NoristhishappychangeseenatCornellalone。Thesamecauses,——mainlytheincreaseintherangeofstudiesandfreedomofchoicebetweenthem,haveproducedsimilarresultsinalltheleadinginstitutions。RecallingthestudentbrawlattheHarvardcommonswhichcostthehistorianPrescotthissight,andtheriotattheHarvardcommencementwhichblockedthewayofPresidentEverettandtheBritishminister;recallingthefatalwoundingofTutorDwight,themaimingofTutorGoodrich,andthekillingoftwotownriotersbystudentsatYale;andrecallingthemonstrousindignitiestothepresidentandfacultyatHobartofwhichIwasmyselfwitness,aswellasthestateofthingsatvariousothercollegesinmyowncollegedays,Icantestify,ascansomanyothers,tothevastimprovementintheconductandaimsofAmericanstudentsduringthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury。
CHAPTERXXI
DIFFICULTIESANDDANGERSATCORNELL——1868—1872
Thefirstbusinessafterformallyopeningtheuniversitywastoputinoperationthevariouscoursesofinstruction,andvitallyconnectedwiththesewerethelecturesofournon—residentprofessors。FromtheseIhadhopedmuchandwasnotdisappointed。IthadlongseemedtomethatagreatlackinourAmericanuniversitieswasjustthatsortofimpulsewhichnon—residentprofessorsorlecturersofahighordercouldgive。AtYaletherehadbeen,inmytime,veryfewlecturesofanysorttoundergraduates;theworkinthevariousclasseswascarriedon,asarule,withouttheslightestenthusiasm,andwasconsideredbythegreatbodyofstudentsaboretobeabridgedoravoidedasfaraspossible。Hencesuchpranksascuttingoutthetongueofthecollegebell,ofwhichtwoorthreetonguesstillpreservedinuniversityclub—roomsarereminders;hence,also,theeffortmadebymembersofmyownclasstofillthecollegebellwithcement,whichwouldsetinashorttime,andmakeanycalltomorningprayersandrecitationsforadayortwoimpossible——aperformancewhichcausedalongsuspensionofseveralofthebestyoungfellowsthateverlived,someofthemgoodscholars,andallofthemmenwhowouldhavewalkedmilestoattendareallyinspiringlecture。
Andyet,oneortwoexperiencesshowedmewhatmightbedonebyarousinganinterestinregularclasswork。
ProfessorThacher,theheadofthedepartmentofLatin,whoconductedmyclassthroughthe``Germania’’and``Agricola’’ofTacitus,wasanexcellentprofessor;butheyieldedtothesystemthendominantatYale,andthewholethingwasbutwearyplodding。Hardlyeverwasthereanythingintheshapeofexplanationorcomment;
butattheendofhisworkwithushelaiddownthebook,andgaveusadmirablythereasonswhythestudyofTacituswasofvalue,andwhywemightwellrecurtoitinafteryears。Thencamepainfullyintomymindthethought,``Whatapitythathehadnotsaidthisatthebeginningofhisinstructionratherthanattheend!’’
Stillworsewasitwithsomeofthetutors,whotookusthroughvariousclassicalworks,butneverwithaparticleofappreciationforthemasliteratureorphilosophy。I
havetoldelsewherehowmyclassmateSmalleyfoughtitoutwithoneofthese。Noinstructionfromoutsidelectureswasprovided;butinmysenioryeartherecametoNewHavenJohnLordandGeorgeWilliamCurtis,theformergivingacourseonmodernhistory,thelatteroneuponrecentliterature,andbotharousingmyearnestinterestintheirsubjects。Itwasinviewoftheseexperiencesthatinmy``planoforganization’’Idweltespeciallyuponthevalueofnon—residentprofessorsinbringingtousfreshlifefromtheoutside,andinthuspreventingacertainprovincialismandwoodennesswhichcomewhenthereareonlyresidentprofessors,andtheseselectedmainlyfromgraduatesoftheinstitutionitself。
