. Tildeu ; low ebb of his fortunes at that period. The culmination of Tweed. Thomas Nast. Meeting of the Electoral College at Albany; the "Winged Victory " and General Grant's credentials. My first experience of " Reconstruction" in the South ; visit to the State Capitol of South Carolina ; rulings of the colored Speaker of .the House ; fulfilment of Thomas Jefferson's inspired prophecy 159

Chapter XI. Grant, Hayes, and G-arfield — 1871-1881

Sundry visits to Washington during General Grant's presidency. Impression made by President Grant ; visit to him in company with Agassiz ; characteristics shown by him at Long Branch ; his dealing with one newspaper correspondent and story regarding another. His visit to me at Cornell ; his remark regarding the annexation of Santo Domingo ; far-sighted reason assigned for it ; his feeling regarding a third presidential term. My journey with him upon the Rhine. Walks and talks with him in Paris. Persons met at Senator Conkling's. Story told by Senator Carpenter. The " Greenback Craze " ; its spirit ; its strength. Wretched character of the old banking system. Ability and force of Mr. Conkling's speech at Ithaca. Its effect. My previous relations with Garfield. Character and effect of his speech at Ithaca ; his final address to the students of the University. Our midnight conversation. President Hayes ; impressions regarding him ; attacks upon him; favorable judgment upon him by observant foreigners; excellent impression made by him upon me at this time and at a later period. The assassination of General Garfield. Difficulties which thickened about him toward the end of his career. Characteristics of President Arthur. Ground taken in my public address at Ithaca at the service in commemoration of Garfield . . 177

Chapter XII. Arthur, Cleveland, and Blaine — 1881- 1884

President Arthur; course before his Presidency; qualities revealed afterV ward ; curious circumstances of his nomination. Reform of the Civil Service/ My article in the "North American Review." Renewal of my acquaintance with Mr. Evarts ; his witty stories. My efforts to interest Senator Piatt V civil-service reform ; his slow progress in this respect. Wayne MacVe, Judge Biddle's remark at his table on American feeling regarding capital pj ishment. Great defeat of the Republican party in 1882. Judge Polger's unfortunate campaign. Election of Mr. Cleveland. My address on " The New Germany " at New York. Meeting with General McDowell ; the injustice of popular judgment upon him. Revelation of Tammany frauds. Grover Cleveland ; his early life ; his visit to the University ; impression made upon me by him. Senator Morrill's visit ; tribute paid him by the University authorities. My address at Yale on " The Message of the Nineteenth Century to the Twentieth." Addresses by Carl Schurz and myself at the funeral of Edward xii TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Lasker. Election as a delegate at large to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, 1884. Difficulties regarding Mr. Blaine ; vain efforts to nominate another candidate; George William Curtis and his characteristics; tyranny over the Convention by the gallery mob ; nomination of Blaine and Logan. Nomination of Mr. Cleveland by the Democrats. Tyranny by the Chicago mob at that convention also. Open letter to Theodore Roosevelt in favor of Mr. Blaine. Private letter to Mr. Blaine in favor of a reform of the Civil Service. His acceptance of its suggestions. Wretched character of the campaign. Presidency of the Republican mass meeting at Syracuse ; experience with a Kentucky orator. Election of Mr. Cleveland 192

Chapter XIII. Hendricks, John Sherman, Bancroft, and Others — 1884-1891

Renewal of my acquaintance with Mr. Cleveland at Washington. Meeting with Mr. Blaine ; his fascinating qualities ; his self-control. William Walter Phelps ; his arguments regarding the treatment of Congressional speakers by the press. Senator Randall Gibson ; meeting at his house with Vice-President Hendricks ; evident disappointment of the Vice-President ; his view of civil-service reform ; defense of it by Senator Butler of South Carolina ; reminiscences of odd senators by Senator Jones of Florida ; Gibson's opinion of John Sherman. President Cleveland's mode of treating office-beggars and the like; Senator Sawyer's story; Secretary Fairchild's remark; Senators Sherman and Vance. Secretary Bayard's criticism of applicants for office. Senator Butler's remark on secession. Renewal of my acquaintance with George Bancroft. Goldwin Smith in Washington ; his favorable opinion of American crowds. Chief Justice Waite. General Sheridan ; his account of the battle of Gravelotte ; discussion between Sheridan and Goldwin Smith regarding sundry points in military history. General Schenck ; his reminiscences of Corwin, Everett, and others. Resignation of my presidency at Cornell, 1885. President Cleveland's tender of an Interstate Railway commissionership ; my declination. Departure for Europe. Am tendered nomination for Congress ; my discussion of the matter in London with President Porter of Yale and others ; declination. Visit to Washington under the administration of General Harrison, January, 1891 ; presentation of proposals to him regarding civil- service reform ; his speech in reply 213

