The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-08

children for comforts and beautiful
things and If reoollect Alright, though
he kept fine span of horses and dash
ing phston for his family, he generally
rode around in quiet carriage, drawn
by an unambitious but reliable bay
horse.
He bad one weakness, love for fine
cattle; and here again ought to qualify
what | am about to say, which is that hi
spent princely sums upon blooded cow
and bulls. These cattle he always pas
tured close to the University, and fancy
that they entered into the curriculum OF
the Agricultural Department of the Uni
versity. Personally l never passed those
beautiful animals on my way to recita'
tions without feeling grateful to Mr.,
Cornell for having placed such attractive
specimens of the genus bos in the grand
landscape that used to greet my eye as
ruads my daily pilgrimage to and from
the class or 'eeetugs-room.
Though close with regard to himself,
Mr.. CornelFs heart was ever ready to
respond to the wants Of others; as in
stance his heading the Chicago fire sub.
seription list started in the University
with $500.
One anecdete of him, and / close. A
gentleman named Claggett visited Ithaca
while | was there, in the hope of estab.
fishing classes in calesthihics. Applying
to Mr.. Cornell for an Endorsement, the
old gentleman heard him all through
and witnessed his demonstration Of his
method of teaching. When he finally
paused for reply, Mr.. Cornell said in
substance if not in words, though the
words are pretty well craven on my
memory: "My dear sir, that is all well
enough in its way, but it is not practical
enough. When I was a boy, I sawed
wood; and I think that If the young
gentlemen of the University wish to
acquire muscle or exercise what they
already possess, they can do SO no better
than to occasionally chop cord or two of
wood. By that means they are sure to
accomplish something"
Is it strange that I expect great deal
as Governor from a son who had such
parents as these? Ezra Cornell would
have been as proud man as his widow
was proud as woman, could he have
witnessed the ceremonies that took place
January lst in the Capitol in Albany.
Governor Cornell can Justly be proud of
having been made Chief Magistrate of
the Empire State, but no title that can
come to him will be nobler than that of
being the son of the man who said II
would found an institution where any
person can find instruction in any
study"
A word about New Years, and I close.
We had delightful weather-clear and
warm-and calling was carried on with
unusual zest. / do not know when l
have seen the toilets of the ladies more
elaborate, or the apparel of the gentle
men more costly. This fact l associate
with the dawn Of better times The
efforts of the clergy and local temper
ance organizations to Danish wine from
refreshment tables were fairly successful,
and | prophesy that at no very distant
date the giving of stimulants the first
day of the year will be deemed unfash-
ionable, who knows but also immoral?
A curious innovation upon time
honored traditions and customs was
found in the honoring of Mr.. Day by
numerous leading Hebrew ladies. To be
sure they did not receive at their houses,
but at the Hebrew Asylum, complying
with the social custom Of New Years
under the guise of charity. But never
theless they had their tables laden with
all manner of delicacies, while they
themselves were richly attired in silks
and diamonds. l said to prominent
Hebrew present: "This is not the Jewish
New Y ears; how do you keep it?"
"Well," said he in substance, eve are
not so strenuous upon this point that we
can not conform to social usages where no
question of belief is involved"
How fast barriers erected by creed and
sect are being overleaped or swept away!
CRAs.