Theresultoftheworkdonebyournon—residentprofessorsmorethanansweredmyexpectations。ThetwentylecturesofAgassizdrewlargenumbersofourbrightestyoungmen,gavethemhigherinsightintovariousproblemsofnaturalscience,andstimulatedamongmanyazealforspecialinvestigation。ThusresultedanenthusiasmwhichdevelopedoutofourstudentbodyseveralscholarsinnaturalsciencewhohavesincetakenrankamongtheforemostteachersandinvestigatorsintheUnitedStates。So,too,thelecturesofLowellonearlyliteratureandofCurtisonlaterliteraturearousedgreatinterestamongstudentsofamoreliteraryturn;whilethoseofTheodoreDwightontheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesandofBayardTayloruponGermanliteratureawakenedalargenumberofactivemindstothebeautiesofthesefields。ThecomingofGoldwinSmithwasanespecialhelptous。Heremainedlongerthantheothers;infact,hebecamefortwoorthreeyearsaresidentprofessor,exercising,bothinhislecture—roomandoutofit,agreatinfluenceuponthewholelifeoftheuniversity。
Atalaterperiod,thecomingofGeorgeW。GreeneaslectureronAmericanhistory,ofEdwardA。Freeman,regiusprofessoratOxford,asalectureronEuropeanhistory,andofJamesAnthonyFroudeinthesamefield,arousednewinterest。Someofourexperienceswiththetwogentlemenlastnamedwerecurious。Freemanwasaroughdiamond——inhisfitsofgoutveryroughindeed。Atsomeofhislecturesheappearedcladinashooting—jacketandspokesitting,hisfootswathedtomitigatehissufferings。FromNewHavencameacharacteristicstoryofhim。Hehadbeeninvitedtoattendaneveninggathering,afteroneofhislectures,atthehouseofoneoftheprofessors,perhapsthefinestresidenceinthetown。Withtheexceptionofhimself,thegentlemenallarrivedineveningdress;heappearedinashooting—jacket。Presentlytwoprofessorsarrived;andoneofthem,glancingthroughtherooms,andseeingFreemanthusattired,askedtheother,``Whatsortofacostumedoyoucallthat?’’Theanswercameinstantly,``Idon’tknow,unlessitisthecostumeofaSaxonswineherdbeforetheConquest。’’InviewofFreeman’sstudiesontheSaxonandNormanperiodsandthefamoustoastofthedeanofWells,``InhonorofProfessorFreeman,whohasdonesomuchtorevealtoustherudemannersofourancestors,’’theYaleprofessor’sanswerseemedmuchtothepoint。
ThelecturesofFroudewereexceedinglyinteresting;
buteverydayhebeganthemwiththewords``Ladiesandgentlemen,’’inthemostcomicalfalsettoimaginable,——
asortofLordDundrearymanner,——sothat,sittingbesidehim,Ialwaysnoticedarippleoflaughterrun—
ningoverthewholeaudience,whichinstantlydisappearedashesettledintohiswork。Hehadawayofgivingcolortohislecturesbycitingbitsofhumoroushistory。ThusitwasthathethrewavividlightonthehorrorsofcivilwarinIrelandduringthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturies,whenhegavethepleaofanIrishchieftainontrialforhightreason,oneofthechargesagainsthimbeingthathehadburnedtheCathedralofCashel。Hispleawas:``Melords,IniverwouldhaveburnedthecathaydralbutthatIsupposedthathisgracethelordarchbishopwasinside。’’
Speakingofthestrengthoftheclanspirit,hetoldmeastoryofthelateDukeofArgyll,asfollows:Atabanquetofthegreatclanofwhichthedukewaschief,asplendidsnuff—boxbelongingtooneoftheclansmen,havingattractedattention,waspassedroundthelongtableforinspection。Byandbyitwasmissing。Allattemptstotraceitwereinvain,andthepartybrokeupindisgustanddistressatthethoughtthatoneoftheirnumbermustbeathief。
Somedaysafterward,theduke,puttingonhisdress—coat,foundtheboxinhispocket,andimmediatelysentfortheownerandexplainedthematter。``Iknewyehadit,’’saidtheowner。``Howdidyeknowit?’’saidtheduke。``Sawyetak’it。’’``Thenwhydidn’tyetellme?’’askedtheduke。``Ithochtyewantedit,’’wastheanswer。
Speakingofuniversitylife,FroudetoldthestoryofanOxfordundergraduatewho,onbeingexaminedinPaley,wasaskedtonameanyinstancewhichhehadhimselfnoticedofthegoodnessandforethoughtoftheAlmightyasevidencedinhisworks:towhichtheyoungmananswered,``Theformationoftheheadofabulldog。Itsnoseissodrawnbackthatitcanhangonthebullandyetbreathefreely;butforthis,thebulldogwouldsoonhavetoletgoforwantofbreath。’’