Chapter XIV. McKinley and Eoosevelt — 1891-1904

Candidacy for the governorship of New York ; Mr. Piatt's relation to it ; my . reluctance and opposition ; decision of the Rochester Convention in favor of Mr. Fassett ; natural reasons for this. Lectures at Stanford University. Visit to Mexico and California with Mr. Andrew Carnegie and his party. President Harrison tenders me the position of minister to Russia ; my retention in office by Mr. .Cleveland. My stay in Italy 1894-1895. President Cleveland appoints me upon the Venezuelan Boundary Commission, December, 1895. Presidential campaign of 1896. My unexpected part in it; nomination of Mr. Bryan by Democrats ; publication of my open letter to sundry Democrats; republication of my " Paper Money Inflation in France," and its circulation as a campaign document ; election of Mr. McKinley. My address before the State Universities of Wisconsin and Minnesota ; strongly favorable impression made upon me by them ; meeting with Mr. Ignatius Donnelly; his public address to me in the State House of Minnesota. My addresses at Harvard, Yale, and elsewhere. Am appointed by President

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McKinley ambassador to Germany ; question of my asking sanction of Mr. Piatt ; how settled. Renomination of McKinley with Mr. Roosevelt as Vice- President. I revisit America ; day with Mr. Roosevelt ; visits to Washington ; my impressions of President McKinley ; his conversation ; his coolness ; tributes from his Cabinet ; Secretary Hay's testimony ; Mr. McKinley's refusal to make speeches during his second campaign; his reasons; his reelection ; how received in Europe. His assassination ; receipt of the news in Germany and Great Britain. My second visit to America; sadness; mournful reflections at White House ; conversations with President Roosevelt ; message given me by him for the Emperor ; its playful ending. The two rulers compared 229

Chapter XV. Life at the University of Michigan — 1857-1864

Early ideals. Gradual changes in these. Attractions of journalism then and now. New views of life opened to me at Paris and Berlin. Dreams of aiding the beginnings of a better system of university education in the United States. Shortcomings of American instruction, especially regarding history, political science, and literature, at that period. My article on "German Instruction in General History" in "The New Englander." Influence of Stanley's " Life of Arnold." Turning point in my life at the Yale Commencement of 1856 ; Dr. Wayland's speech. Election to the professorship of history and English literature at the University of Michigan; my first work in it ; sundry efforts toward reforms ; text-books ; social relations with students ; use of the Abbe" Bautain's book. My courses of lectures ; President Tappan's advice on extemporaneous speaking ; publication of my syllabus; ensuing relations with Charles Sumner. Growth and use of my private historical library. Character of my students. Necessity for hard work. Student discussions 251

Chapter XVI. University Life in the West — 1857-1864

Some difficulties ; youthf ulness ; struggle against various combinations ; my victory; an enemy made a friend. Lectures throughout Michigan; main purpose in these; a storm aroused; vigorous attack upon my politico-economical views ; happy results ; revenge upon my assailant ; discussion in a County Court House. Breadth and strength then given to my ideas regarding university education. President Tappan. Henry Simmons Frieze. Brunnow. Chief Justice Cooley. Judge Campbell. Distinguishing feature of the University of Michigan in those days. Dr. Tappan's good sense in administration; one typical example. Unworthy treatment of him by the Legislature ; some causes of this. Opposition to the State University by the small sectarian colleges. Dr. Tappan's prophecy to sundry demagogues ; its fulfilment. Sundry defects of his qualities; the "Winchell War," "Armed Neutrality." Retirement of President Tappan; its painful circumstances ; amends made later by the citizens of Michigan. The little city of Ann Arbor ; origin of its name. Recreations ; tree planting on the campus ; results of this. Exodus of students into the Civil War. Lectures continued after my resignation. My affectionate relations with the institution 266 xiv TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part IV — As University President

Chaptee XVII. Evolution of "The Cornell Idea" — 1850-1865

PAGE

Development of my ideas on university organization at Hobart College, at Yale, and abroad. Their further evolution at the University of Michigan. President Tappan's influence. My plan of a university at Syracuse. Discussions with George William Curtis. Proposal to Gerrit Smith ; its failure. A new opportunity opens 287

