New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-31
COLLEGE ERWORK.
YOIING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FATE.

YOUNG SCHWERDTFEGER'S FATE.
CARE WHICH PROFESSOR ExERcIsED ovER HIM
THE UNIVERSITY sYsTEM-TEE EVENT FORE
TOLD.
TO she Editor Of The Tribune.
SIX: From the tenor of your remarks concerning
the suicide of Mr. Schwerdfeger, the young student
of Cornell University. you to be laborng under
mistake in regard to the facts.
a. While this young man has been in attendance
at the university he has been subject u a
forcing system" Indeed so far is this from true.
that the class work has been play TO him. aud
Prof and Mrs. Morris, with whom he has made his
home in Ithaca, have brought to bear upon him a
constant restraint from excessive study, and con-
slant encouragement for judicous physical exercise.
o. There is not now, nor has there ever been, any
class markings in the university, and there has
been from the first steady encouragement of the
rOte work and examining which is still the bane of
so many schools.
49, Mr.. Schwerdtfeger came to the institution
exceptional student, with thirst for knowledge
which was an absorbing passion; he had morbid
fances and an Inherited tendency toward insanity
and suicide.
a. In preparing for the late intercollegiate con-
test, he made no extraordinary effort. He studied
with the intensity and zeal which characterized all
his efforts, but there was put upon him no outward
forcing and to all appearance there was no greater
internal excitement than usual.
o. His health has never been good; within the
past year it had become worse and his kind friends
induced him to withdraw from the university at
the close of last term hoping that entire rest would
restore his bodily vigor. But the hereditary faint
too strong for sanitary measures, and although
he improved somewhat in health, his predispositon
to melancholy increased
Fer several years this young man appears to have
been fascinated with the life and fate of Chatteron.
He often predicted that he should die at the same
age and III the way. Since bis death there has
been found among his papers the drawing of tomb
stone and an inscription recording his death at
the date which would have made him Of the exact
age Of ChattertOn. This period passed about year
ago, and Prof and Mrs. Morris both experienced
great relief believing that the crisis had passed.
All the circumstances tend TO show that the final
catastrophe was the result of a sudden impulse,
which took possession of a mind originally alb
normal poised on the extreme verge of sanity
and snguary destitute of vigorous directive power.
From this melancholy event moral may be drawn.
But this moral will be false if il imputes markings
and crammings" TO Cornell. 1t will also fail of
its mark if it that the friends of this gifted
young man here failed to appreciate the character
of his mind or in any way stimulated him TO work.
The Influences brought to bear upon him here were
TO soothe and restrain and to induce moderation in
all kinds of mental exercise. Ven may find profit
able held Of speculation opened 10 them here by
observing how hereditary traits nullify education,
and how nearly related precoclty is to insanity.
Truly yours. JAMES JoHONNOT.
Hhaca, n. T. March "a, 1877.