WalkingonedaywithFroude,Ispoketohimregardinghis``NemesisofFaith,’’whichIhadreadduringmyattachshipatSt。Petersburg,andwhichhadbeengreatlyobjectedtobyvariousOxforddons,oneofwhomissaidtohaveburnedacopyofitpubliclyinoneofthecollegequadrangles。Heseemedsomewhatdismayedatmyquestion,andsaid,inanervoussortofway,``Thatwasayoungman’sbook——ayoungman’sfolly,’’andpassedrapidlytoothersubjects。
Fromthestimulusgivenbythenon—residentprofessorstheresidentfacultyreapedmuchadvantage。Itmightwellbesaidthattheformershookthebushandthelattercaughtthebirds。WhatismosttruthfullystatedonthetablettoProfessorAgassizintheCornellMemorialChapeloftheuniversitymight,ingreatpart,besaidofalltheothers。Itrunsasfollows:
``TothememoryofLouisAgassiz,LL。D。Inthemidstofgreatlaborsforscience,throughouttheworld,heaidedinlayingthefoundationsofinstructionatCornellUniversity,and,byhisteachingshere,gaveanimpulsetoscientificstudies,whichremainsapreciousheritage。Thetrustees,ingratitudeforhiscounselsandteachings,erectthismemorial。1884。’’
Anincidentalbenefitofthesystemwasitshappyinfluenceupontheresidentprofessors。Comingfromabroad,andofrecognizedhighposition,thenon—residentsbroughtaveryhappyelementtooursociallife。Noveteranofourfacultyislikelytoforgetthecharmtheydiffusedamongus。TomeetAgassizsociallywasadelight;
norwasitlessapleasuretositattablewithLowellorCurtis。OfthemanygoodstoriestoldusbyLowell,I
rememberoneespecially。DuringastayinParishedinedwithSainte—Beuve,andtookoccasiontoaskthatmosteminentofFrenchcriticswhichhethoughtthegreaterpoet,LamartineorVictorHugo。Sainte—Beuve,shrugginghisshoulders,replied:``Ehbien,charlatanpourcharlatan,jeprefreLamartine。’’Thisprovokedanotherstory,whichwasthat,beingaskedbyanAmericanprofessorwhetherinhisopiniontheEmpireofNapoleonIIIwaslikelytoendure,Sainte—Beuve,whowasasalariedsenatoroftheEmpire,answeredwithashrug,``Monsieur,jesuispaypourlecroire。’’Agassizalsointerestedmebyshowingmethefriendly,confidential,andfamiliarletterswhichhewasthenconstantlyreceivingfromtheEmperorofBrazil,DomPedro——lettersinwhichnotonlymattersofsciencebutofcontemporaryhistorywerediscussed。BayardTayloralsodelightedusall。
Nothingcouldexceed,asaprovocativetomirth,hisrecitationsofsundrypoemswhoseinspirationwasinferiortotheirambition。Oneespeciallybroughtdownthehouse——
``TheEonxofRuby,’’byapoetwhohadreadPoeandBrowninguntilheneverhesitatedtocoinanyword,nomatterhownonsensical,whichseemedlikelytohelphisjingle。InmanyrespectsthemostcharmingofallthenewcomerswasGoldwinSmith,whosestories,observations,reflections,deeplysuggestive,humorous,andwitty,wereespeciallygratefulatthecloseofdaysfullofworkandcare。Hisfundofanecdoteswaslarge。Oneofthemillustratedthefactthateventhosewhoarebestacquaintedwithalanguagenottheirownareinconstantdangerofmakingthemselvesridiculousinusingit。TheDucd’Aumale,whohadlivedlonginEngland,andwassupposedtospeakEnglishlikeanEnglishman,presidingatadinneroftheBritishAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience,gaveatoastasfollows:``Detreeofscience,mayitsheddownpeaseupondenations。’’
AnotherstoryrelatedtoSirAllanMacNab,who,whilecommanderoftheforcesinCanada,havingreceivedacardinscribed,``TheMacNab,’’immediatelyreturnedthecall,andleftacardonwhichwasinscribed,``TheotherMacNab。’’
AsIrevisetheselines,thirty—sixyearsafterhisfirstcoming,heisvisitingmeagaintolaythecorner—stoneofthenoblebuildingwhichistocommemoratehisservicestoCornell。Thoughpasthiseightiethyear,hismemoryconstantlybringsupnewreminiscences。OneoftheseI
cannotforbeargiving。HewasatapartygivenbyLadyAshburtonwhenThomasCarlylewaspresent。Duringtheevening,whichwasbeautiful,theguestswentoutuponthelawn,andgazedatthestarryheavens。Allseemedespeciallyimpressedbythebeautyofthemoon,whichwasatthefull,whenCarlyle,fasteninghiseyesuponit,washeardtocroakout,solemnlyandbitterly,``Puirauldcreetur!’’
