TABLE OF CONTENTS xv 



CHAPTER XX. THE FIRST YEARS OF CORNELL UNIVER- 

 SITY 1868-1870 



PAGB 



Formal opening of the University October 7, 1868. Difficulties, mishaps, ca- 

 lamities, obstacles. Effect of these on Mr. Cornell and myself. Opening cere- 

 monies of the morning ; Mr. Cornell's speech and my own ; effect of Mr. 

 Cornell's broken health upon me. The first ringing of the chime ; effect of 

 George W. Curtis's oration ; my realization of our difficulties ; Mr. t Cornell's 

 physical condition ; inadequacy of our resources ; impossibility of selling 

 lands; our necessary unreadiness ; haste compelled by our charter. Mr. Cor- 

 nell's letter to the " New York Tribune " regarding student labor. Dreamers 

 and schemers. Efforts by " hack " politicians. Attacks by the press, denomi- 

 national and secular. Friction in the University machinery. Difficulty of 

 the students in choosing courses; improvement in these days consequent 

 upon improvement of schools. My reprint of John Foster's " Essay on De- 

 cision of Character " ; its good effects. Compensations ; character of the stu- 

 dents; few infractions of discipline; causes of this; effects of liberty of 

 choice between courses of study. My success in preventing the use of the 

 faculty as policemen ; the Campus Bridge case. Sundry trials of students 

 by the faculty ; the Dundee Lecture case ; the " Mock Programme " case ; a 

 suspension of class officers ; revelation in all this of a spirit of justice among 

 students. Athletics and their effects. Boating ; General Grant's remark to 

 me on the Springfield regatta ; Cornell's double success at Saratoga ; letter 

 from a Princeton graduate. General improvement in American university 

 students during the second half of the nineteenth century 340 



CHAPTER XXI. DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS AT COR- 

 NELL 1868-1872 



Questions regarding courses of instruction. Evils of the old system of assign- 

 ing them entirely to resident professors. Literary instruction at Yale; 

 George William Curtis and John Lord. Our general scheme. The Arts 

 Course ; clinching it into our system ; purchase of the Anthon Library ; charges 

 against us on this score ; our vindication. The courses in literature, science, 

 and philosophy ; influence of one of Herbert Spencer's ideas upon the forma- 

 tion of all these ; influence of my own experience. Professor Wilder ; his 

 services against fustian and " tall talk." The course in literature; use made 

 of it in promoting the general culture of students. Technical departments ; 

 Civil Engineering ; incidental question of creed in electing a professor to it. 

 Department of Agriculture ; its difficulties ; three professors who tided it 

 through. Department of Mechanic Arts ; its peculiar difficulties and dangers ; 

 Mr. Cornell's view regarding college shop work for bread winning ; necessity 

 for practical work in connection with theoretical ; mode of bringing about 

 this connection. Mr. Sibley's gift. Delay in recognition of our success. De- 

 partment of Architecture ; origin of my ideas on this subject; the Trustees 

 accept my architectural library and establish the Department 354 



CHAPTER XXII. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSITY 

 COURSES 1870-1872 



Establishment of Laboratories. Governor Cleveland's visit. Department of 

 Electrical Engineering ; its origin. Department of Political Science and His- 



