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。