Theinstructionoftheuniversitywasatthattimedividedbetweensundrygeneralcoursesandvarioustechnicaldepartments,thewholebeingsomewhattentative。Thesegeneralcoursesweremainlythree:theartscourse,whichembracedbothLatinandGreek;thecourseinliterature,whichembracedLatinandmodernlanguages;
andthecourseinscience,whichembracedmoreespeciallymodernlanguagesinconnectionwithasomewhatextendedrangeofscientificstudies。Ofthesegeneraldivisionstheonemostindangerofshipwreckseemedtobethefirst。
Ithadbeenprovidedforinthecongressionalactof1862,evidentlybyanafterthought,anditwasgenerallyfeltthatif,inthestormsbesettingus,anythingmustbethrownoverboard,itwouldbethis;butanopportunitynowaroseforclenchingitintooursystem。TherewasofferedforsalethelibraryofProfessorCharlesAnthonofColumbia,probablythelargestandbestcollectioninclassicalphilologywhichhadthenbeenbroughttogetherintheUnitedStates。DiscussingthesituationwithMr。Cornell,Ishowedhimthedangerofrestrictingtheinstitutiontopurelyscientificandtechnicalstudies,andofthusdepartingfromtheuniversityideal。
Hesawthepoint,andpurchasedtheAnthonlibraryforus。Thenceforthitwasfeltthat,withsuchameansofinstruction,fromsuchasource,theclassicaldepartmentmuststandfirm;thatitmustonnoaccountbesacrificed;
that,byacceptingthisgift,wehadpledgedourselvestomaintainit。
Yet,curiously,oneofthemostbitterchargesconstantlyreiteratedagainstuswasthatweweredepreciatingthestudyofancientclassicalliterature。Againandagainitwasrepeated,especiallyinaleadingdailyjournalofthemetropolisundertheinfluenceofasectariancollege,thatIwas``degradingclassicalstudies。’’No—
thingcouldbemoreunjust;Ihadgreatlyenjoyedsuchstudiesmyself,hadfoundpleasureinthemsincemygraduation,andhadsteadilyurgedthemuponthosewhohadtasteorcapacityforthem。But,asastudentandasauniversityinstructor,Ihadnoticedtwothingsinpoint,asmanyotherobservershaddone:thefirstofthesewasthatverymanyyouthswhogothroughtheirLatinandGreekReaders,andpossiblyoneortwominorauthorsbesides,exhaustthedisciplinaryvalueofsuchstudies,andthenceforwardpursuethemlistlesslyandperfunctorily,merelydroningoverthem。Ontheiraccountitseemedcertainlyfarbettertopresentsomeothercoursesofstudyinwhichtheycouldtakeaninterest。Asamatteroffact,I
constantlyfoundthatmanyyoungmenwhohadbeendoinghalf—waymentallabor,whichisperhapsworsethannone,wereatoncebrightenedandstrengthenedbydevotingthemselvestootherstudiesmoreinaccordancewiththeirtastesandaims。
Butasecondandveryimportantpointwasthat,inthetwocollegesofwhichIhadbeenanundergraduate,classicalstudieswerereallyhamperedanddiscreditedbythefactthattheminorityofstudentswholovedthemwereconstantlyheldbackbyamajoritywhodislikedthem;andIcametotheconclusionthatthetruewaytopromotesuchstudiesintheUnitedStateswastotakeoffthisdragasmuchaspossible,bypresentingothercoursesofstudieswhichwouldattractthosewhohadnotasteforLatinandGreek,thusleavingthosewhohadatasteforthemfreetocarrythemmuchfartherthanhadbeencustomaryinAmericanuniversitiesuptothattime。Myexpectationsinthisrespectwerefullymet。A
fewyearsaftertheopeningoftheuniversity,contestswerearrangedbetweenseveraloftheleadingcollegesanduniversities,themainsubjectsinthecompetitionbeingLatin,Greek,andmathematics;andtotheconfusionofthegainsayers,Cornelltookmorefirstprizesinthesesubjectsthandidalltheoldercompetinginstitutionstogether。Thenceforwardthetalkofour``degradingclas—
