xvi TABLE OF CONTENTS 



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tory. Influence of my legislative experience upon it ; my report on the Paris 

 Exposition, and address at Johns Hopkins ; a beginning made ; excellent 

 work done by Frank Sanborn. Provision for Political Economy ; presenta- 

 tion of both sides of controverted questions. Instruction in History ; my own 

 part in it ; its growth ; George Lincoln Burr called into it ; lectures by Gold- 

 win Smith, Freeman, Froude, and others. Instruction in American History ; 

 calling of George W. Greene and Theodore Dwight as Non-Resident, and 

 finally of Moses Coit Tyler as Resident Professor. Difficulties in some of 

 these Departments. Reaction, " The Oscillatory Law of Human Progress." 

 "Joe" Sheldon's "Professorship of Horse Sense " needed. First gift of a 

 building McGraw Hall. Curious passage in a speech at the laying of its 

 corner-stone. Military Instruction; peculiar clause regarding it in our 

 Charter ; our broad construction of it ; my reasons for this. The Conferring 

 of Degrees ; abuse at sundry American institutions in conferring honorary 

 degrees; why Cornell University confers none. Regular Degrees; theory 

 originally proposed ; theory adopted ; recent change in practice 377 



CHAPTER XXIII. " CO-EDUCATION " AND AN UNSECTARIAN 

 PULPIT 1871-1904 



Admission of women. The Cortland Free Scholarship ; the Sage gift ; diffi- 

 culties and success. Establishment of Sage Chapel ; condition named by me 

 for its acceptance ; character of the building. Establishment of a preacher- 

 ship ; my suggestions regarding it accepted ; Phillips Brooks preaches the 

 first sermon, 1875 ; results of this system. Establishment of Barnes Hall ; 

 its origin and development ; services it has rendered. Development of sun- 

 dry minor ideas in building up the University ; efforts to develop a recogni- 

 tion of historical and commemorative features ; portraits, tablets, memorial 

 windows, etc. The beautiful work of Robert Richardson. The Memorial 

 Chapel. Efforts to preserve the beauty of the grounds and original plan of 

 buildings ; constant necessity for such efforts ; dangers threatening the orig- 

 inal plan 397 



CHAPTER XXIV. ROCKS, STORMS, AND PERIL 1868-1874 



Difficulties and discouragements. Very serious character of some of these. 

 Financial difficulties ; our approach, at times, to ruin. Splendid gifts ; their 

 continuance ; the " Ostrander Elms " ; encouragement thus given. Difficul- 

 ties arising from our Charter ; short time allowed us for opening the Uni- 

 versity; general plans laid down for us. Advice, comments, etc., from 

 friends and enemies ; remark of the Johns Hopkins trustees as to their free- 

 dom from oppressive supervision and control ; my envy of them. Large ex- 

 penditure demanded. Mr. Cornell's burdens. Installation of a " Business 

 Manager." My suspicion as to our finances. Mr. Cornell's optimism. Dis- 

 covery of a large debt ; Mr. Cornell's noble proposal ; the debt cleared in fif- 

 teen minutes by four men. Ultimate result of this subscription; worst 

 calamities to Cornell its greatest blessings ; example of this in the founding 

 of fellowships and scholarships. Successful financial management ever since. 

 Financial difficulties arising from the burden of the University lands on Mr. 

 Cornell, and from his promotion of local railways ; his good reasons for un- 

 dertaking these. Entanglement of the University affairs with those of the 

 State and of Mr. Cornell. Narrow escape of the institution from a fatal re- 

 sult. Judge Finch as an adviser ; his extrication of the University and of 



