CHAPTER XXII 



FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSITY COURSES-1870-1872 



IN close connection with the technical departments were 

 various laboratories. For these, place was at first 

 made here and there in cellars and sheds; but at last we 

 were able to erect for them buildings large and complete, 

 and to the opening of the first of these came Mr. Cleve 

 land, then Governor of New York, and later President of 

 the United States. Having laid the corner-stone of the 

 Memorial Chapel and made an excellent speech, which 

 encouraged us all, he accompanied me to the new building 

 devoted to chemistry and physics, which was then opened 

 for the first time. On entering it, he expressed his surprise 

 at its equipment, and showed that he had seen nothing 

 of the kind before. I learned afterward that he had re 

 ceived a thorough preparation in classics and mathematics 

 for college, but that, on account of the insufficient means 

 of his father, he was obliged to give up his university 

 course; and it was evident, from his utterances at this 

 time, as well as when visiting other colleges and univer 

 sities, that he lamented this. 



Out of this laboratory thus opened was developed, 

 later, a new technical department. Among my happiest 

 hours were those spent in visiting the various buildings, 

 collections, and lecture-rooms, after my morning s work, 

 to see how all were going on; and, during various visits 

 to the new laboratory I noticed that the majority of the 

 students were, in one way or another, giving attention to 

 matters connected with electricity. There had already 



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