sicalstudies’’waslessserious。ThehistoryofsuchstudiesatCornellsincethattimehasfullyjustifiedthepolicythenpursued。Everycompetentobserverwill,Ifeelsure,saythatatnootherAmericaninstitutionhavethesestudiesbeenpursuedwithmoreearnestnessorwithbetterresults。TheMuseumofClassicalArchaeology,whichhassincebeenfoundedbythegenerousgiftofMr。Sage,hasstimulatedanincreasedinterestinthem;andgraduatesofCornellarenowexercisingawideinfluenceinclassicalteaching:anyoneadequatelyacquaintedwiththehistoryofAmericaneducationknowswhattheinfluenceofCornellhasbeeninbetteringclassicalinstructionthroughouttheStateofNewYork。Therehasbeenanotherincidentalgain。Amongthemelancholythingsofcollegelifeintheolddayswastherelationofstudentstoclassicalprofessors。Themajorityoftheaverageclasslookedonsuchaprofessorasgenerallyaboreand,asexaminationsapproached,anenemy;theyusuallysneeredathimasapedant,andfrequentlymadehispeculiaritiesasubjectforderision。Sincethatdayfarbetterrelationshavegrownupbetweenteachersandtaught,especiallyinthoseinstitutionswheremuchislefttotheoptionofthestudents。Thestudentsineachsubject,beingthosewhoarereallyinterestedinit,asaruleadmireandlovetheirprofessor,andwhateverlittlepeculiaritieshemayhavearetothembutpleasingaccompanimentsofhisdeeperqualities。Thisisaperfectlysimpleandnaturalresult,whichwillbeunderstoodfullybyanyonewhohasobservedhumannaturetomuchpurpose。
Besidesthiscourseinarts,inwhichclassicalstudieswereespeciallyprominent,therewereestablishedcoursesinscience,inliterature,andinphilosophy,differingfromeachothermainlyintheproportionobservedbetweenancientlanguages,modernlanguages,andstudiesinvarioussciencesandotherdepartmentsofthought。Eachofthesecourseswaslaiddownwithmuchexactnessforthefirsttwoyears,withlargeopportunityforchoicebetweensubjectsinthelasttwoyears。Thesystemworkedwell,andhas,fromtimetotime,beenmodified,astheimprovementintheschoolsoftheState,andothercircumstanceshaverequired。
InproposingthesecoursesIwasmuchinfluencedbyanideabroachedinHerbertSpencer’s``TreatiseonEducation。’’Thisideawasgiveninhisdiscussionofthecomparativevaluesofdifferentstudies,whenhearrivedattheconclusionthatasubjectwhichoughttobeamongthosetaughtatthebeginningofeverycourseishumanphysiology,——thatistosay,anaccountofthestructure,functions,andpropermanagementofthehumanbody,onwhichsomuchdependsforeveryhumanbeing。ItseemedtomethatnotonlywastheregreatforceinSpencer’sargument,butthattherewasanadditionalreasonforplacingphysiologyamongtheearlystudiesofmostofthecourses;andthiswasthatitformedaverygoodbeginningforscientificstudyingeneral。Anobservationofmyownstrengthenedmeinthisview。Irememberedthat,duringmyschoollife,whilemytasteswereinthedirectionofclassicalandhistoricalstudies,theweeklyvisitstotheschoolbythesurgeonwholectureduponthehumaneye,ear,andsundryotherorgans,usingmodelsandpreparations,interestedmeintensely,andwerearealrelieffromotherstudies。Therewasstillanotherreason。
FortheprofessorshipinthisdepartmentProfessorAgassizhadrecommendedtomeDr。BurtWilder;andIsoonfoundhim,asAgassizhadforetold,notonlyathoroughinvestigator,butanadmirableteacher。Hislectureswerenotread,butwere,asregardsphrasing,extemporaneous;
anditseemedtomethat,mingledwithotherstudies,acourseoflecturesgiveninsogoodastyle,bysogiftedaman,couldnotfailtobeofgreatuseinteachingourstudents,incidentally,thebestwayofusingtheEnglishlanguageincommunicatingtheirideastotheirfellowmen。
Ihadlongdeploredtherhetoricalfustianandoratoricaltall—talkwhichsogreatlyafflictourcountry,andwhichhadbeen,toaconsiderableextent,cultivatedinourcollegesanduniversities;Ideterminedtotry,atleast,tosubstituteforitclean,clear,straightforwardstatementandillustration;anditseemedtomethatacourseoflecturesonasubjectwhichadmittedneitherfustiannortall—talk,byaclear—headed,clear—voiced,earnest,andhonestman,wasthebestthingintheworldforthispurpose。
Sowasadoptedtheplanofbeginningmostcourseswithanextendedcourseoflecturesuponhumanphysiology,inwhichtorealpracticeininvestigationbytheclassisaddedthehearingofafirst—ratelecturer。
