EZRA CORNELL-1864-1874 319 



force their way to recognition and adoption by those who 

 had most strongly opposed them, his faith remained un- 

 diminished to the end of his life. 



But the opposition to his work developed into worse 

 shapes; many leading journals in the State, when not 

 openly hostile to him, were cold and indifferent, and some 

 of them were steadily abusive. This led to a rather wide- . 

 spread feeling that " where there is smoke, there must be 

 fire"; and we who knew the purity of his purpose, his 

 unselfishness, his sturdy honesty, labored long against this 

 feeling. 



I regret to say that some eminent men connected with - 

 important universities in the country showed far too much 

 readiness to acquiesce in this unfavorable view of our 

 founder. From very few of our sister institutions came 

 any word of cheer; and from some of them came most 

 bitter attacks, not only upon the system adopted in the 

 new university, but upon Mr. Cornell himself. But his 

 friends were more afflicted, by far, than he ; all this opposi- 

 tion only served to strengthen his faith. As to this effect 

 upon him, I recall one or two quaint examples. At the 

 darkest period in the history of the university, I men- 

 tioned to him that a fine collection of mathematical 

 books was offered us for five thousand dollars. Under 

 ordinary circumstances he would have bought it for 

 us at once; but at that moment, when any addition 

 to his burdens would not have been advised by any of 

 his friends, he quietly said, "Somewhere there is a man 

 walking about who wants to give us that five thousand 

 dollars. " I am glad to say that his faith was soon justi- 

 fied; such a man appeared, a man who was glad to give 

 the required sum as a testimony to his belief in Mr. Cor- 

 nell's integrity: William Kelly of Ehinebeck. 



Another example may be given as typical. Near the 

 close of the first celebration of Founder's Day at one of 

 the college buildings, a pleasant social dance sprang up 

 among the younger people students from the university 

 and young ladies from the village. This brought a very 