Chapter XVIII. Ezra Cornell — 1864-1874

Ezra Cornell. My first impressions regarding him. His public library. Temporary estrangement between us ; regarding the Land Grant Fund. Our conversation regarding his intended gift. The State Agricultural College and the " People's College " ; his final proposal. Drafting of the Cornell University Charter. His foresight. His views of university education. Struggle for the charter in the Legislature ; our efforts to overcome the coalition against us ; bitter attacks on him ; final struggle in the Assembly, Senate, and before the Board of Regents. Mr. Cornell's location of the endowment lands. He nominates me to the University Presidency. His constant liberality and labors. His previous life ; growth of his fortune ; his noble use of it; sundry original ways of his; his enjoyment of the university in its early days ; his mixture of idealism and common sense. First celebration of Founder's Day. His resistance to unreason. Bitter attacks upon him in sundry newspapers and in the Legislature ; the investigation ; his triumph. His minor characteristics; the motto "True and Firm" on his house. His last days and hours. His political ideas. His quaint sayings; intellectual and moral characteristics; equanimity; religious convictions . 294

Chapter XIX. Organization of Cornell University — 1865-1868

Virtual Presidency of Cornell during two years before my actual election. Division of labor between Mr. Cornell and myself. My success in thwarting efforts to scatter the Land Grant Fund, and in impressing three points on the Legislature. Support given by Horace Greeley to the third of these. Judge Folger's opposition. Sudden death of Dr. Willard and its effects. Our compromise with Judge Folger. The founding of Willard Asylum. Continued opposition to us. Election to the Presidency of the University. Pressure of my own business. Presentation of my " Plan of Organization." Selection of Professors; difficulty of such selection in those days as compared with these ; system suggested ; system adopted. Resident and non-resident professorships. Erection of university buildings ; difficulty arising from a requirement of our charter ; general building plan adopted. My visit to European technical institutions ; choice of foreign professors ; purchases of books, apparatus, etc 330

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Chapter XX. The First Years of Cornell University — 1868-1870

page Formal opening of the University October 7, 1868. Difficulties, mishaps, calamities, obstacles. Effect of these on Mr. Cornell and myself. Opening ceremonies of the morning; Mr. Cornell's speech and my own; effect of Mr. Cornell's broken health upon me. The first ringing of the chime ; effect of George W. Curtis's oration; my realization of our difficulties; Mr.,Cornell's physical condition; inadequacy of our resources; impossibility of selling lands; our necessary unreadiness ; haste compelled by our charter. Mr. Cornell's letter to the " New York Tribune " regarding student labor. Dreamers and schemers. Efforts by " hack " politicians. Attacks by the press, denominational and secular. Friction in the University machinery. Difficulty of the students in choosing courses; improvement in these days consequent upon improvement of schools. My reprint of John Foster's " Essay on Decision of Character " ; its good effects. Compensations ; character of the students ; few infractions of discipline ; causes of this ; effects of liberty of choice between courses of study. My success in preventing the use of the faculty as policemen ; the Campus Bridge case. Sundry trials of students by the faculty ; the Dundee Lecture case ; the " Mock Programme " case ; a suspension of class officers ; revelation in all this of a spirit of justice among students. Athletics and their effects. Boating ; General Grant's remark to me on the Springfield regatta ; Cornell's double success at Saratoga ; letter from a Princeton graduate. General improvement in American university students during the second half of the nineteenth century 340

Chapter XXI. Difficulties and Dangers at Cornell — 1868-1872

Questions regarding courses of instruction. Evils of the old system of assigning them entirely to resident professors. Literary instruction at Yale ; George William Curtis and John Lord. Our general scheme. The Arts Course ; clinching it into our system ; purchase of the Anthon Library ; charges against us on this score ; our vindication. The courses in literature, science, and philosophy ; influence of one of Herbert Spencer's ideas upon the formation of all these ; influence of my own experience. Professor Wilder ; his services against fustian and " tall talk." The course in literature; use made of it in promoting the general culture of students. Technical departments ; Civil Engineering ; incidental question of creed in electing a professor to it. Department of Agriculture ; its difficulties ; three professors who tided it through. Department of Mechanic Arts ; its peculiar difficulties and dangers ; Mr. Cornell's view regarding college shop work for bread winning ; necessity for practical work in connection with theoretical ; mode of bringing about this connection. Mr. Sibley's gift. Delay in recognition of our success. Department of Architecture ; origin of my ideas on this subject; the Trustees accept my architectural library and establish the Department 354