Asregardsthecourseinliterature,Ideterminedthatuseshouldbemadeofthistopromotethegeneralcultureofstudents,ashadbeendoneuptothattimebyveryfewofourAmericanuniversities。AtYaleinmyday,therewasneverevenasinglelectureonanysubjectinliterature,eitherancientormodern:everythingwasdonebymeansof``recitations’’fromtext—books;andwhileyoungmenreadportionsofmasterpiecesinGreekandLatin,theirattentionwashardlyeverdirectedtotheseasliterature。Asregardsthegreatfieldsofmodernliterature,nothingwhateverwasdone。IntheEnglishliteratureandlanguage,everymanwasleftentirelytohisowndevices。OneofthefirstprofessorsIcalledtoCornellwasHiramCorson,whotookchargeofthedepartmentofEnglishliterature;andfromthatdaytothishehasbeenacenterfromwhichgoodculturehasradiatedamongourstudents。ProfessorH。B。Spraguewasalsocalled;
andhealsodidexcellentwork,thoughinadifferentway。
Ialsoaddednon—residentprofessors。MyoriginalschemeIstillthinkagoodone。ItwastocallJamesRussellLowellforearlyEnglishliterature,BishopArthurClevelandCoxefortheliteratureoftheElizabethanandJacobeanperiods,EdwinWhipplefortheliteratureofQueenAnne’stime,andGeorgeWilliamCurtisforrecentandcontemporaryliterature。Eachofthesemenwasadmirableasascholarandlecturerintheparticularfieldnamed;
buttherestrictedmeansoftheuniversityobligedmetocuttheschemedown,sothatitincludedsimplyLowellforearlyandCurtisforrecentliterature。Otherlecturesinconnectionwiththeinstructionoftheresidentprofessorsmarkedanepoch,anddidmuchtoremoveanythinglikePhilistinismfromthestudentbody。BayardTaylor’slecturesinGermanliteraturethussupplementedadmirablytheexcellentworkoftheresidentprofessorsHewettandHoratioWhite。ToremovestillfurtheranydangerofPhilistinism,IcalledaneminentgraduateofHarvard,——
CharlesChaunceyShackford,——whosegenerallecturesinvariousfieldsofliteraturewereattractiveanduseful。InallthisIwasmainlyinfluencedbythedesiretopreventtheatmosphereoftheuniversitybecomingsimplyandpurelythatofascientificandtechnicalschool。HighlyasIprizedthescientificspiritandtechnicaltraining,I
feltthattheframeofmindengenderedbythemshouldbemodifiedbyanacquaintancewiththebestliteratureasliterature。Thereweremanyevidencesthatmytheorywascorrect。Someofourbeststudentsinthetechnicaldepartmentsdevelopedgreatloveforliterarystudies。
Oneofthemattractedmuchattentionbytheliteraryexcellenceofhiswritings;andonmyspeakingtohimaboutit,andsayingthatitseemedstrangetomethatamandevotedtoengineeringshouldshowsuchatasteforliterature,hesaidthattherewasnogreaterdelighttohimthanpassingfromoneofthestudiestotheother——thateachwasarecreationaftertheother。
Theefforttopromotethatelementinthegeneralcultureofthestudentbodywhichcomesfromliterature,ancientandmodern,gainedespecialstrengthfromasourceusuallyunpromising——themathematicaldepartment。
Twoprofessorshighlygiftedinthisfieldexercisedawideandennoblinginfluenceoutsideit。FirstofthesewasEvanWilliamEvans,whohadbeenknowntomeatYaleasnotonlyoneofthebestscholarsintheclassof1851,butalsooneofitstwoforemostwriters。Later,hedevelopedapassionformodernliterature,andhisinfluencewasstronglyfeltinbehalfofthehumanities。HissuccessorwasJamesEdwardOliver,agraduateofHarvard,ageniusinhischosenfield,butalwaysexercisingalargeinfluencebyvirtueofhisbroad,liberal,tolerantviewsoflifewhichwerepromotedbystudyofthebestthoughtsofthebestthinkersofalltimes。
Theworkoforganizinganddevelopingthegeneralcourseswascomparativelyeasy,andthestimulusgivenattheoutsetbythenon—residentprofessorsrendereditallthemoreso。Butwiththetechnicaldepartmentsandspecialcoursesthereweregravedifficulties。Thedepartmentofcivilengineering,ofcourse,wenteasilyenough;
therewereplentyofprecedentsforit,andtheadmirableprofessorfirstelectedwas,athisdeath,succeededbyanotherwhomostvigorouslyandwiselydevelopedit:EstevanFuertes,drawnfromthemostattractivesurroundingsintheislandofPortoRicototheUnitedStatesbyadeeploveofscience,andretainedhereduringtherestofhislifebyalove,nolesssincere,forAmericanliberty——ararecombinationofthevirtuesandcapabilitiesoftheLatinraceswiththebestresultsofanAmericanenvironment。I
