The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-20

aud doubtless stands at the head of
American technical schools-at least
that lis the opinion of European critics.
Professor Ritter of Germany, who spent
several months in the United States
last year as the representative Of the
German government, first at the Worlds
fair, and later studying American tech
nical schools, reported that, las far as
regards instruction in mechanical engi-
neeriug, Cornell university stands at
the head Of American institutes. II Is
interesting to note DR.. Ritter's opinion
that, while technical instruction i'll the
United States is somewhat less solid
and complete or tho theoretical side
than in Europe, it is much superior in
It's practical bearings lie praises "the
truly grand achievements in engineer
ing and machine construction i'll the
United States. DIR. Thurston, tho di-
rector If Sibley college, is known
throughout the world as "a leading au-
thority on thcrmo dynalncs, his works
on the steam engine having been trans
lated into many foreign languages. He
president of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers.
A Unique Relic.
Visitors to Cornell university ALWAYS
observe a horseshoe that occupies con
Splcuous place i'll one Of tho Siblev col
lego buildings. 1t has IN interesting
history which teaches Il practical and
useful lesson Rev Robert Collycr, the
Unitarian Clergyman of New York, best
known perhaps rs the hero of the great
Chicago fire, was once engaged to give
n lecture at tho university. After the
lecture the trustees, who knew that DR..
Collyer had been q blacksmith in his
early career, invited him TO go into the
university blacksmith shops and give
an exhibition of his skill rs a lesson to
American youths, who whatever their
aspirations, did not dis1ain to learn the
| practical arts which might serve as Il
foundation to subsequent training
| In response to the invitation DIR. Coll
yer donned overalls and jacket and
welded the horseshoe that is now guard
cd with SO much care by the Sibley col
lego authorities. A great American
painter, when commissioned to pniut
Dr. Collyer' S portrait, heard of this in
cident and seized upon it rs the scene
for his painting. 1t is said that Dr.
Collyer received from tho trustees of
the university Il check for 81 900 as the
reward for making the horseshoe. or.
more properly speaking, for the lesson
which he thereby gave to American
youth for all time.
The Great Library
or tho IL buildings, costing ms many
hundred thousand dollars, which Cor
nell uses FOR purposes Of instruction,
tho one which arouses the most admra
ton among students and visitors is the
library building, completed in 1891
inns building, erected at an expense of
4 S5oo, ooo, can accommodates more than
ooo, 600 volumes and is regarded rs the
model college library building of the
| United States. The library now con
tains about 100, 900 volumes aud &c. OO9
pamphlets and is surpassed by only two
or three college libraries in the country.
| One of those which outuumbcr il is
really less useful because less carefully
| selected. The we'll lighted reading room
| OF the library contains ample nccoinmo.
| cations Tor gro students who have free
| access to the open bookcases around its
| walls, These provide shelf room for "A
Judiciously selected reference library of
| 5000 volumes, comprising encyclope-
| dias, dictionaries, trcatiSes and stand
ard works in the various departments.
| The north wing Of the library houses
| the White historical library. IL collection
| OF works III many respects uneUualcd in
| the United States. From the White Ii
orary visitor may obtain one of the
best views of the beautiful Cavuga lake
and surrounding scenery. The universe
| " Is situated upon an elevated plateau.
| from which the outlook is grand and
picturesque. At the two sides of tho
plateau streams descend. like water mt
| Lodore, roaring and sparkling and foam
| ing from cataract to cataract into tho
gnich that dcopens through the soft rocl,
nearly 800 feet.
1t was tho outburst Of Boston min
| lister, on his first sight of Cascodillo