ForalongtimeIstoodonthedefensive，hopingthattheprovisionsmadeforthegrowthofreligiouslifeamongthestudentsmightshowthatwewerenotsowickedaswewererepresented;but，asallthisseemedonlytoembitterouradversaries，Ifinallydeterminedtotaketheoffensive，andhavingbeeninvitedtodeliveralectureinthegreathalloftheCooperInstituteatNewYork，tookasmysubject``TheBattle—fieldsofScience。’’
Inthismyeffortwastoshowhow，inthesupposedinterestofreligion，earnestandexcellentmen，formanyagesandinmanycountries，hadbitterlyopposedvariousadvancesinscienceandineducation，andthatsuchoppositionhadresultedinmostevilresults，notonlytoscienceandeducation，buttoreligion。Thislecturewaspublishedinfull，nextday，inthe``NewYorkTribune’’;extractsfromitwerewidelycopied;itwasaskedforbylectureassociationsinmanypartsofthecountry;grewfirstintotwomagazinearticles，thenintoalittlebookwhichwaswidelycirculatedathome，reprintedinEnglandwithaprefacebyTyndall，andcirculatedontheContinentintranslations，wasthenexpandedintoaseriesofarticlesinthe``PopularScienceMonthly，’’andfinallywroughtintomybookon``TheWarfareofSciencewithTheology。’’
Ineachoftheseformsmyargumentprovokedattack;butallthiseventuallycreatedareactioninourfavor，eveninquarterswhereitwasleastexpected。Oneevidenceofthistouchedmedeeply。IhadbeeninvitedtorepeatthelectureatNewHaven，andonarrivingtherefoundalargeaudienceofYaleprofessorsandstudents;but，mostsurprisingofall，inthechairfortheevening，nolessapersonagethanmyreveredinstructor，Dr。TheodoreDwightWoolsey，presidentoftheuniversity。Hewasofadeeplyreligiousnature;andcertainlynomanwaseverunderallcircumstances，moretruetohisconvictionsofduty。Tobewelcomedbyhimwasencouragementindeed。
Hepresentedmecordiallytotheaudience，andatthecloseofmyaddressmadeabriefspeech，inwhichhethoroughlysupportedmypositionsandbademeGodspeed。
Fewthingsinmylifehavesoencouragedme。
Attacks，ofcourse，continuedforaconsiderabletime，someofthemviolent;but，tomysurpriseandsatisfaction，whenmyarticleswerefinallybroughttogetherinbookform，theoppositionseemedtohaveexhausteditself。
Therewereevenindicationsofapprovalinsomequarterswherethearticlescomposingithadpreviouslybeenattacked;andIreceivedlettersthoroughlyinsympathywiththeworkfromanumberofeminentChristianmen，includingseveraldoctorsofdivinity，andamongthesetwobishops，oneoftheAnglicanandoneoftheAmericanEpiscopalChurch。
Thefinalresultwasthatslanderagainsttheuniversityforirreligionwasconfinedalmostentirelytoverynarrowcircles，ofwaninginfluence;andmyhopeisthat，asitsformativeideashavebeenthuswelcomedbyvariousleadersofthought，andhavefiltereddownthroughthepressamongthepeopleatlarge，theyhavedonesomethingtofreethepathoffuturelaborersinthefieldofscienceandeducationfromsuchattacksasthosewhichCornellwasobligedtosuffer。
CHAPTERXXV
CONCLUDINGYEARS——1881—1885
Tothisworkofpressingonthedevelopmentoftheleadingdepartmentsintheuniversity，establishingvariouscoursesofinstruction，andwardingoffattacksasbestIcould，wasaddedthedailycareoftheregularandsteadyadministrationofaffairs，andinthismydutywastocoperatewiththetrustees，thefaculty，andthestudents。Thetrusteesformedabodydifferentlycomposedfromanyorganizationforuniversitygovernmentuptothattime。Asarule，suchboardsintheUnitedStateswere，inthosedays，self—perpetuating。Amanonceelectedintooneofthemwaslikelytoremainatrusteeduringhisnaturallife;andtheresulthadbeenmuchdry—rotand，frequently，averysleepyconditionofthingsinAmericancollegiateanduniversityadministration。IndrawingtheCornellcharter，weprovidedforagoverningbodybyfirstnamingacertainnumberofhighStateofficers——thegovernor，lieutenant—governor，speaker，presidentoftheStateAgriculturalSociety，andothers;next，acertainnumberofmenofspecialfitness，whoweretobeelectedbytheboarditself;and，finally，acertainproportionelectedbythealumnifromtheirownnumber。Besidethese，theeldestmalelinealdescendantofMr。Cornell，andthepresidentoftheuniversity，weretrusteesexofficio。Atthefirstnominationofthechartertrustees，Mr。CornellproposedthatheshouldnamehalfthenumberandItheotherhalf。
