New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
COOPER UNION GRADUATES.
THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES HELD
IN THE LARGE HALIl-EX-MAYOR
HEWITTS ADDRESS


The large hall of Cooper Union was filed las.
night with the friends and relatives Of the grad
yates and the general public interested in the
great philanthropic work. The commencement ex-
ercses did not differ materially from those Of pre-
ceding years. Many had gathered to hear the re-
port Of Abram S. Hewitt. secretary Of the Board
of Trustees Il announced that he had some
good and cheering
An overture by an orchestra under the leader
ship Of Felix l. Eben opened the exercises of the
evening. The Rev. DR.. ]. Lewis Parks delivered
the opening prayer. There was more music by
the orchestra, and then Charles Eckstrand deiv-
cred the salutatory address. His theme was THE
Growth Of Science" He sketched the wonderful
progress of man from the early centuries, and
demonstrated that civilization and progress were
always greatest where there were the greatest In
teectua attachments and scientific research.
Ernest L. Broomes Grafton was on Municipal
Transportation" He reviewed the steady improve
nents from the now antiquated horsecars to the
wonderful developments Of steam and electricity.
He, however. vouchsafed no opinion as to the best
methods. but drew a picture Of the delights OF
suburban life brought about by rapid transporta-
tion Seymour II. Ripinsky spoke on Columbus"
He went into the biography Of the explorer and
dwelt upon the self-sacrhce and trials he endured
Then came the Grafton OF Perry Thompson on
The Source Of Power" He sketched the primitive
methods of the ancents and spoke of the wonder
full power disclosed by the ingenuity and re-
searches of man.
The effort Of the evening the valedictory
address Grafton of Peter f. DAILY. His theme
was sociological In nature entitled MACHINERY
and the Wageearner.' He declared that machin-
cry bad wonderfully increased the comforts and ma
ter!al we-being of the world. He stated that
years ago the iaborcr, with his crude methods
clothed He stated that the people OF the world to-
day becoming vastly better off each year by The
nstG1n o, ~ be greatHst good 70 nahknd
He he
ulation of and caring for complex machine: was
exercise greater study than by crude methods and
this resulted in higher intellectual and moral
When ex-Mayor Hewitt. stepped forward TO de-
liver his report there was an enthusiastic demon;
feelingiy 10 the sacrifices OF the family the late
Peter Cooper. and touched upon the self-sacrfce
and disinteresedness of his survivors ana OF me
zeal Of the directors Mr.. Hewitt said In part
This has been eventful week for Cooper Union
tApplaGseJ Fourteen years ago Peter "copper", me
founder of this magnificent institution, died There
Is vas; difference between the work OF Peter
Cooper and other benefactors O'herS nave Hrst
bent all their energies toward the acquisition o.
riches, and then, having accumulated fortune
they have looked about ior something on WHICH 70
devote a part of their fortune. do not wish 10
deprecate the accumulation Of wealth 1t Is a
pra is Orthy thing o asuire become wealthy,
Since those who bend ali their energies toward the
means 30 by benefting mankind as well az
themselves. a.,
ameorate the condition of those born IN poverty
and make them men ana Woiieil oi coIlS'
to the community. Mr.. Cooper was born in pov-
erty He had lively sympathy with, the mis-;
fortunes of the poor. (ApplauseD He determined
TO acquire wealth for the purpose OF founding an
institution for the elevation Of his fellow His
aim in life TO acquire riches IN orGcr 10 prlh9
about that laudabe purpose He did not wait untL
the first toward The contamination of his magnii-
cent purpose He born In poverty but by de-
tormined effort industry and thrift he managed to
gather considerable means, honestly ana ne dd !!
| aim of his life on his deathbed, when II was
thought that he had spoken his last WORD ms hp
| the dying mans last words. His son sathercd
from what his father said some hing like $500 900
| DO you mean 100000 more for the Union! asked
the SON. sohbngly. Mr. Cooper smiled; and his son;
grasping his hand. said: Father 1t shall, be done
'"'Whi.T Mr. Coopers sister died" continued Mr.
| Hewitt, she had mad" a provision In her VIII be,
! qucathing 100000 the Union. When son looked
| at the will he discovered pencil addition of an
| ether 100000. Many people would not nave ley
bound by that pencil addition. They would nave
do. But this son as soon as ne noticed Ihe PfnTd
| addition. came At once to me and said: Juia
| meant to give 100000 to the Union That's the
| way IL strikes me- replied. Then it shall be
! given said Mr. COopcr and here Is the money
! Tremendous appauscD mover mentioned ms
Incident before 1t shows how the Cooper family
! have the good Of the institution at heart.
"'The directors bave in the past had much troubl.
| in raising money TO meet the improvements anC
maintenance Of this great benefaction, bu. ! an
| IaDpy 10 say that means have been provided sc
that in future there will he no stoppnge or ccs
| sation of this institution of learning II will gc
| right increasingly doing the great good II has
| done
| MIR Hewitt declared that the rentals brought ir
$50 600 a year. which WAS the interest on 100000
| 1t was only necessary TO raise this 100000 e
| throw open the entire building TO students. He
dwelt on the large numbers turned away each
| ycar and stated that $50 additional pupils hat
| been educated last year.