New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-08
CORNELDS NEW LIBRARY.
PRESENTATION OF THE BUILDING GIVEN BY
HENRY w. SAGE.
ExpRESIpENr WHITES HISTORICAL AND POLL
TIcAL SCIENCE LIBRARY-PREsIDENT
p GILMAN's ADDRESS

TIcAL SCIENCE LIBRARY-PREsIDENT
g, GILNAN's ADDRESS.
tsr TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
Ithaca, n. ", oct 1.-THE dedication Of the library
building Of Cornell University took place WIN appfo-
pirate ceremonies to-day. the twentythird anniversary
OF the founding of the institution The beauuiu stone
structure standing at the southwest corner oi "e
quadrangle formed by the main university buildings on
the hill far above Cayugas waters is the result OF the
muninoent beranty OF Henry W. Sage, president Of ue
Board Of Trustees. His work is the fuhlment OF te
plan of Mrs Jennie Mctiraw Fiske, and is monument
10 her name as well TO his own. Cornell mas hau
lew prouder days in Its history than this IL Will DC
remembered not only the day when the library puo-
inr was dedicated but also as the day on which ex-
President Andrew d. White presented to the uni
yerslty his valuable collection of books, containing moe
than $4,000 volumes. He chose, too htthg oc
casion for his gift More than an hour oeiore inc
ceremonies began the large assembly hal IN tne paee
ment Of the building WAS filed with the friends OF the
university and Of It's benefactors The heavy ram heu
10 one back and dampened no ones enthusiasm .eitS'
naturally centred in the iverhared benefactor OF the IN
stttien who sat the platform next TO the presoeh'
Charles X. Adams With them were ex-Prsideh'
white President Daniel II. Gilman, OF Johns HOP
hns University the orator of the day. General stewart
L. woodford the Rev. Charles NJ. Tyler, Proiessor
Moses Colt Tyler and George W. Harris the librarian
Of tie new Institution.
AT o'clock the official ceremonies were opened
With music by the Ithaca quartette and prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Tyler President Adams then introduced
Mr. Sage the chief hero of the occasion Mr. sage
was obliged TO wait several minutes before he couio
begin bis address, owing TO the enthusiastic applause
With which he greeted. His speech was modest
In all references himself and full Of praise to those
others who had given literally to the university he
reviewed the history OF the college library which has
grown from $4,000 volumes In 1869 TO more toh
100000 at the present time. at has been ue
dream of The founders and builders OF Corheh'
he continued that some day we should possess
library worthy Of their purposes and aspirations ana
of the great they were trying 10 serve. Johh
McGraw who clearly comprehended our wants, at one
time intended to devote 10 them large portion Of his
estate. But his purpose changed He died in May
1877 leaving to his only child and heir, Jennie NC
Graw substantially all his fortune. He well knew
that her wishes with regard to Cornell library were his
own and left her with liberty and power to 90 as she
pleased few days after HIS death she maze her nrst
will, giving to the university SoOOooo ana al her
residuary estate Measured by what she tried to 40
sbe was the greatest benefactOr Cornell ever had. We
all know something the conflict over her estate since
she died. In 1890 the final decision of the United
States Supreme Court, holding that Cornell already mad
capta I'm excess of her charter limits ana therefore
could not take or hold swept away from us every
dollar OF her beQuest
a truthful history compels me to do So John Mcuraw
WAS my friend for than forty years; Jennie was
my friend from her carly childhood. When / saw mat
their purposes were in peril resolved 10 90 what
could TO promote and repair them ana when the oio"
came was ready 10 proceed with the construction Vi
this house and TO endow it with 100000 the income "
ne used only for the purchase of books. deeply re-
qret thai instead of a $500 900 endowment cannot
make IL equal TO the whole SUN lost, bn'
IT Is impossible and TO the extent "a
my ability, consistent with other DUTIES
have done what There is capacity mere ior
about 100000 volumes and for indefinite extension OF
the library stack rooms, west and south Should our
endowment fund earn per cent or Slo'ooo per year.
that sum- with gifts we shall doubtless receive as Id
tl,o mast will increase our books $4,000 volumes an
nually. and in twenty-five years absorb all our
present capacity. have your teas1rers receipt lor
$4,000, which TO pay for the BUILDING anu
500 900 for It's endowment May Coo bless the s'l'
snd its to all who in future years snail come mere
10 teach on learn"
President Adams accepted tho munifceut gift on
behalf Of the university and referred, in words full
of feeling and gIuttude to the action OF Mr. sage
This is not the first that you have come 10 inc
university bearing gifts" added the speaker lie then
referred to the building for women and the ehapel ana
+e school of philosophy cannot close this part OF
my pleasant duty continued the president, without
concentrating YOU my dear sir, that WIN
20 large measure of health and vigor you
have come 20 see the completion Of the work. May
your vgor and your counsels long be spared 10 inc
university may you have many, many years WIN us
in which to see the benefcen fruits OF your iaoors.
and may all those years be years OF happiness ana
peace"
President Adams was followed by Andrew D.
White. The ex-presdent Of Cornell probably never
received greater evidence Of his popularity among
the students and citizens of ithaca than today when
lie presented TO the university the President Wm'e
Library Of History and Political science" The nu-
cleus OF the library which he gave to the university
was he said, a single volume, entitled Poems OF
Pleasure which he sti owned. The first note
worthy growth of the library had begun in his college
DAYS. In the beginning 1t had been mainly literary
but as time went II had become more and more q
collection Of historical works q" have bee M mo an
more convinced said Mr. White, that the divine pur-
pose In this universe, especially In human history Is
shown in process of unfolding, of evolution Hence II
Is that the library is not by any mere mass OF
historical narratives" After describing the colec
lion in detail and expressing his gratitude TO Mrs.
Fise and Mr. sage, Professor White ended his address
as follows
81 hone there are some before who will hereafter
hive the means and the wish 10 taste the pleasure and
oniov the nroft of collecting good books. such
Measure and such profit are among the best things In
mman life | can hardly imagine that any form Of
snort can give keener enjoyment than book-huntng
II Is not surprising that many have found pleasure In
t. But what is surprising 10 me is that any man who
has ever made really fire collection Of books
pictures or valuable material Of any sort, should be
willing 10 have it sold and dispersed after ne has
ceased TO use it. Let remind any now before
me- who shall hereafter make collections Of works on
any worthy subject that this building, which we open
here to-day, due TO tie loving purpose OF devoted
woman aud the heroic determination Of noble man, is
one Of the places in which collections Of any sort can
best he kept together for the highest pr9t and puiesi
pleasures OF future generations Of American scholars"
After Professor Whites gift had been accepted in
be!au of The university ~ George W. Harris. the
librarian The cha man introduced President Gilman,
the orator of the day. The large audience listened