Thiswasdone，andpainsweretakentoselectmenaccustomedtodealwithlargeaffairs。Averyimportantprovisionwasalsomadelimitingtheirtermofofficetofiveyears。
DuringthefirstnineyearsthechairmanshipoftheboardwasheldbyMr。Cornell，butathisdeathMr。
HenryW。Sagewaselectedtoit，who，aslongashelived，dischargeditsdutieswiththegreatestconscientiousnessandability。Tothefinancesoftheuniversityhegavethatshrewdcarewhichhadenabledhimtobuilduphisownimmensebusiness。Freelyandwithoutcompensation，hebestowedupontheinstitutionlaborforwhichanygreatbusinesscorporationwouldhavegladlypaidhimaverylargesum。Fortheimmediatemanagement，intheintervalsofthequarterlymeetingsoftheboard，anexecutivecommitteeofthetrusteeswascreated，whichalsoworkedtoexcellentpurpose。
Thefaculty，whichwasatfirstcomparativelysmall，waselectedbythetrusteesuponmynomination。Indecidingoncandidates，Iputnotrustinmerepapertestimonials，nomatterfromwhatsource;butalwayssawthecandidatesthemselves，talkedwiththem，andthensecuredconfidentialcommunicationsregardingthemfromthosewhoknewthembest。Theresultsweregood，andtothishourIcherishtowardthefaculty，astowardthetrustees，afeelingofthedeepestgratitude。Throughoutallthehardworkofthatperiodtheysupportedmeheartilyanddevotedly;withouttheirdevotionandaid，mywholeadministrationwouldhavebeenanutterfailure。
ToseveraloftheseIhavealludedelsewhere;butoneshouldbeespeciallymentionedtowhomeverymemberofthefacultymustfeeladebtofgratitude——ProfessorHiramCorson。Noonehasdonemoretoredressthebalancebetweenthetechnicalsideandthehumanities。Hiswritings，lectures，andreadingshavebeenasolaceandaninspirationtomanyofus，bothinthefacultyandamongthestudents。Itwasmyremembranceoftheeffectofhisreadingsthatcausedmetourge，atapublicaddressatYalein1903，theestablishmentnotonlyofprofessorshipsbutofreadershipsinEnglishliteratureinallourgreaterinstitutions，urgingespeciallythatthereadersthuscalledshouldeverydaypresent，withlittleifanynoteorcomment，themasterpiecesofourliterature。Icanthinkofnoprovisionwhichwoulddomoretohumanizethegreatbodyofstudents，especiallyinthesedayswhenotherbranchesaresolargelysupplantingclassicalstudies，thansuchacontinuouspresentationofthetreasuresofourlanguagebyathoroughlygoodreader。Whatisneededisnotmoretalkaboutliterature，buttheliteratureitself。
AndhereletmerecallanespecialserviceofProfessorCorsonwhichmayserveasahinttomenandwomenoflightandleadinginthehighereducationofourcountry。
OnsundrycelebrationsofFounder’sDay，andonvariousothercommemorativeoccasions，hegaveintheuniversitychapelrecitalsfromMilton，Wordsworth，Tennyson，andotherpoetsofthelargerinspiration，whileorganinterludesweregivenfromthegreatmastersofmusic。
Literatureandmusicwerethusmadetodobeautifulserviceasyokefellows。Ithasbeenmylottoenjoyinvariouscapitalsofthemodernworldmanyofthethingswhichmenwhohaveadeepfeelingforartmostrejoicein，butneverhaveIknownanythingmoreupliftingandennoblingthanthesesimplecommemorations。
FromoneevilwhichhasgreatlyinjuredmanyAmericanuniversityfaculties，especiallyinthemiddleandwesternStates，wewerevirtuallyfree。Thisevilwastheprevalenceoffeudsbetweenprofessors。Throughoutalargepartofthenineteenthcenturytheywereagreataffliction。
TwicetheStateUniversityofMichiganwasnearlywreckedbythem;forseveralyearstheynearlyparalyzedtwoorthreeoftheNewYorkcolleges;andinoneoftheseasquabblebetweensundryprofessorsandthewidowofaformerpresidentwasalmostfatal。AnotherofthelargercollegesinthesameStatelostaveryeminentpresidentfromthesamecause;andstillanother，whichhaddoneexcellentwork，wasdraggeddownandforyearskeptdownbyafeudbetweenitstwoforemostprofessors。Inmyday，atYale，whenevertherewasasuddeninfluxofstudents，anditwasaskedwhencetheycame，theansweralwayswas，``AnotherWesterncollegehasburstup’’;andthe``burstup’’hadresulted，almostwithoutexception，fromfacultyquarrels。
