Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-10-26


was a wonder and inspiration TO hs.en -
the peaceful plans Of this practlcai pnii@-.
tbropist for the benefit OF his iellow inen NJ
The times were big with gigantic scnenles
for the acquisition OF sudden fortunes a.
he COLLEAGUES could not understand TINS
,,ost earnest and unselfish worker 10
most ~ them he was a schemer Whose
nnrnoses they could not fathom, ana 10 Ky
rast ~ ms he seemed dreamer whose "
| sions vould never materialize. These douo.
- az a quarter of a century ago esteem IL
a bigb privilege to stand in this presence
and an honor to have the opportunity 70
contribute a chaplet to the wreaths WHICH
crown the statue Of Ezra Cornell.
remember that a scheme had been per
fected whose qualifications EXTENDED an
over the state and embraced the strongest
men Of both parties to raid the treasury
unon a false assumption OF the needs OF tne
canals The measure was sprung suuuehit
unon the house, and as chairman OF the
committee of ways and means II was my
duty TO fight it. ! was almost wholly un-
nrenared for the task When the enemy
seemed about to triumph, MT Oorheli
onened his desk, took from 1t carefully
arranged mass of figures and statistics and
nlaced them before me. II have been gain
erinp these for several weeks" he said, I'D
order TO make a speech against this DILL
but Won need them now They gave
such full and complete refutations OF the
claims of the combination that at the close
of the debate the proposed act was de-
feated and its advocates so completely
ronted that it was never revived. He
cared more for the triumph OF the truth
than for any fame he might gain as It's al,
yocate. 1t WAS this utter oblivion 10 sell
which led him to sacrifice everything Tor
this university when once he had become
convinced of its necessity and laid its foun
dations.
Object Of Higher Education.
It was the highest public spirit which
moved him 10 contribute half million Of
dollars 70 concentrate and preserve the con
gressiona land grant Il was the nobility
which rises above natural and justifiable in
diQnation that made him submit to the toll
of 81, 600 for the privilege of grandly giving
of his own 1t was the spirit of which mar
tyrs are made that inspired him TO carry the
land grant through years of financial de
preston, periliDg his fortune and impair
ing his health with the burden until finally
the trust which would have brought only
realized millions. 1t was the
martyr. TO the purest and loftiest sense OF
duty 10 his country and mankind, who
buried the larger part of his estate build
ing the railroads which connected his uni
versity with the transportation facilities
Of the country. But he secured for the peo
pie a seat of learning which will be ever in
To- h
for himself the gratitude Of all succeeding
generations and immortal fame
Textbooks and lectures are only part OF
IN education. There is more growth with |
,ut than withia the classroom. The faculty |
nay be ever so faithful and learned-there |
5 still much beyond them. The spirit OF a |
College indelibly impresses its students.
With the eentury-old foundations, 1t is the |
memories and traditions of bril- /
liant past. II is the force of the accumu- |
ated achievements, and examples OF genera
ions Of alumni who have illustrated and |
llumined the progress and glory Of the re
ublic. 1t matters little to Yale or Hsr
ard that their founders are scarcely more
han names with which nothing tangible
an be connected 1t is mueh-it is every
hing-to young Cornell that her sons can
e inspired by such founder.
The main object OF higher education
through all the ages had been TO prepare
len for the next world. 1t had not been
bought necessary to do much for women,
ither for earth or heaven. The Puritans
tarted the college with the settlement, but
was To train young men for the Christian
We have not yet entirely recov-
red from the belief that university ca
eer Is worse than useless, except for the
ulpit. law and medicine. But the founder
this institution profoundly believed that
De better fitted man was for his life
ork. the better his preparation for an ex-
tence beyond the grave. A successful
orGer, IN a nation OF workers, cared moth
< Tor speculative philosophers, but had
ahonadtd faith il he possibilities of an
iUcated farmer or mechanic.
The mater.alisni Of our time Is frequent
denounced rnd cloquently assliiled 1t
ia a seuse tie protest OF the present
sainst the p..st Of the practical progress
i against the musty school men 1t gives
Ir people more and better homes. Its in.
sntions add inlmeasurably to the comfort
al happiness OF our lives. Its enterprise
ld energy develop our resources and in.
1ete1 RtAt tttAAtAAAttA wealth. GlD~s Ildlttl-
ism, which sacrifices everything To the
ere accumulation Of money, merits the
insure il receives, but the real benefactors
the world in our age OF hard struggles
I'd hot competition are those who do most
lit both heads and hands for the needs
the hour. Whatever blessings have be-
nged in the past to him who made two
AIDES of grass to grow where only one did
fore, are equally earned by the man {
hose locomotive or electrical device or ]
aehine or engine have multiplied power !
d simplified labor. Every scientific or
ming or chronological or manual train
g school IS the out growth of and contri- I
Ition to our higher materialism. The new
irning is not an assault upon but an en-
rgement Of the old. The splendid results
ancient methods keep firm their hold q
'on the colleges. Thetraining they give G
equally beneficial for business and the I
ofessions.
1 IS the liberal education for ordinary purS
its which this university has demonstrate
to be one Of the great aims Of teaching $
would found an institution where any q
rson can find instruction in any study" n