Chapter XXII. Further Development of University

Establishment of Laboratories. Governor Cleveland's visit. Department of Electrical Engineering ; its origin. Department of Political Science and Hisxvi TABLE OF CONTENTS

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tory. Influence of my legislative experience upon it ; my report on the Paris Exposition, and address at Johns Hopkins ; a beginning made ; excellent work done by Frank Sanborn. Provision for Political Economy ; presentation of both sides of controverted questions. Instruction in History ; my own part in it ; its growth ; George Lincoln Burr called into it ; lectures by Goldwin Smith, Freeman, Froude, and others. Instruction in American History ; calling of George W. Greene and Theodore Dwight as Non-Resident, and finally of Moses Coit Tyler as Resident Professor. Difficulties in some of these Departments. Reaction, " The Oscillatory Law of Human Progress." "Joe" Sheldon's "Professorship of Horse Sense " needed. First gift of a building — McGraw Hall. Curious passage in a speech at the laying of its corner-stone. Military Instruction ; peculiar clause regarding it in our Charter; our broad construction of it; my reasons for this. The Conferring of Degrees ; abuse at sundry American institutions in conferring honorary degrees; why Cornell University confers none. Regular Degrees; theory originally proposed ; theory adopted ; recent change in practice 377

Chapter XXIII. " Co-education " and an Unsectarian Pulpit — 1871-1904

Admission of women. The Cortland Free Scholarship ; the Sage gift ; difficulties and success. Establishment of Sage Chapel ; condition named by me for its acceptance ; character of the building. Establishment of a preachership ; my suggestions regarding it accepted ; Phillips Brooks preaches the first sermon, 1875 ; results of this system. Establishment of Barnes Hall ; its origin and development ; services it has rendered. Development of sundry minor ideas in building up the University ; efforts to develop a recognition of historical and commemorative features ; portraits, tablets, memorial windows, etc. The beautiful work of Robert Richardson. The Memorial Chapel. Efforts to preserve the beauty of the grounds and original plan of buildings ; constant necessity for such efforts ; dangers threatening the original plan 397

Chapter XXIV. Rocks, Storms, and Peril — 1868-1874

Difficulties and discouragements. Very serious character of some of these. Financial difficulties; our approach, at times, to ruin. Splendid gifts ; their continuance; the "Ostrander Elms"; encouragement thus given. Difficulties arising from our Charter ; short time allowed us for opening the University ; general plans laid down for us. Advice, comments, etc., from friends and enemies ; remark of the Johns Hopkins trustees as to their freedom from oppressive supervision and control ; my envy of them. Large expenditure demanded. Mr. Cornell's burdens. Installation of a "Business Manager." My suspicion as to our finances. Mr. Cornell's optimism. Discovery of a large debt ; Mr. Cornell's noble proposal ; the debt cleared in fifteen minutes by four men. Ultimate result of this subscription ; worst calamities to Cornell its greatest blessings ; example of this in the founding of fellowships and scholarships. Successful financial management ever since. Financial difficulties arising from the burden of the University lands on Mr. Cornell, and from his promotion of local railways ; his good reasons for undertaking these. Entanglement of the University affairs with those of the State and of Mr. Cornell. Narrow escape of the institution from a fatal result. Judge Finch as an adviser ; his extrication of the University and of

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Mr. Cornell's family ; interwoven interests disentangled. Death of Mr. Cornell, December, 1875. My depression at this period; refuge in historical work. Another calamity. Munificence of John McGraw ; interest shown in the institution by his daughter; her relations to the University ; her death; her bequest; my misgivings as to our Charter; personal complications between the McGraw heirs and some of our trustees ; efforts to bring about a settlement thwarted ; ill success of the University in the ensuing litigation. Disappointment at this prodigious loss. Compensations for it. Splendid gifts from Mr. Henry W. Sage, Messrs. Dean and Win. H. Sage, and others. Continuance of sectarian attacks; virulent outbursts; we stand on the defensive. I finally take the offensive in a lecture on " The Battle-fields of Science " ; its purpose, its reception when repeated and when published ; kindness of President Woolsey in the matter. Gradual expansion of the lecture into a history of " The Warfare of Science with Theology " ; filtration of the ideas it represents into piiblic opinion ; effect of this in smoothing the way for the University 412