maymention,inpassing,thatthiscombinationcameoutcuriouslyinhisviewsofAmericancitizenship。HewaswonttomarvelattheindifferenceoftheaverageAmericantohisprivilegesandduties,andespeciallyatthelackofaproperestimateofhisfunctionatelections。Ihaveheardhimsay:``WhenIvote,Iputonmybestclothesandmytophat,gotothepolls,salutetheofficers,takeoffmyhat,andcastmyballot。’’
Itmaybeworthmentioningherethat,attheelectionofthefirstprofessorinthisdepartment,acuriousquestionarose。AmongthecandidateswasonefromHarvard,whosetestimonialsshowedhimtobeanadmirableacquisition;andamongthesetestimonialswasonefromaneminentbishop,whospokeinhightermsofthescientificqualificationsofthecandidate,butaddedthathefeltithisdutytowarnmethattheyoungmanwasaUnitarian。
AtthisIwrotethebishop,thankinghim,andsayingthattheonlyquestionwithmewasastothemoralandintellectualqualificationsofthecandidate;andthatiftheseweresuperiortothoseofothercandidates,IwouldnominatehimtothetrusteesevenifhewereaBuddhist。Thegoodbishopatfirsttooksomeoffenseatthis;and,inoneofthecommunicationswhichensued,expresseddoubtswhetherlaymenhadanyrighttoteachatall,sincethecommandtoteachwasgiventotheapostlesandtheirsuccessors,andseemedthereforeconfinedtothosewhohadreceivedholyorders;buthebecamemostfriendlylater,andIlookbacktomymeetingswithhimafterwardasamongthedelightfulepisodesofmylife。
Thetechnicaldepartmentwhichcausedmethemostanxietywasthatofagriculture。IthadbeengiventhemostprominentplaceintheCongressionalactof1862,andinourcharterfromtheStatein1865。Buthowshouldagriculturebetaught;whatproportionshouldweobservebetweentheoryandpractice;andwhatshouldthepracticebe?Thesequestionselicitedallsortsofanswers。
Someeminentagriculturistsinsistedthatthefarmshouldbeconductedpurelyasabusinessoperation;othersthatitshouldbea``modelfarm’’——regardlessofbalancesheets;othersstillthatitshouldbewhollyexperimental。
Ourdecisionwastocombinewhatwasbestinalltheseviews;andseveralmenattemptedthisasresidentprofessors,butwithsmallsuccess。Oneday,afteraseriesofsuchfailures,whenwewerealmostdesperate,thereappearedacandidatefromanagriculturalcollegeinIreland。
HeborealetterfromaneminentclergymaninNewYork,wasofpleasingappearanceandmanners,gaveglowingaccountsofthecourseshehadfollowed,expatiatedonthemeansbywhichfarminghadbeencarriedtoahighpointinScotland,andventuredsuggestionsastowhatmightbedoneinAmerica。Ihadmanymisgivings。Hisexperiencewasveryremotefromours,andheseemedtomealtogethertooelegantfortheworkinhand;butMr。
CornellhadvisitedEnglishfarms,wasgreatlyimpressedbytheirexcellence,andurgedatrialofthenew—comer。
Hewasdulycalled;and,thathemightbeginhiscoursesofinstruction,anorderwasgivenforaconsiderablecollectionofEnglishagriculturalimplementsandfortheerectionofnewfarm—buildingsafterEnglishpatterns,Mr。Cornellgenerouslyadvancingtherequiredmoney。
Allthistooktime——muchtime。AtfirstgreatthingswereexpectedbythefarmersoftheState,butgraduallytheirconfidencewaned。Astheysawthenewprofessorwalkingoverthefarminadilettantishway,superintendingoperationswithglovedhands,andnevertouchinganyimplement,doubtsarosewhichsoonripenedintoskepticism。Typicalweretheutterancesofourfarmmanager。Hewasaplain,practicalfarmer,whohadtakenthefirstprizeoftheStateAgriculturalSocietyfortheexcellenceofhisownfarm;and,thoughheatfirstindulgedinhighhopesregardingthenewprofessor,hesoonhadmisgivings,andfeltithisdutytowarnme。Hesaid:
``Yewkindependon’t,heain’ta—goin’todonothin’;hedon’tknownothin’aboutcorn,andhedon’twanttoknownothin’aboutcorn;ANDHEDON’TBELIEVEINPUNKINS!
