The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-27

interesting to note Dr. Ritter's opinion
that, while technical instruction in the
United States is somewhat less solid
and complete on the theoretical side
than in Europe, it is much superior in
its practical bearings. He praises "the
truly grand achievements in engineer
ing and machine construction in the
United States DR. Thurston, the di-
rector of Sibley college, is known
throughout the world as a leading au-
thority on thermo dynamics, his works
on the steam engine having been trans
lated into many foreign languages. He
was one of the organizers and the first
president of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers.
A Unique Relic.
Visitors to Cornell university always
observe horseshoe that occupies a con-
spicuous place in one of the Sibley col
lege buildings 1t has an interesting
history which teaches a practical and
useful lesson. Rev. Robert Collyer, the
Unitarian clergyman of New York, best
known perhaps as the hero of the great
Chicago fire, was once engaged to give
a lecture at the university. After the
Collyer had been a blacksmith in his
early career, invited him to go into the
university blacksmith shops and give
an exhibition of his skill as a lesson to
American youths, who, whatever their
aspirations, did not disdain to learn the
practical arts which might serve as q
foundation to subsequent training.
In response to the invitation DR.. Coll
yer donned overalls and jacket and
welded the horseshoe that is now guard
ed with so much care by the Sibley col
1ege authorities. A great American
painter, when commissioned to paint
DR.. Collyer' S portrait, heard of this in
cident and seized upon it as the scene
for his painting 1t is said that DIR.
Collyer received from the trustees of
the university 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.
OF the Is buildings, costing as many
hundred thousand dollars, which Cor
nell uses for purposes of instruction,
the one which arouses the most admira-
ton among students and visitors is the
library building, completed in 1891.
This building, erected at an expense Of
$3.50, 900, can accommodate more than
500, 900 volumes and is regarded as the
model college library building of the
United States. The library now con-
tains about 100, 900 volumes and 80, 900
pamphlets and is surpassed by only two
or three college libraries in the country.
One of those which outnumber it is
really less useful because less carefully
selected. The we'll lighted reading room
of the library contains ample accommo-
datiOns for 220 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, treatises and stand
ard works in the various departments
| The north wing of the library houses
the White historical library, collection
| of works in many respects unequaled in
the United States. From the White Ii
brary a visitor may obtain one of the
best views of the beautiful Cayuga lake
and surrounding scenery. The universe
ty is situated upon an elevated plateau,
from which the outlook is grand and
picturesque. At the two sides of the
| plateau streams descend, like water at
Lodore, roaring and sparkling and foam.
ing from cataract to cataract into the
gulch that deepens through the soft rock
| nearly 500 feet
It was the Outburst of a Boston min
lister, on his first sight of Cascadilla
| gorge, mature itself marked out this
place for great university" The wild
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