The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
CORNELL UNIVERSITY HONORS MEMORY OF
 FOUNDER TODAY

The man who made possible one of the greatest and most useful of American universities will be held in grateful remembrance today by the fa culty and students of Cornell, who will pay their annual tribute of re- spect to the memory of Ezzra Cor nell The founder of the famous Ithaca institution was born 1O9 years ago today, Jan. II, 1907, at West chester Landing, N. Y. He made a
 fortune as a pioneer in the develop
 ment of the telegraph, and gave a large part of it to establish the uni versity which is now preparing to celebrate the rounding out of a half century of it's existence.
 Westchester county, where Ezra. Cornell was born, had aL considerable Quaker population, and his parents were members of that sect. His
 father was potter, and young Ezra
 vas early initiated into the mysteries of that trade. Later he settled in Itba aca as a mechanic and miller. In 5943 he became interested in Morse's invention of te1esrapf1y and began the
 construction of the first telegraph lines. At that period the telegra ph was still in an experimental stage. and was ridiculed by many people, who, while admitting that it was an interesting toy denied it's utility. Ezra Cornell was blessed with mind which enabled him to see for a, considerable distance beyond the end of his nose. and he was well reward ed for hisfforesight. He himself con- tributed to the success of the inven- ton by devising the use of poles for carrying the wires.
 Cornell settled in Ithaca, the fu- ture home of the institution which was to perpetuate his name, in 1928, and in his days of prosperity he did. not forsake the town which he had come to look upon as home. As he attained wealth he became a liberal. and public spirited contributor to Ithaca's intellectual development, his gifts including $50,0O for public Ii- brary.
 Cornell University owes it's origin to the Land Grant Act passed by Con- gress in 1862, when the national gov ernnnent, although involved in a war in which it's existence was at stake, provided for the welfare of future generations by donating public lands to the several states and terri tories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and me chanic arts.' In 1864, while he was a member of tI1s State Senate. con- ceived the idea of taking advantage where any person can find instruc- ton in any study!'' Cornell promised the State half a million dollars with which to erect buildings, the terms or the lana grant IOrDluQ1nB the use of it's proceeds for that purpose, on condition that the university be 1ocat- ed in Ithaca. In addition to the or iginaI endowment, Cornell added a quarter of a million more from his private fortune, and by his able if nancing of the Federal land grant he was instrumenta1 in adding about three million dollars to the university fund. Tn fact, his work in purchas-, ing and locating public lands for the benefit of the institution was his greatest service to the great center of learning which now perpetuates his memory.
 Cornell University was founded as a purely secular institution, non-sec- tartan, co-educational, and without restriction as to race or religion. For time its absolute freedom was crit dcised by those who looked upon university as place for propagating and defending a, certain religion faith, but this spirit of opposition has long since died out, and few remember the day when Cornell was denounced as an 'sinfideH' university. In Dr. An drew D. White, it's first president, Cornell enjoyed the leadership of one of the ab1est educators the world has ever had.