friends of his own humble early life were never changed in his regard, by the great prosperity which came to him. Once a friend always a friend was his rule, unless sundered by some unworthy act.

Necessary absence from home a considerable portion of the time for several years, in the projection and management of his telegraph interests, naturally made Mr. Cornell appreciate all the more, when permitted to enjoy, the comforts and pleasures of home. It was no cause of surprise, therefore, that with his exceptional prosperity came the ambition to build a dwelling which should be an ornament to the locality. Having procured the necessary plans, he began, in 1868, the erection of a tasteful and elegant gothic villa of stone, which was designed as a permanent residence for his family. Several expert carvers in stone were imported directly from Europe, and employed on the work. TRUE AND FIRM,"the motto which surmounts the principal entrance -is indeed characteristic of the building in all of its details. The elaborate design of architecture and the elegance of the interior finish, necessarily made the process of construction extremely slow. Nearly eight years were consumed in building the house, which was not entirely finished until about a year after the death of its projector.

VILLA CORNELL.

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This unique and beautiful edifice, which is the admiration of all who have the opportunity of viewing it, has been, since the spring of 1876, the home of Mrs. Cornell, with whom her two daughters have resided. There are certainly but few residences in the State, outside of the great metropolis, which can compare with Villa Cornell" in beauty of design or perfection of workmanship. The house, completed and ready for occupancy, cost about one hundred thousand dollars, exclusive of the value of the plot of nine acres on which it is located. The place is charmingly situated on the eastern bluff, overlooking the village of Ithaca and the ever beautiful Cayuga Lake. It commands an extended and superb view of the surrounding country, which, from this particular spot, presents a diversity of scenery rarely observed. Just out of the village, and yet within a short walk of the business centre, it is thus sufficiently retired to avoid the dust and noise of the town, and still within convenient distance of all of its variety of privileges. A little farther up the hill and within half a mile, is the Campus of the University, with its grand collection of buildings, always a favorite and accessible resort for recreation or diversion.

CHAPTER XXI.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

ACTER.

RELIGIOUS CHAR

Individuality.-Truth and Frankness.-Nervous Energy.—Untiring Industry.-Manual Labor.-Pedestrianism.-Perseverance.—Patience.--Mental Equipment.-Courage.-Independence. Integrity. - Perfect Development. - Personal Appearance. Unassuming Manners.--Private Benefactions.— Religious Character.-Friends Discipline.

HOWEVER faithful or impartial the effort, intelligent and appreciative delineation of the personal characteristics and peculiarities of an individual is not an easy performance under any circumstances. When such an undertaking relates to a person endowed with numerous phases of character unusual, and in many respects extraordinary in their qualities when compared with those of ordinary development, the difficulty of the task is materially enhanced. To render justice to the character under consideration, and present a review acceptable without reserve to those unacquainted with his striking individuality, seem quite impossible. In a variety of ways, the per

sonality of Mr. Cornell embraced features of remarkable vigor and the peculiarities of his character in many particulars illustrated his Quaker origin. From his parents he inherited a combination of characteristics which were especially marked and easy of recognition by those familiar with him, prominent among which were frankness, truth, and sincerity. These qualities with him were cardinal virtues, and just in proportion as he valued them, did he despise hypocrisy, pretence, and deception.

Eminently self-contained and exempt from emotion, there was yet in Mr. Cornell's organization an element of nervous energy which demanded constant occupation as a requisite for the enjoyment of personal comfort. He was never so unhappy as when, by circumstances beyond control, he was the victim of enforced idleness. With him it could be truthfully said, industry knew no limit. Work, either mental or physical, was his normal condition. Strong and vigorous in muscular development, manual labor was to him a source of positive enjoyment. This was particularly demonstrated by his fondness for walking, which was ever with him a favorite mode of travel. In this manner he performed a journey of fifteen hundred miles, in 1842, through the Southern Atlantic States, often making forty miles per day. He

frequently described this experience as one of the most interesting episodes in his varied career. When physical activity was not available for him, mental labor was its fixed alternative. Reading, writing, study, and investigation fully occupied his waking hours which were not devoted to other activities. He was a prolific letter writer, and oc cupied much leisure time in the conduct of a large personal correspondence. In foreign travel he was accustomed, for want of other occupation, to write letters for publication to the Ithaca papers, descriptive of the scenes and incidents of his journeyings.

Perseverance is a valuable quality just in the degree that it is directed by intelligent judgment and wise discretion. Without proper safeguards this commendable qualification may, indeed, become an engine of waste and destruction. With the subject of present consideration, probably no single personal characteristic proved so advantageous as that of persistence, or determination. The great business success achieved by Mr. Cornell was due, not only to the correct judgment which directed his original venture, but in far greater degree to the sturdiness and steadfast energy with which he pursued his chosen purpose, and forced a successful issue through manifold and long-continued embarrassments.