The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-20
DANIEL W. FISKE DEAD ABROAD
CORNELL HOPES NOW FOR A
SHARE HIS WIFE,S MILLIONS.
He Defeated Her az 600, 900 Request Less
From Enmity TO the Institution Than
From Dislike OF Its Then Admins.
tratiOn and Has Forgiven Since.


From Dislike Of Its Then Admins.
tratiOn and Has Forgiven Since
Prof Daniel Willard Fske, whose wife
left 81 900 900 to Cornell University, which
the university never received because
Prof. Fiske fought the will in the courts
and won, died on Saturday at Frankfort
on-the- Main, Germany. His death is par
ticularly interesting to the friends of Cor
nell, because it is believed that his will
may show that he has returned to the uni
versity some part OF the millions he kept
from it by his successful contest of his
wife's will
At the time of the sensational litigation
over Mrs Fiske's will it was known that
some share at least OF Prof. Fiske's de-
termination to break it was due to his per-
sonal hostility to certain members Of the
faculty of Cornell and to bitterness engen-
dered by what he regarded a. i'll treatment
of himself while he vas librarian and
professor there by appointment OF Andrew
ID. White.
Prof, Fishes career from early youth
was remarkable. He was born in Ellis
burg, Jefferson county, n. y, in 1891, and
was educated at Cazenovia Seminary and
at Hamilton College. While a mere boy
he developed a great taste for the study OF
foreign languages u d remarkable gift
for their acquisition. He was precocious,
too, In the study of literature and politics.
but was 80 hampered by the lack OF
means of his parents, who were poor far
mers that he had to depend solely on
money he earned to pursue his studies.
Bayard Taylor, another ambitious youth
with a taste for letters and desire to see
the world, was about in the same position
with young Fiske as to financial resources.
They solved the problem in a similar way.
Taylor tramped over Europe paying his
meagre expenses by letters to American
newspapers. Fiske went to Sweden, where
he studied in Upsala University, paying his
way by giving English lessons and writing
for a New York newspaper. He and Taylor
became friends early in life and the friend
ship remained unbroken until Taylor's
death.
Prof. Fiske became so proficient in Swedish
that he lectured in 1t to the students of the
university and was supposed by many
who heard him to be a Swede, 40 free
from foreign accent was his Swedish speech.
In 1852 he returned to New York and for
seven years was employed in the Aston
Library, but still pursued his studies in the
eral secretary Of the American Geograph-
zeal Society. In 1sel-62 he was attached
to the American Legation at Vienna, when
John I.othrop Motley was our Minister
to that court.
Then Prof. Fiske returned to America and
took fresh start in life in the newspaper
field Hewas editor of the Syracuse journal
from 1854 to 1885, and in 1867 was one OF
the editors Of the Hartford Courdnt. After
another trip abroad he was appointed
librarian and professor OF orthern European
languages in Cornell Univerity by Andrew
d. White, then its president. While in
Ithaca he made the acquaintance of Miss
Jessie McGraw, daughter of wealthy lum-
Der merchant, and matrimonial engage
ment followed Miss McGraw's father
resolutely opposed the marriage; but he
died some years later. and Miss McGraw
and Prof. Fiske met In the American Lega-
ton in Berlin, where Mr.. White was then
Minister, soon to be Ambassador and were
married. Mrs. Fiske died in the following
year Of her large fortune she left $500, 900
mated at about 81 900 ,0OO to Cornell.
There was much and severe criti ism
of Prof. Fiske when il was announced
that he was going to contest this will. But
the criticisms had no effect. 1t was well
known that Prof. Fiske entertained any
thing but cordial sentiments toward some
persons connected with both the admins
traive and academic departments OF Cor
nell, and this, rather than mere cupidity.
was the generally accepted explanation
OF his course in trying to defeat his late
wife's generous intentions toward the
university. Prof. Fiske retained the ser
vices Of David B. Hill. and that expert on
plorer Of devious ways discovered clause
In Cornelps charter which prohibited the
university holding more than 5000 900
endowment. That limit had already been
reached when Mrs. Fishes will was made.
and the courts held that her entire fortune
should 60 to her husband
Prof Fiske took up his residence in Flor
ence after the close Of this litigation and
made that city his home. His particular
enemy In the Cornell faculty was Prof
Henry W. Sage. After Mr. Sage's death
Prof Fiske's attitude toward the University
seemed to undergo a radical change. He
gave the institution many valuable collec-
tons, and it is believed that his will may
show that he has practically carried out his
wife s intention to leave a large share of
her fortune to the Ithaca university