The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-18

to his Sanscrit, feeling as | walked away
that Cornell meant something more than
showed ON the surface. We Americans
have been rather apt to worship the dollar,
but when poverty is so honorable and so
honored as it is here, our golden idol is like
to tumble peg or so in the estimation of
society.
| had next long interview with the
President, Mr.. Andrew White, and found
him gentleman of elevated aims, untiring
industry, great practical sagacity, and pur-
posely easy of access. Though his mind
is occupied necessarily, not only with the
cares of the college, but also with those
grand historical questions which it is the
study of his lifetime to elucidate, yet he
will never be denied to any one, and, how
ever busy, has always fifteen minutes at
the disposal of caller. ] learned from
him that at present there were sixty-one
students supporting themselves, and that
if any one who possessed skilled labor
wished to come there was place for
him. But for those who came with
nothing there was at the present mo-
ment little chance, and he would not adj
wise them to come. He was full of enthu-
siasm over the feelings entertained by the
country at large toward Cornell, as evinced
in the gifts that were continually arriving.
A gentleman had just presented the farm
with a superb blood stallion, and Mr..
Sage was pressing on them a quarter of a
million in hard cash if they would add a
wing for ladies', or unite them in the classes
already formed. He had also received a
letter from Oliver Wendell Holmes concern
ing the standing Of the freshmen Of the Cor
nell University in Natural Science, and had
learned the gratifying fact that their note
books stood fairly on par with the exami-
nation papers of his graduates. He hoped
great things from the schools of
mechanical art, architecture and engineer
ing-things hopelessly neglected in Ameri-
ca. From this want arose waste of mo-
ney and material which it was almost inn
possible to realize and he firmly believed
that in ten years Cornell would repay its
endowment in those matters alone. The
standing Of the College in scientific matters
was utterly unbiased by the religious
prejudices of any one sect. The healthful
observances of religion were not tram
meed in the institution by any means, but
the Faculty had nothing to do with it. 1t
was matter for the consideration and de-
cision of the students themselves. For this
course the religious press had denounced
Cornell with an unanimity that was appall-
ing, but the course of science has never been
blocked at any time by such outcries. -
And the religious press had at length per-
ceived that they were in error, and had
silently dropped the hue and cry. Cornell,
as he understood it, is to give an education
that shall be scientific and artistic, not
learned, nor ecclesiastical. Cornell in
tended to open the eyes Of young men to
| the beauties of Gods universe, and to teach
them the laws that govern it. Admitting
that the study Of Greek and Latin and
elcgac verse disciplined the mind, it went
no further. 1t was as if the athlete,
whose muscles had been hardened by a
course of dumb-bells and Indian clubs
should be requested to sit down and
never use that physical strength which
had been so highly trained. Cornell, on
the contrary, would make it her task not
only to discipline the mind, but to store
it amply with practical knowledge, and
to develop any special aptitude it might
possess for the benefit and utility OF
mankind. r. e. q.