InanotherchapterIhavereferredtooneoftheseexplosionswhich，havingblownoutofaWesternuniversitythepresident，theentireboardoftrustees，andalltheassistantprofessorsandinstructors，convulsedtheStateforyears。Ihaveknowngiftedmembersoffaculties，termafterterm，substitutefortheirlegitimateworkimpassionedappealstotheirreligiousdenominations，throughsynodsorconferences，andtothepublicatlargethroughthepress，——theirquarrelsatlastentanglingotherprofessorsandlargenumbersofstudents。
Inmy``PlanofOrganization’’Icalledattentiontothisevil，andlaiddowntheprinciplethat``thepresenceofnoprofessor，howevergifted，issovaluableaspeaceandharmony。’’Thetrusteesacquiescedinthisview，andfromthefirstitwasunderstoodthat，atanycost，quarrelsmustbeprevented。Theresultwasthatweneverhadanywhichwereserious，norhadweanyintheboardoftrustees。OneofthemostsatisfactoryofallmyreflectionsisthatIneverhadanyillrelationswithanymemberofeitherbody;thattherewasneveroneofthemwhomIdidnotlookuponasafriend。MysimpleruleforthegovernmentofmyownconductwasthatIhadNOTIMEforsquabbling;thatlifewasnotlongenoughforquarrels;andthisbecame，I
think，thefeelingamongallofuswhowereengagedinthefoundingandbuildingoftheuniversity。
Asregardstheundergraduates，Iinitiatedasystemwhich，sofarasisknowntome，wasthennewinAmericaninstitutionsoflearning。Atthebeginningofeveryyear，andalsowheneveranyspecialoccasionseemedtorequireit，Isummonedthewholebodyofstudentsandaddressedthematlengthontheconditionoftheuniversity，ontheirrelationstoit，andontheirdutiestoitaswellastothemselves;andinalltheseaddressesendeavoredtobringhometothemtheideathatunderoursystemofgivingtothegraduatesvotesintheelectionoftrustees，andtorepresentativealumniseatsinthegoverningboard，thewholestudentbodyhadbecome，inanewsense，partoftheinstitution，andweretobeheld，toacertainextent，responsibleforit。Ithinkthatallconversantwiththehistoryoftheuniversitywillagreethattheresultsofthustakingthestudentsintotheconfidenceofthegoverningboardwerehappy。Theseresultswereshownlargelyamongtheundergraduates，andevenmorestronglyamongthealumni。Inallpartsofthecountryalumniassociationswereorganized，andhereagainIfoundasourceofstrength。Theseassociationsheldreunionsduringeverywinter，andatleastonebanquet，atwhichthepresidentoftheuniversitywasinvitedtobepresent。Sofaraspossible，Iattendedthesemeetings，andmadeuseofthemtostrengthentheconnectionofthegraduateswiththeiralmamater。
Theadministrativecareoftheuniversitywasveryengrossing。Withstudyofthevariousinterestscombinedwithinitsorganization;withtheattendanceonmeetingsoftrustees，executivecommittee，andfaculty，anddiscussionofimportantquestionsineachofthesebodies——
withthegeneraloversightofgreatnumbersofstudentsinmanydepartmentsandcourses;withtheconstantnecessityofkeepingthelegislatureandtheStateinformedastothereasonsofeverymovement，ofmeetinghostileforcespressingusoneveryside，ofkeepingintouchwithourgraduatesthroughoutthecountry，therewasmuchtobedone。Tryingalso，attimes，toamanneverinrobusthealthwasthedutyofaddressingvariousassembliesofmostdissimilarpurposes。WithinthespaceoftwoorthreeyearsIfindmentioninmydiariesofalargenumberofaddresseswhich，aspresidentoftheuniversity，Icouldnotrefusetogive;amongthese，thosebeforethelegislatureoftheState，onTechnicalEducation;
beforecommitteesofCongress，onAgricultureandTechnicalInstruction;beforetheJohnsHopkinsUniversity，onEducationwithReferencetoPoliticalLife;beforetheNationalTeachers’AssociationatWashington，ontheRelationoftheUniversitiestotheStateSchoolSystems;
