New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-01
GREAT NIGHT FOR CORNELL.
THE ANNUAL DINNER ENDS AMID
GREAT ENTHUSIASM.


ELOQUENT ADDRESS. STARTS A srBscRrP-
TIoX FOR THE CREW AND IN A.FEw
MINUTES So 100 IS RAfsED-coLoNEt
GEORGE BLISS. A HARVARD MAN.
GIVES 500 TO THE CAUSE.
Interesting as were the proceedings in the ear
lier part OF the evening at the annual dinner OF
the Cornell University Club at the Waldorf on
Saturday evening, some of the most striking oc-
currences took place at too late hour to be
related in yesterdays newspapers This was es-
peclally true of what took place regarding ath-
letics. Feeling had run high among the Corneh
alumni prior to the dinner because Of the sports
manlike course pursued by the students IN reia-
tion to the rowing races at Poughkeepsie next
summer which involves the obligation on Cor
nell's part of rowing a race one week against
Harvard and Yale and the next week against
Columbia and Pennsylvania. The alumni gain
cred I'm enthusiastic mood to the number OF about
two hundred and nfty-a larger assembly OF cor
nellians that ever came together before In thiS
CITY, The athletic enthusiasm did not, however,
find full vent until Colonel Henry W. Sacke't
the president of the club. reached on the TOAST
list the name Of Professor Benjamin lde Wheeter'
the head Of the Greek department at cornell
Perhaps there never Greek professor az
any institution more popular among the stu
dents than Professor Wheeler He has ions
been the representative of the faculty In the
athletic council to whom the student BODY mas
turned TO find the fullest sympathy with It's pest
athletic aspirations He recently returned from
a years stay in Greece. during which he saw
the great revival Of the Greek games last
spring He returned In time to act for Cornell
IN her athletic arrangements for the year and
WAS her chief representative in the negotiations
that recently resulted in the rowing engage
ments for rext summer already referred to.
HIS TOAST WAS "HELLENIcA"
Professor Wheelers toast was "Heenica.
He started out upon his subject directly lie
told of the origin of the Greek athletic ideal and
% the best form IN which it survived to-day
Taking his hearers to the scene of the Olympic
games last year, ne gave wonderfully graphic
and thrilling account Of the twenty-mile race,
which was won by Greek. and OF the wonder
ful scene in that vast amphitheatre when this
man rushed almost breathless through that great
throng. and pas sing the line far ahead Of all
competitors knet before King George--"bring-
ing" said Professor Wheeler. the greatest tro-
phy a Greek could lay at the feet of his king
The alumni had listened with the most rapt at
great applause that followed this had died out,
Professor Wheeler went to apply the lesson
to those scenes to the athletics of modern col
leges From that he came to the story OF the
recent diplomatic negotiations between Harvard,
Yale ard Cornell. Most Of the salient facts have
already been told in the newspapers. But he
brought out I'm n new light the spirit of courtesy
and craftsmanship that had controlled In all the
l,al .bo lapr an
probation of the manly and generous spirit ex-
hibted by Cornell in accepting the terms Of the
proposal that admitted Yale to the at
Poughkeepse although IT necessitated two races
by Cornell one statement in this connection
was significant There has not" said Professor
Wheeler been a single indication throughout
all this matter of any unfrendliness toward Cor
nell the part Of the undergraduates of Yale.
on the contrary, the feeling has been quite
friendly. What you have seen in the newspa-
pers Of that sort has only come from old alumni
Of Yale. who have not had their way there and
who do not clearly understand present condi-
tlons. our relations with all al New Haven. so
far have discovered, are entirely cordial"
The professor then called upon the alumni to
join with the undergraduates Of Cornell to
bic them TO put themselves In the most favora-
BILE position for success In the coming contest
Tell us what you want and we will give II to
YOU" called out W. r. Bronx a graduate OF 80.
There "A storm of applause at this. Pro-
fessOr Wheeler said their most immediate needs
were two new boats, to cost $500 each, and a
training table; and then proceeded at some
length to explain the financial situation at Cor
nell.
Before the applause that greeted the professor
when he sat down had died away, DR.. Louis l..
Seaman was on his feet. He said Mr. Pres-
dent: We might well settle this question
right here. I will be one Of ten 10 subscribe the
81 200 for those boats Great was the applause
at this. A moment later ]. II. Ballentne, jr..
declared himself as the second on that list
Joseph G. Hendrix asked 10 be named the
third. Then followed in rapid succession
declarations to the same effect from f. lie b.
Gardiner. Henry w Sacket., William r. Bronx
Otto NJ Eidlitz Henry r. Ickeh, inner F.. VI. j.
Dodd William J. Young and alumnus Mr.
Brown, whose first name could not be learned
ALL DONE IN THREE MINUTES.
The widest enthusiasm created by this
success. by which in less than three minutes the
entire 81 200 had been subscribed.
Some one then asked what the training table
would cost. Professor Wheeler answered About
81 l6O0" Then a stranger arose in the rear OF the
baruuct hall and said that he was not a Cor
neian. but a graduate of another institution:
but that upon condition that his name should
not be divulged he would contribute 500 to the
81 800 fund through his friend Otto NJ Edtz
There were many conjectures as TO the identity
Of this guest. who from another state and as
10 his Alma Mater, but the secret well kept
Rut the wave Of enthusiasm was now running
high The Gee Club started up COrnells great
song Alma Mater" in which everybody Joined
Before the chorus was ended 500 bill was
handed to President Sackett. with the request
that the name Of the giver should not be dis
closed But that proved impossible When the
chairman announced this gift. W. II. Humphrey
called for three cheers for Colonel George Bliss
who although a graduate of Harvard had shown
I'm this way his good will toward Cornell The
walls rang with these cheers. Then Charles s.
Francis of Troy rose To say that n gentleman
who had talked with General Barnes before he
left the banquet hall had been authorized by
him TO add 500 to the pile. and that this same
gentleman had desired to Increase it by still an
other 500 Even this secret could not he kept
and IL was soon found that the other contributor
was colonel Francis himself similar subscrlp-
tion followed from William S. Young and two
others whose modesty prevented their names ap-
nearing