bring these interests together, but nothing was accomplished until Mr. Cornell and some of the other principal owners of telegraph properties succeeded, in 1855, in consolidating the lines, and the Western Union Telegraph Company was organized, by a combination of these local companies. Mr. Cornell was one of the organizers of the Western Union Telegraph Company, was one of its earliest directors, in which capacity he was identified with its management for twenty years, and for more than fifteen years he was its largest individual stockholder.

From the commencement of his career in telegraph matters, Mr. Cornell showed his faith by investing every dollar of his earnings in the business, and declined to part with his holdings, until the building of the University required him to realize on his telegraph stock to provide means for this great undertaking.

What Ezra Cornell suffered and how great were his labors, both with hands and brain during this period of nearly twenty years, is almost beyond belief. He traveled nights and worked days, hesitated at no exposure; heat, cold or storm did not deter him. The wiry vigor of his manhood enabled him to bear this most severe test, and there was probably no harder worker in any walk in life in those days than Ezra Cornell, and for a portion of that time, none poorer.

His industry and integrity were of the highest order, but these did not buy bread. Money he had not, and his humble home was kept from suffering only by the strictest economy and good management. His faith in final success seemed to some almost fanatical, but it was well founded, and as the day dawned at last, after the frightful nightmare of pinching poverty and endless struggle, it found the man worthy of the awakening. The fortune that was his was not for selfish ends, it was God-given unto a stewardship for the benefit of his fellowmen. To relieve suffering, to comfort and help the weak, to assist others to a self-sustaining basis, to inspire to noble deeds, to uplift humanity, was his desire, and so quietly and unostentatiously did he render assistance that it may be truthfully said of him that his "right hand knew not what the left hand did."

Mr. Cornell was always interested in agricultural affairs, and a great lover of fine stock, partially to satisfy this desire, he pur

On

FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE CORNELL FAMILY.-From a daguerreotype made about 1862; original in possession of Charles Ezra Cornell, Ithaca. the extreme right of the group is Elijah Cornell (1771-1862), father of Ezra Cornell (1807-1874), who is seated at his right. Seated next to Ezra Cornell is his eldest son, Alonzo B. Cornell (1832-1905), Governor of New York 1880-82 and first Life Trustee of Cornell University. The little boy is Charies Ezra Cornell (1855-), the son of Governor Cornell and the present Life Trustee. Charles E. Cornell is the father of W. B. Cornell, '07.

chased, in 1857, Forest Park farm for a home; it consisted of a tract of about three hundred acres, comprising all that area on east hill between Cascadilla and Fall Creeks, east of University Avenue, excepting the city cemetery, but including the Jennie McGraw Fiske property, and all east to the Forest Home road east of the new Athletic Field, the greater portion of which afterwards became the home of Cornell University. The house, remodeled several years ago, is now occupied as a residence by his second son, Franklin C. Cornell. Here Mr. Cornell gathered together a magnificent herd of shorthorn cattle, several of which he purchased in Europe when he was there in 1862; this herd had a national reputation, and was maintained for a number of years after Mr. Cornell's death, until the encroachment of the University made its disposal advisable.

In 1862, desirous of doing something to benefit the village of his adoption and to encourage the rising generations to mental improvement, Mr. Cornell presented to the citizens of Ithaca the Cornell Library, at the corner of Tioga and Seneca streets. This property represents an expenditure of approximately seventy thousand dollars, and was dedicated with impressive services on December 20, 1866. An indication of its appreciation by the present generation is the fact that the circulation of the Library for the year 1906, as shown by the report of the Librarian, was forty-two thousand volumes.

The Ezra Cornell who was known to almost every inhabitaut of Ithaca, and widely known throughout the county, was a man to attract attention anywhere. He was six feet tall, with a magnificent constitution strengthened by a life of hard labor and frugal living, rather spare in figure, with fine muscular development. His features were rugged, with high cheek bones, firm jaw, and a prominent forehead indicating marked alertness of the perceptive faculties. He wore a sparse beard, and always dressed plainly but neatly. Though naturally reserved, he had a most cordial and kindly manner, with a well developed sense of humor, and a most sympathetic nature. Many kind deeds known only to the recipi ent and the doer followed the path of Ezra Cornell, and many a burdened heart he made lighter with cheering word or ready gift. As a public servant, Mr. Cornell served two years in the Assem. bly and four years in the Senate of the New York State

Legislature, with credit to himself and honor to the State. During this period began his acquaintance with Andrew D. White, the honored first president of Cornell University.

Space permits only the scantiest outline of some of the events in the life of Ezra Cornell during this arduous period from 1840 to the founding of the University, but it were only just to add, and could the man himself tell, he would say, that the fruition of the vast endeavors of the struggling, indomitable man was made possible and sweeter by the faithful coöperation, the encouragement, the sympathy and the patient suffering and self-denial of his devoted wife, and the noble sacrifices and assistance of his eldest son in caring for the family while the father was on his mission.

I

THE PROPOSAL FOR A UNIVERSITY.

From "

BY ANDREW D. WHITE.

My Reminiscences of Ezra Cornell."

Reprinted by Permission

WAS one day going down from the State Capitol, when Mr. Cornell joined me and entered into conversation. He was, as usual, austere and reserved in appearance, but I had already found that below this appearance there was a warm heart and noble purpose; no observant associate could fail to notice that the only measures in the Legislature which he cared for were those proposing some substantial good to the State or Nation, and that political wrangling and partisan jugglery he despised.

On this occasion after some little general talk he quietly said, "I have about half a million dollars more than my family will need; what is the best thing I can do with it for the State?" I answered, "Mr. Cornell, the two things most worthy of aid in any country are charity and education; but in our country, the charities appeal to everybody; anyone can understand the importance of them, and the worthy poor or unfortunate are sure to be taken care of. As to education, the lower grade will always be cared for in the public schools by the State, but the institutions of the highest grade, without which the lower can never be thoroughly. good, can be appreciated by only a few. The policy of our State is to leave this part of the system to individuals; it seems to me, then, that if you have half a million to give, the best thing you can do with it is to establish or strengthen some institution for higher instruction." I then went on to show him the need of a larger institution for such instruction than the state then hadthat such a college or university worthy of the State would require far more in the way of faculty and equipment than most men supposed,-that the time had come when scientific and technical education must be provided for in such an institution,— and that literary education should be made the flower and bloom of the system thus embodied.

He listened attentively, but said little. The matter seemed to end there; but not long afterward he came to me and said, "I agree with you that the land-grant fund ought to be kept together,