beforetheAmericanSocialScienceAssociationofNewYork，onSundryReformsinUniversityManagement;beforetheNationalAssociationofTeachersatDetroit，ontheRelationsofUniversitiestoColleges;beforefourthousandpeopleatCleveland，ontheEducationoftheFreedmen;beforetheAdalbertCollege，ontheConcentrationofMeansfortheHigherEducation;beforetheStateTeachers’AssociationatSaratoga，onEducationandDemocracy;attheCentennialbanquetatPhiladelphia，ontheAmericanUniversities;andbeforemyclassatYaleUniversity，ontheMessageoftheNineteenthCenturytotheTwentieth;besidesmanypubliclecturesbeforecolleges，schools，andspecialassemblies。
Thereseemedmoredangerofwearingoutthanofrustingout，especiallyassomeofthesediscoursesprovokedattackswhichmustbeanswered。TimealsowasrequiredformydutiesaspresidentoftheAmericanSocialScienceAssociation，whichlastedseveralyears，andoftheAmericanHistoricalSociety，which，thoughlessengrossing，imposedforatimemuchresponsibility。Then，too，therewasanotherduty，constantlypressing，whichIhadespeciallyatheart。Thedayhadnotyetarrivedwhenthepresidentoftheuniversitycouldbereleasedfromhisdutiesasaprofessor。Ihad，indeed，nowishforsuchrelease;for，ofallmyduties，thatofmeetingmyseniorstudentsfacetofaceinthelecture—roomandinterestingtheminthestudieswhichmostinterestedme，andwhichseemedmostlikelytofitthemtogoforthandbringtheinfluenceoftheuniversitytobearforgooduponthecountryatlarge，wasthatwhichIlikedbest。Theusualroutineofadministrativecareswasalmosthatefultome，andIdelegatedminordetails，asfaraspossible，tothosebetterfittedtotakechargeofthem——especiallytothevice—
presidentandregistrarandsecretaryofthefaculty。Butmylecture—roomIloved。Ofalloccupations，Iknowofnonemoresatisfactorythanthatofauniversityprofessorwhofeelsthatheisinrightrelationswithhisstudents，thattheywelcomewhathehastogivethem，andthattheirheartsandmindsaredeveloped，daybyday，bytheworkwhichhemostprizes。ImayjustlysaythatthispleasurewasmineattheUniversityofMichiganandatCornellUniversity。Itwasattimeshardtosatisfymyself;fornexttothepleasureofdirectingyoungermindsisthesatisfactionoffittingone’sselftodoso。Duringmyordinaryworking—daytherewaslittletimeforkeepingabreastwiththelatestandbestinmydepartment;buttherewereoddsandendsoftime，dayandnight，andespeciallyduringmyfrequentjourneysbyrailandsteamertomeetengagementsatdistantpoints，whenIalwayscarriedwithmeacollectionofbookswhichseemedtomemostfittedformypurpose;andasIhadtrainedmyselftobearapidreader，theseexcursionsgavememanyopportunities。
Butsomeofthesejourneyswerenotwellsuitedtostudy。Duringthefirstfewyearsoftheuniversity，beingobligedtoliveinthebarracksontheUniversityHillundermanydifficulties，Icouldnothavemyfamilywithme，andfromSaturdayafternoonuntilMondaymorningwasgiventothematSyracuse。InsummerthejourneybyCayugaLaketotheNewYorkCentraltraingavemeexcellentopportunityforreadingandevenforwriting。
Butinwinteritwasdifferent。Noneoftherailwaysnowconnectingtheuniversitytownwiththeoutsideworldhadthenbeenconstructed，savethattothesouthward;
and，therefore，duringthoselongwinterstherewasatleasttwiceaweekadrearydriveinwagonorsleighsometimestakingallthebetterhoursoftheday，inordertoreachthetrainfromBinghamtontoSyracuse。Comingoutofmylecture—roomFridayeveningorSaturdaymorning，Iwasconveyedthroughnearlytwenty—fivemilesofmudandslushorsleetandsnow。Ononejourneymysleighwasupsetthreetimesinthedriftswhichmadetheroadsalmostimpassable，anditrequirednearlytenhourstomaketheentirejourney。Theworstofitwasthat，comingoutofmyheatedlecture—roomandtakinganopensleighatIthaca，orcomingoutoftheheatedcarsandtakingitatCortland，mythroatbecameaffected，andforsomeyearsgavemeserioustrouble。
Butmygreateropportunities——thosewhichkeptmefrombecomingamereadministrativemachine——wereaffordedbyvariousvacations，longerorshorter。Duringthesummervacation，mainlypassedatSaratogaandtheseaside，therewastimeforconsecutivestudieswithreferencetomywork，myregularlectures，andoccasionaladdresses。
