Thus have we laid all that is mortal of our honored friend in the tomb. All that is left to us of the kind friend, the public-spirited citizen, the unostentatious philanthropist and public benefactor, whom we have known, loved, and honored so long, and whom the idea of losing forever is as unspeakably painful as it is difficult to fully realize, is his fragrant memory-the inspiration of his noble example. These may safely defy the corroding, remorseless tooth of time. The luminous pages whereon the world inscribes the names of its benefactors whom it will not suffer to die, will surely be honored by the name of Ezra Cornell. But Ithacans need no such record. To say nothing of the institution which crowns our eastern hills, making them classic, our Ithaca, so long as it has a place and a name among the communities of men, will speak eloquently of Ezra Cornell. We know what it was when he found it. We see what it is as he leaves it. We know the millions he invested in enterprises, which all saw-none more clearly than that sagacious mind-could never bring direct profitable returns, merely because with them present prosperity and future greatness were assured to his beloved Ithaca; without them, this consummation he so devoutly wished must be long delayed, perhaps, by reason of some other locality in our vicinity seizing the opportunity which we neglected, never realized. We trust that others may be found competent to the less difficult task of taking up the work which our departed friend's tired hands have laid down forever, and of conducting these enterprises in such a manner as to realize his cherished hopes and aspirations. Yes, a far less difficult task than was his of originating, projecting, and placing them on sound bases. We trust and believe that both Ithaca and the University are to be what our departed friend designed that they should be. But however this may be, the duty of him, whom loving hands tenderly, sadly deposited in his "narrow home" to-day, was nobly done. His is not the fault if the beneficent plans and aims of his life are not fully accomplished. Let us, then, cease these repinings, selfish as vain. Look at those thin hands-oh, how thin; that pinched face; those gray hairs parted over the care-worn brow! Who would disturb this tranquil rest, and call back to the cares of life the weary, worn, aged worker? Let us, rather, with resignation yield him to the narrow house; for there all is rest and peace-peace ineffable. No baffled hope can haunt, no doubt perplexes, * He lies whose course has passed away from life. A narrow home, and far beyond it lieth They whom Christ raised no word of guidance said, STRANGERS ATTENDING THE FUNERAL. A special train arrived on the Cayuga Lake Railroad about eleven o'clock, bringing the following party from Syracuse J. J. Glass, E. B. Judson, N. F. Graves (mayor), Giles Everson, Ezra Downer, A. C. Powell (ex-mayor), William Kirkpatrick (alderman), E. E. Chapman, Carroll E. Smith, Edgar E. Ewers, G. B. Kent, M. H. Northrup, Professor Charles W. Bennett, H. Cleveland, S. B. Gifford, and James Terwilliger. From Aurora: E. B. Morgan, H. A. Morgan, A. C. Palmer, G. B. Morgan, H. Morgan, W. H. Bogart, Edward L. French, Thos. C. Strong. From Cayuga: J. R. Van Sickle, J. A. Bailey. From Auburn: About the same hour a special train via the NEIGHBORLY COURTESIES. 319 Southern Central and Cortland roads brought a party of some forty of the prominent men of Auburn to attend the funeral. Among them were the following: J. N. Knapp, W. Hollister, C. P. Wood, Henry Richardson, Charles Standart, George I. Lechworth, H. N. Lockwood, H. J. Sartwell, O. F. Knapp, J. T. M. Davie, David P. Wallace, E. R. Fay, A. Fitch, J. G. Knapp, John E. Leonard, James Henderson, E. G. Storke, C. E. Swift, John Brainard, William Searles, E. D. Jackson, S. L. Bradley, E. B. Jones, J. B. Richardson, Charles G. Briggs, M. L. Brown, H. Hughes, G. Rathbun, G. B. Turner. Among the strangers in attendance were George R. Dusenberre, Fred W. Prince, Langdon Wheat, Geneva; General Steele, Romulus, and many others. From Towanda: Robert A. Packer, Colonel Victor E. Piolet, Colonel J. F. Means, James W. Ward, A. M. Sanderson, and J. Robinson. PRESS REPRESENTATIVES. The neighboring press was represented at the obsequies as follows: The Elmira Advertiser by its city editor, A. Towner; The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle by its city editor, J. A. Hockstra; Mr. Carroll E. Smith, of the Syracuse Journal; M. L. Northrup, of the Syracuse Courier. RESPECT FOR THE DEAD IN SYRACUSE. At a public meeting of citizens held at Syracuse, Thursday, suitable resolutions were adopted eulogistic of the late Ezra Cornell. The board of supervisors also passed memorial resolutions. A committee consisting of judges of the county, city officers, and twenty-five leading citizens was appointed to attend the funeral. IN AUBURN. There was a large meeting of citizens of Auburn in the Court House, on Friday evening last, called upon short notice, to pay tribute to the memory of Ezra Cornell. General John N. Knapp was chairman, and George W. Peck, secretary. General Knapp, E. D. Johnson, Hon. John L. Parker, Hon. T. M. Pomeroy, General William H. Seward, Charles P. Wood, and George B. Turner made highly eulogistic remarks in respect to Mr. Cornell. series of resolutions was adopted, and a committee of eighty-five prominent citizens appointed to attend the funeral, which a large number of them did by special train, over the Southern Central Road, on Saturday. A RESOLUTIONS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. The students of Syracuse University appointed a committee on Friday, consisting of Professor Bennett, D.D., M. D. Buck, '75, G. