The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-18
evening State guaraal.
SATURDAY EVENING, NOV. IS, 1871.
[Correspondence of the New York Times.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

y
this noble university:
Having observed these features of the
place, | looked around for some student
who could inform me as to the progress
made in the speciality of Cornell-the self
supporting part of the system. The stu
dents were mostly down town, as it was
Saturday, and there were no classes. But
| was soon directed to Cascadila Place, a
n fine square stone structure built by Mr..
Cornell for the accommodation of profess
sors and students, and situated halfway
between Ithaca and the college, below the
romantic gorge, to which the somewhat
affected Spanish term of Cascadilla has
been applied. rambled through its corr-
doris in somewhat forlorn condition, not
finding any one who worked on the farm,
but heartily admiring the sensible
construction of this building, and
especially the fine reception hall
which it contain-. This is handsomely
carpeted, lighted and furnished, and has be-
sides gift from the president, Mr.. A.
White, of splendid set of proof engrav-
ings Of Kaulbach's chef d'@urres in :he
Museum of Art, Berlin. This is not the
only gift of this accomplished gentleman,
who has won the hearty love and respect of
everybody in the institution, and has kin
died a fire Of enthusiasm in every breast
which will carry Cornell high up in the front,
in spite of sectarian snarling and dogmatic
thunder. AT last, by good chance, came
upon room where young fellow of TWEEN
ty-three was studying Sanscrit. Having
been in India for many years, | was interest
ed in his studies, and we commenced an ami
mated conversation upon phllologc roots.
We criticised Max Muller, commented on
Bunsen's theory Of the Pelasgc people,
and heartily agreed upon the absurdty
of studying Greek and Latin, which were
dried sponges, out of which everything
good had been taken by our ancestors. In
cidentally learned that this most accom-
plished gentleman was supporting himself
by laboring on the farm. He generally
worked three hours a day, and six hours on
Saturdays, and had already got through his
appointed labor for that Saturday. | asked
him if the manual labor of blowing, &c.,
did not stupefy him, contract the brain
cells, and make his apprehension duller.
lie replied that it did not, because he had
been brought up as farmer, and had moth
ing to learn when he came to the college.
lie was taking the agricultural course, but
had become interested mythology, and one
become interested in him, and had given
him lessons in that perfect language, though
Oriental studies are not in the curriculum.
| said, 81 suppose yours is an individual
case 2"
,Studeat-Yes, as regards the phiology,
but not for the farm. There are twenty
nine of US who work on it.
CoTespo7deat-Does it pay your expen-
SEES :?
Student-It pays mine; but then |
worked steadily during the long three
months vacation, which ended in Septem-
Der. can go easy now if feel inclined
Correspondence suppose the hardest
part of the work is done by laborers en-
ployed for that purpose
Student-Not at all. There are only
two Transfers hired on the farm, and all the
other work is done by us. At this mo .nent
we're laying down series of drains, and this
is very heavy work indeed.
Cor espondent-Did you do that this
morning
,S,dela-Yes, for six hours.
Correspondent you did not feel
stupefed and tired out?
StUdent-Not at all. | dislike the work,
and was very glad to get back to this,
but | was not tired.
Correspondent there any other
methods of earning ones support here,
besides the farm?
tSt,tdent-Oh yes. If you can print,
YOU can earn more in the press-room
than on the farm, and soon there will be
lots of work in the machine-shop. The
men are going to make copies Of Olliyier's
geometric models.
Co1respoadent-Wh that?
,Sfpdent--Why Frenchman of the name
of Olivier made set of models to illustrate
all the problems of geometry. A set was
purchased by the State of New York, and
is, think, at Albany. They are going tC
make copies of these. Twenty thousand
dollars were given, believe, for the first
set that he made, but our fellows here car
make them for eight hundred.
Correspondence see. Well, but mer
who can't handle tools will not be able tc
do that sort Of thing.
Enthusiastically not. Skilled labor il
at the same premium here that it is else
where.
CorTesponae,t-Wh What can the men dc
who have only their manual strength?
St,sdent-Well, they can work on tn!
farm or they can grade the square.
Corespondent-They can do that, bu
then do they?
Student As a general thing they attempt
it, and finding it rather rough, give it up II
despair and 60 home.
Correspoadeat-Well, but that was
hardly what Mr.. Cornell designed, wa
it?
iStudent-No: he expected that the col
legc would give work to every one tina
cared to take it, of kind that he could do
T 4l,at hf, ind In ftf