Butthiswasnotall。AtthreedifferenttimesI
wassummonedfromuniversityworktopublicduties。
ThefirstoftheseoccasionswaswhenIwasappointedbyPresidentGrantoneofthecommissionerstoSantoDomingo。ThisappointmentcamewhenIwasthoroughlywornoutwithuniversitywork，anditgavemeachanceofgreatvaluephysicallyandintellectually。DuringfourmonthsIwasinaworldofthoughtasdifferentfromanythingthatIhadbeforeknownasthatwonderfulislandintheCaribbeanSeaisdifferentinitsclimatefromthehillsofcentralNewYorksweptbythewindsofDecember。AndIhadtodealwithmenverydifferentfromthetrustees，faculty，andstudentsofCornell。Thisepisodecertainlybroadenedmyviewasaprofessor，andstrengthenedmeforadministrativeduties。
Thethirdoftheselongvacationswasin1879——80——81，whenPresidentHayesappointedmeministerplenipotentiaryinBerlin。Mystayatthatpost，andespeciallymyacquaintancewithleadersinGermanthoughtandwithprofessorsatmanyoftheContinentaluniversities，didmuchformeinmanyways。
ItmaybethoughtstrangethatIcouldthusabsentmyselffromtheuniversity，buttheseabsencesreallyenabledmetomaintainmyconnectionwiththeinstitution。Myconstitution，thoughelastic，wasnotrobust;anuninterruptedstrainwouldhavebrokenme，whilevarietyofoccupationstrengthenedme。ThroughoutmywholelifeIhavefoundthebestofallmedicinestobetravelandchangeofscene。AnotherexampleofthiswasduringmystayofayearabroadascommissionerattheParisExposition。DuringthatstayIpreparedseveraladditionstomycourseofgenerallectures，andduringmyofficialstayinBerlinaddedlargelytomycourseonGermanhistory。Butthechangeofworksavedme:thoughminorexcursionswerefrequentlygivenuptoworkwithbookandpen，Ireturnedfromthemrefreshedandallthemorereadyforadministrativeduties。
Astotheeffectofsuchabsencesupontheuniversity，ImaysaythatitaccordedwiththetheorywhichIheldtenaciouslyregardingtheadministrationoftheuniversityatthatformativeperiod。IhadobservedinvariousAmericancollegesthatafundamentalandmostinjuriouserrorwasmadeinrelievingtrusteesandfacultyfromresponsibility，andconcentratingallinthepresident。Theresult，inmanyoftheseinstitutions，hadbeenasortofatrophy，——thetrusteesandfacultybeing，wheneveranemergencyarose，badlyinformedastotheaffairsoftheirinstitutions，andreallyincapableofmanagingthem。ThisstateofthingswasthemostseriousdrawbacktoPresidentTappan’sadministrationattheUniversityofMichigan，andwastherealcauseofthecatastrophewhichfinallyledtohisbreakwiththeregentsofthatuniversity，andhisdeparturetoEurope，nevertoreturn。WorsestillwasthedownfallofUnionCollege，Schenectady，fromthepositionwhichithadheldbeforethedeathofPresidentNott。UnderDrs。NottandTappanthetendencyintheinstitutionsabovenamedwastomakethetrusteesinalladministrativemattersmereciphers，andtomakethefacultymoreandmoreincapableofadministeringdisciplineorconductingcurrentuniversitybusiness。Thatsystemconcentratedallknowledgeofuniversityaffairsandallpowerofeverysortinthehandsofthepresident，andrelievedtrusteesandfacultyfromeverythingexceptnominalresponsibility。FromtheverybeginningI
determinedtopreventthisstateofthingsatCornell。Greatpowerswereindeedgivenmebythetrustees，andIusedthem;butinthewholecourseofmyadministrationI
constantlysoughttokeepamplelegislativepowersintheboardoftrusteesandinthefaculty。Ifeltthattheuniversity，tobesuccessful，shouldnotdependonthelifeandconductofanyoneman;thateveryoneofthosecalledtogovernandtomanageit，whetherpresidentorprofessor，shouldfeelthathehadpowersandresponsibilitiesinitsdailyadministration。ThereforeitwasthatIinsertedinthefundamentallawsoftheuniversityaprovisionthattheconfirmationbythetrusteesofallnominationsofprofessorsshouldbebyballot;sothatitmightneverbeinthepowerofthepresidentoranyothertrusteeundulytoinfluenceselectionsforsuchpositions。Ialsoexertedmyselftoprovidethatincallingnewprofessorstheyshouldbenominatedbythepresident，notofhisownwill，butwiththeadviceofthefacultyandshouldbeconfirmedbythetrustees。Ialsoprovidedthattheelectionsofstudentstofellowshipsandscholarshipsandtheadministrationofdisciplineshouldbedecidedbythefaculty，andbyballot。
Theespecialimportanceofthislatterpointwillnotescapethoseconversantwithuniversitymanagement。I
insistedthatthefacultyshouldnotbemerelyacommitteetoregisterthedecreesofthepresident，butthatitshouldhavefulllegislativepowerstodiscussandtodecideuniversityaffairs。NordidIallowittobecomeabodymerelyadvisory:Inotonlyinsistedthatitshouldhavefulllegislativepowers，butthatitshouldbesteadilytrainedintheuseofthem。Onmynominationthetrusteeselectedfromthefacultythreegentlemenwhohadshownthemselvesespeciallyfittedforadministrativeworktothepositionsofvice—president，registrar，andsecretary;andthenceforththeinstitutionwasnolongerdependentonanyoneman。TothefirstofthesepositionswaselectedProfessorWilliamChanningRussel;tothesecond，ProfessorWilliamDexterWilson;tothethird，ProfessorGeorgeC。
Caldwell;andeachdischargedhisdutiesadmirably。
OfthelasttwooftheseIhavealreadyspoken，andheresomerecordshouldbemadeoftheservicesrenderedbyDr。Russel。Hewasamongthosechosenfortheinstructingbodyattheverybeginning。Intoallofhisworkhebroughtaperfectloyaltytotruth，withthetrainedfacultiesofalawyerinseekingitandthefearlessnessofanapostleinannouncingit。Astohissuccessinthislatterfield，theremaybegiven，amongothertestimonies，thatofanunwillingwitness——ayoungscholarofgreatstrengthofmind，who，thoughhehadtakendeepoffenseatsundryactsoftheprofessorandneverforgiventhem，yet，afterayearinthehistoricallecture—roomsoftheUniversityofBerlin，saidtome:``Ihaveattendedherethelecturesofallthefamousprofessorsofhistory，andhaveheardfewwhoequalProfessorRusselandnonewhosurpasshiminascertainingthereallysignificantfactsandinclearlypresentingthem。’’
Inthevice—presidencyofthefacultyhealsorenderedservicesofthegreatestvalue。Noonewasmoredevotedthanhetotheuniversityormoreloyaltohisassociates。
Therewas，indeed，somefriction。Hiscousin，JamesRussellLowell，onceaskedmeregardingthis，andmyreplywasthatitremindedmeofacharacterinthe``BiglowPapers’’who``hadadre’dfulwinnin’waytomakefolkshatehim。’’Thiswasdoubtlessanoverstatement，butitcontainedtruth;forattimestherewasperhapslackinginhishandlingofdelicatequestionssomethingofthesuaviterinmodo。Hishonestfranknesswasworthyofallpraise;butIoncefounditnecessarytowritehim:``Iamsorrythatyouhavethoughtitbesttosendmesounsparingaletter，butnomatter;writemeasmanyasyoulike;
theywillneverbreakourfriendship;onlydonotwriteothersinthesamestrain。’’Thisbroughtbackfromhimoneofthekindestepistlesimaginable。Uncompromisingashismannerwas，hisservicesvastlyoutweighedallthedefectsofhisqualities;andamongtheseservicesweresomeofwhichthegeneralpublicneverdreamed。Icouldtellofpatheticdevotionandself—sacrificeonhispart，notonlytotheuniversity，buttoindividualstudents。Noprofessoreverhadakindlierfeelingtowardanyscholarinneed，sickness，ortrouble。Thosewhoknewhimbestlovedhimmost;and，inthehard，earlydaysoftheuniversity，heespeciallymadegoodhistitletothegratitudeofeveryCornellian，notonlybyhisuniversitywork，butbyhisunostentatiousdevotiontoeverydeservingstudent。
Astomyprofessorialwork，Ifoundinduetimeeffectiveaidinvariousyoungmenwhohadbeenmembersofmyclasses。OfthesewereCharlesKendallAdams，whoafterwardbecamemysuccessorinthepresidencyofCornell，andGeorgeLincolnBurr，whoisnowoneofmysuccessorsintheprofessorshipofhistory。
ThusitwasthatfromtimetotimeIcouldbeabsentwithafeelingthatallattheuniversitywasmovingonsteadilyandsecurely;withafeeling，indeed，thatitwassomethingtohaveaidedincreatinganinstitutionwhichcouldmoveonsteadilyandsecurely，evenwhenthehandsofthosewhohadsetitinmotionhadbeenremoved。
Therewas，however，onetemporaryexceptiontotherule。
DuringmyabsenceasministeratBerlintroublearoseinthegoverningboardsoseriousthatIresignedmydiplomaticpostbeforemytermofservicewasended，andhastenedbacktomyuniversityduties。Butnopermanentinjuryhadbeendone;infact，thisexperience，byrevealingweaknessesinsundrypartsofoursystem，resultedinpermanentgood。
ReturningthusfromBerlin，Ithrewmyselfintouniversityworkmoreheartilythanever。Itwasstilldifficult，forourlandshadnotasyetbeensoldtoanyextent，andourincomewassadlyinsufficient。Thelandsweresteadilyincreasinginvalue，anditwasfeltthatitwouldbeagreaterrortodisposeofthemprematurely。Theworkofprovidingwaysandmeanstomeettheconstantlyincreasingdemandsoftheinstitutionwasthereforesevere，andthelossofthegreatlibrarybequesttotheuniversityalsotriedmesorely;butIlaboredon，andatlast，thankstotheadmirableserviceofMr。Sageinthemanagementofthelands，theuniversitywasenabledtorealize，forthefirsttime，alargecapitalfromthem。Uptotheyear1885
theyhadbeenasteadydrainuponourresources;nowthesaleofafractionofthemyieldedagoodrevenue。
Forthefirsttimetherewassomethinglikeeaseintheuniversityfinances。
TwentyyearshadnowelapsedsinceIhadvirtuallybegunmydutiesaspresidentbydraftingtheuniversitycharterandbyurgingituponthelegislature。ThefouryearsofworksincemyreturnfromBerlinhadtriedmeseverely;andmorethanthat，Ihadmadeapledgesomeyearsbeforetotheonewho，ofallintheworld，hadtherighttoaskit，thatatthecloseoftwentyyearsofserviceIwouldgiveupalladministrativeduties。TothispledgeIwasfaithful，butwiththefeelingthatitwasatthesacrificeofmuch。ThenewendowmentcominginfromthesaleoflandsofferedopportunitieswhichIhadlongedforduringmanywearyyears;butIfeltthatitwasbesttoputthemanagementintonewhands。Therewerechangesneededwhichwerefarmoredifficultformetomakethanforanew—comer——especiallychangesinthefaculty，whichinvolvedtheseveringoftiesverydeartome。
Attheannualcommencementof1885，thetwentyyearsfromthegrantingofourcharterhavingarrived，I
presentedmyresignationwiththedeclarationthatitmustbeaccepted。Itwasacceptedinsuchawayastomakemeverygratefultoallconnectedwiththeinstitution:
trustees，faculty，andstudentsweremostkindtome。Asregardsthefirstofthesebodies，Icannotresistthetemptationtomentiontwoevidencesoftheirfeelingwhichtouchedmedeeply。ThefirstofthesewastheproposalthatIshouldcontinueashonorarypresidentoftheuniversity。ThisIdeclined。Toholdsuchapositionwouldhavebeenaninjurytomysuccessor;IknewwellthatthetimehadcomewhenhewouldbeobligedtograpplewithquestionswhichIhadleftunsettledfromafeelingthathewouldhaveafreerhandthanIcouldhave。
ButanothertendermademeIaccepted:thiswasthatI
shouldnominatemysuccessor。Ididthis，namingmyoldstudentattheUniversityofMichigan，whohadsucceededmethereasprofessorofhistory——CharlesKendallAdams;
andsobeganasecondandmostprosperousadministration。
Inthusleavingthepresidencyoftheuniversity，itseemedtomethatthetimehadcomeforcarryingoutaplanformedlongbefore——thetransfertotheuniversityofmyhistoricalandgenerallibrary，whichhadbecomeoneofthelargestand，initsfield，oneofthebestprivatecollectionsofbooksintheUnitedStates。Thetrusteesacceptedit，providingamostnobleroomforitinconnectionwiththemainuniversitylibraryandwiththehistoricallecture—rooms;settingapart，also，fromtheirresources，anamplesum，ofwhichtheincomeshouldbeusedinmaintainingthelibrary，inprovidingalibrarian，inpublishingacompletecatalogue，andinmakingthecollectioneffectiveforhistoricalinstruction。Myonlyconnectionwiththeuniversitythenceforwardwasthatofatrusteeandmemberofitsexecutivecommittee。Inthispositionithasbeenoneofthegreatestpleasuresandsatisfactionsofmylifetonotethelargeandsteadydevelopmentoftheinstitutionduringthetwoadministrationswhichhavesucceededmyown。AtthecloseoftheadministrationofPresidentAdams，whohadespeciallydistinguishedhimselfindevelopingthelawdepartmentandvariousotherimportantuniversityinterests，instrengtheningtheconnectionoftheinstitutionwiththeState，andincallingseveralmostcompetentprofessors，hewassucceededbyagentlemanwhoseacquaintanceIhadmadeduringmystayasministertoGermany，hebeingatthattimeastudentattheUniversityofBerlin，——Dr。JacobGouldSchurman，whoseremarkablepowersandgiftshavemorethanmetthegreatexpectationsIthenformedregardinghim，andhavedevelopedtheuniversitytoayethigherpoint，sothatitsnumberofstudentsisnow，asI
