The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-04
GIRL STUDENTS HELP CORNELL
ANDREW u. WHITE TALKS OF THE
BENEFITS OF COEDUCATION.
chief Speaker at an Alumnae Luncheon
Ezra CorneIl's Predictions Likely
10 he Borne Out-Urges Women to
Make the Most OF Gymnasium Work.

Y HItl SDtanNt ~
Era CornelI's Predictions Likely
TO he Borne %Out-Urges women to
Make the Most OF Gymnasium Work.
Andrew D. White, ex-president OF Cornell
University, gave a fatherly talk yesterday
a~fternoon to more than a hundred members
of the Cornell alumnae on the occasion OF
their annual luncheon at the Hotel Man
haitian. He expressed qualification over
the -~pretenatural foresight Of Ezra Cor
nell. which led him to found a Gpeducational
institution" and said that much of Cornells
success has been due to its students
THE presence of women in a university
benefits it vastly in many ways ne said
In the beginning l was not so sanguine
as Mr.. Cornell concerning the ~advisablhty
of establishing a coeducational institution
Opponents of the idea said that it would
make the men students effeminate. [ did
not believe this, but l went to Oberlin to
note the effects there. The moment l
learned that Oberlin had sent a greater
proportion gifts students to the civil war
than had any other college. was In
Of coeducation. The willingness OF a
young man to give up his life for his country
Is a splendid standard by which his manli-
ness may be judged"
Mr.. White spoke of the difficulties be-
setting the first young woman who went to
Cornell. She was obliged to live in the city,
and after climbing the college hill for nearly
a year she had to give up on account OF
failing health. Then in 1874 Henry w.
sage Of Brooklyn gave $250,00O to build
Sage Hall, the women's dormitory, and the
college became accessible to them.
The only danger in a coeducetional
college is that the young women will under
mine their health in their efforts to excel
in their studies" he said. "Mr. Cornell
saw this and always supported the idea
Of a gymnasium for the women as thor
oughly equipped as the mems.
"Mr. Cornell's foresight was only exceeded
by his unselfshness. He kept himself
poor and wore an old coat and old hat in
order that the university might nave more
money. ! went to him one day and told
Of a splendid library on mathematics that
could be secured for 5000. | could tell
from his wistful look that he wanted to buy
Tho library himself, but he didn't have the
money.
There must be a man walking around
somewhere who would be glad to give us
this money he told me. Sure enough,
In a little while IT, was ours. When he told
e that Cornell would some day have 5000
students | laughed. The most ! ever hoped
for was about 800. To-day we have over
5000, and | think the founders estimate
will some day be reached. | believe that
the women are partly responsible for this
growth and am heartily glad that Mr.. Cor
nell and | got together on coeducation.'
Mr.. White said that the prospects Of Cor
nell and the women students are brighten
ing. Sage College and the annex are filled
constantly, and Cornell is looking for the
man who wants to build another dormitory
ior the women who cannot find aocommo-
dations now.
l would ask the members of the alumna
association to advise the young women who
go to Cornell to take advantage Of the
vastly improved opportunities for physical
culture, Care for the physical growth is
The basis Of intellectual success.
] almoS hesitate to say that the conduct
OF me 5000 students at Cornell to-day is
salntlike in comparison with college be-
havior when | was a boy. While | was at
lale two of the college officers we're almost
hned and several deaths resulted from the
Iontlct Of the students with the town boys.
a mink the Improvement is due to the fact
mat students are buster now. Then
sNery, man was put through a single IRON
pound course, for which he generally didn't
care and he sought relief outside. The i'm
proyement of the college animal, az l call it,
Is que TO the present choices Of studies.
me students to-day are all men who work
instead of Ioaf. It's a poor sort Of fellow
VINO can't find something in the college
currculum to-day to interest him, Eighty
EuIn mo- HA.~AI @.,N IL IN-.A,lI Il
day. '' ''"e'
shall always stand firm in the belief
tnat the deal college is one that admits
ION men and women. The men may think
,hhey will stand higher in the estimation of
t;ueir sweethearts at home If they are not
IN a ,coeducational institution, but they
az all admit that women exert a wonder-
sity, NP'' W" ~
~. " NJ. Polk, dean Of the Cornell med
~, ia school; Miss Louise Ropes LOOMS,
p new warden Of Sage Hall; Miss Ruth
auIhain, the woman trustee of Cornell,
Snn DIS. W, j. Jones, Jr., and Herbert ID.
''nehck OF the medical school also spoke.