New-York tribune., 1895-10-13

Universities are not made They grow. Rich
endowmentS fine buildings spacious grounds,
may be provided in day. They are not a uni
yersty They alone do not and cannot make
one They mny. however. be the means Of pro
noting It's growth. or they may be merely the
crown of its completion. Some universities-a
few-have such equipments at the very begin
ming. and have to grow up to them; it we may
properly speak Of growing up 10 what, after all
are inferior things. Most, however. begin win
meagre material equipment, and have 10 grow 10
greatness without it. TheD, when their worth
is seen and known Of all men, the tardy benefac-
tons come II is as though workman were
required to perform his task with but few rude
tools. and then at Its completion. should receive
a gift Of full outit Of the very tools he most
needed IN his work.
In the history Of the University OF the City
of New-York there has been n curious combine
ton OF both these methods At the opening OF
its career 1t was housed in splendid ediflce, FAR
in advance OF its requirements. 1t had tha'
home, and little else. besides lis own ambitions
But presently IL ou,grew its quarters. and Tor
many years suffered much from lack or room
and grounds From the very first. moreover, its
endowments have been painfully small. and iis
work has been done amid great difficulties ana
al IL great disadvantage. But its work has been
done The University has been growing. To-
day il has record Of achievements which not
many American colleges can equal. and II has
the spirit and the stature Of "A tr,lc university III
a degree known to but few. Having accom-
plished This despite the handicap Of poverty and
crampcd quarters, il now enters upon possession
of an ample and idea, home. with a lively hope
Of endowments sOon to come.
The University has, indeed. been in its new
home for year. but has postponed until the
present week its formal "housewarming." That
interesting function will occur on Saturday next
with ceremonies Of simple yet impressive char
acter A salient feature Of the occasion Will De
the LAYING Of the cornerstone OF the new central
building which Is to be erected at a cost Of about
S25O.OOO and Is to contain administrative offices,
a museum an assembly hall, and library with
space for a million vOumcs This magnificent
edifice will be of incllculable value to the gen
eral community. apart from the University IT.
self for it will be the only public library In the
whole vast and populous North Side. On an
other page of to-day's Tribune we publish fol-
,he first time the architects drawings OF this
building. togethe, with an illustrated description
Of the other buildings and the grounds OF the
University. and the programme OF next Satur
DAVIS exercises Our readers who may not
hitherto have acquired special information OF
the subject will be agreeably surprised at fhe
extent, the beauty and the conmodiousness o,
the Tniversity's present plant and of the as
sured additions to he made thereto In the I'm
mediate future They will also be convinced
chat In This institution we have a seat OF learn
ing of which, both in intellectual attainment "no
in material equipment the capital CITY oi ,n'
Western World may well be proud ana 10 WHICH
her citizens may worthily extend their patronage
and their bencfactiOns.