Dependon’t,assoonashisnewbarnisfinishedandallhisnewBritishtackleisbroughttogether,he’llquitthejob。’’Ireasonedthat,toafarmerbroughtupamongthegloriousfieldsofIndiancorninwesternNewYork,andaccustomedtorejoiceinthesightofgoldenpumpkins,diffusionofotherculturesmustseemliketreason;
but,alas!hewasright。AssoonasthenewbuildingsandarrangementswerereadyforourtrialofBritishscientificagriculture,theyoungforeignprofessornotifiedmethathehadacceptedtheheadshipofanagriculturalcollegeinCanada。Still,hemetwithnogreatersuccesstherethanwithus;norwashisreputationincreasedwhen,afterthefoulattacksmadeuponMr。Cornellinthelegislature,hevolunteeredtocometotheinvestigationandtestifythatMr。Cornellwas``notapracticalman。’’Inthisthecareeroftheyoungagriculturistculminated。
HavinglosthisprofessorshipinCanada,heundertookthemanagementofagroceryintheoil—regionsofwesternPennsylvania;andscientificBritishagriculturestillawaitsamongusaspecialrepresentative。Happily,sincethatday,mentrainedpracticallyintheagricultureoftheUnitedStateshavestudiedthebestBritishmethods,andbroughtusmuchthathasbeenofrealuse。
FortunatelyIhadfoundthreemenwhoenabledustotideouragriculturaldepartmentoverthosedarkdays,inwhichweseemedtobeplaying``Hamlet’’withHamletleftout。ThefirstofthesewastheHon。JohnStantonGould,whomIcalledasalectureruponagriculture。HehadbeenpresidentoftheStateAgriculturalSociety,andwaseminent,notonlyforhisknowledgeofhissubject,butforhispowerofmakingitinteresting。MencameawayfromMr。Gould’slecturesfilledwithintensedesiretogetholdofaspadeorhoeandtobeginturningthesoil。
So,also,thesteadyworkofProfessorGeorgeC。Caldwell,whomIhadcalledfromtheStateCollegeofPennsylvaniatotakechargeofthedepartmentofagriculturalchemistry,wontherespectofallleadersinagriculturethroughouttheState,and,indeed,throughoutthecountry。
AndwithespecialgratitudeshouldbenamedDr。
JamesLawoftheBritishRoyalVeterinaryCollege,whomIhadfoundinLondon,andcalledtoourveterinaryprofessorship。Neverwasthereamorehappyselection。
Fromthatdaytothis,thirty—sixyears,hehasbeenatowerofstrengthtotheuniversity,andhasrenderedincalculableservicestotheStateandNation。Hisquiet,thoroughworkimpressedeveryonemostfavorably。Therudestofthesurroundingfarmerslearnedmoreandmoretoregardhimwithrespectandadmiration,andtheStatehasrecentlyrecognizedhisservicesbyestablishinginconnectionwiththeuniversityaStateveterinarycollegeunderhiscontrol。
Theworkofthesethreemensavedus。Apartfromit,theagriculturaldepartmentlongremainedasortofsloughofdespond;butatlastabrighterdaydawned。Fromthefar—offStateAgriculturalCollegeofIowacametidingsofaprofessor——Mr。J。I。P。Roberts——whounitedthepracticalandtheoreticalqualitiesdesired。Isecuredhim,andthenceforwardtherewasnomoredifficulty。Formorethantwentyyears,asprofessorandlecturer,hehaslargelyaidedindevelopingagriculturethroughouttheStateandcountry;andwhenotherswereaddedtohim,likeComstockandBailey,thesuccessofthedepartmentbecameevenmorebrilliant。Still,itsoldreputationlastedforatime,evenafterabettererahadbeenfullyusheredin。AboutayearafterthetidehadthusturnedameetingoftheState``Grange’’washeldattheneighboringcityofElmira;andtheleadingspeakersmadetheuniversityanditsagriculturalcollegeanobjectofscoffingwhichculminatedinaresolutiondenouncingboth,andurgingthelegislaturetorevokeourcharter。AtthisabrightyounggraduateofCornell,aninstructorintheagriculturaldepartment,whohappenedtobepresent,stoodupmanfully,putafewpertinentquestions,foundthatnoneofthedeclaimershadvisitedtheuniversity,declaredthattheywerefalsetotheirdutyinnotdoingso,protestedagainsttheircondemningtheinstitutionunheardandunseen,andthenandthereinvitedthemalltovisittheinstitutionanditsagriculturaldepartmentwithoutdelay。Nextdaythiswholebodyoffarmers,withtheirwives,sons,anddaughters,wereuponus。
Everythingwasshownthem。Knowingnexttonothingaboutmodernappliancesforinstructioninscienceandtheywereamazedatalltheysaw;thelibraries,thelaboratories,and,aboveall,thenatural—sciencecollectionsandmodelsgreatlyimpressedthem。Theyweretakeneverywhere,andshownnotonlyoursuccessesbutourfailures;nothingwasconcealedfromthem,and,asaresult,thoughthey``cametoscoff,’’they``remainedtopray。’’Theycalledanewsessionoftheirbody,pledgedtoustheirsupport,andpassedresolutionscommendingourworkandcondemningtheStatelegislaturefornotdoingmoreinourbehalf。Thatwastheturning—pointfortheagriculturaldepartment;andfromthatdaytothisthelegislaturehasdealtgenerouslywithus,andtheinfluenceofthedepartmentforgoodthroughouttheStatehasbeenmoreandmorewidelyacknowledged。
Ofthetwotechnicaldepartmentsreferredtointheorigi—
nalactofCongress,thesecond——specifiedunderthevaguenameof``MechanicArts’’——wentbetter,thoughtherewasatfirstmuchgropingtofindjustwhatoughttobedone。