revisetheselines，overthreethousand。He，too，hasbeencalledtoimportantdutiesinthepublicservice;andhehasjustreturnedafterayearofmostvaluableworkaspresidentoftheCommissionoftheUnitedStatestothePhilippineIslands，theuniversityprogressingduringhisabsence，andshowingthatithasalifeofitsownandisnotdependentevenonthemostgiftedofpresidents。
Onlayingdownthedutiesoftheuniversitypresidency，itdidnotseembesttometoremaininitsneighborhoodduringthefirstyearortwoofthenewadministration。
Anyonewhohaseverbeeninapositionsimilartomineatthatperiodwilleasilyunderstandthereason。
Itisthesamewhichhasledthoughtfulmeninthechurchestosaythatitisnotwelltohavetheoldpastortoonearwhenthenewpastorisbeginninghisduties。
Obedienttothisideaofleavingmysuccessorafreehand，mywifeandmyselftookaleisurelyjourneythroughEngland，France，andItaly，renewingoldacquaintancesandmakingnewfriends。Returningafterayear，Isettleddownagainintheuniversity，hopingtocompletethebookforwhichIhadbeengatheringmaterialsandonwhichIhadbeenworkingsteadilyforsomeyears，whentherecamethegreatestcalamityofmylife，——thelossofherwhohadbeenmymainsupportduringthirtyyears，——andworkbecameforatime，animpossibility。AgainIbecameawanderer，going，in1888，firsttoScotland，andthence，beingorderedbyphysicianstotheEast，wentagainthroughFranceandItaly，andextendedthejourneythroughEgypt，GreeceandTurkey。OfthemenandthingswhichseemedmostnoteworthytomeatthatperiodIspeakinotherchapters。
FromtheEastImademywayleisurelytoParis，withconsiderablestopsatBuda—Pesth，Vienna，Ulm，MunichFrankfort—on—the—Main，Paris，London，takingnotesinlibraries，besidescollectingbooksandmanuscripts。
ReturningtotheUnitedStatesintheautumnof1889，andsettlingdownagaininmyoldhouseatCornell，IwasinvitedtogivecoursesofhistoricallecturesatvariousAmericanuniversities，especiallyoneuponthe``CausesoftheFrenchRevolution，’’atJohnsHopkins，ColumbianUniversityinWashington，theUniversityofPennsylvania，TulaneUniversityinNewOrleans，andStanfordUniversityinCalifornia。Excursionstotheseinstitutionsopenedanewepochinmylife;butofthisIshallspeakelsewhere。
Duringthisperiodofsomethingoverfifteenyears，I
havebeenfrequentlysummonedfromtheseduties，whichwereespeciallyagreeabletome——first，in1892，asministertoRussia;next，in1896，asamemberoftheVenezuelanCommissionatWashington;and，in1897，asambassadortoGermany。IhavefoundmanymenandthingswhichwouldseemlikelytodrawmeawayfrommyinterestinCornell;but，afterall，thatwhichhasfornearlyfortyyearsheld，andstillholds，thedeepestplaceinmythoughtsistheuniversitywhichIaidedtofound。
SinceresigningitspresidencyIhave，inmanyways，keptinrelationswithit;andasIhave，atvarioustimes，returnedfromabroadandwalkedoveritsgrounds，visiteditsbuildings，andlivedamongitsfacultyandstudents，anenjoymenthasbeenminerarelyvouchsafedtomortals。Ithasbeenlikerevisitingtheearthafterleavingit。TheworktowhichIhaddevotedmyselfforsomanyyears，andwithmoreearnestnessthananyotherwhichIhaveeverundertaken，thoughattimesalmostwiththeenergyofdespair，Ihavenowseensuccessfulbeyondmydreams。Aboveall，asIhaveseenthecrowdofstudentscomingandgoing，Ihavefeltassuredthattheworkisgood。Itwaswiththisfeelingthat，justbeforeI
lefttheuniversityfortheembassyatBerlin，Ierectedattheentranceoftheuniversitygroundsagateway，onwhichIplacedaparaphraseofaLatininscriptionnotedbyme，manyyearsbefore，overthemainportaloftheUniversityofPadua，asfollows:
``Soenterthatdailythoumayestbecomemorelearnedandthoughtful;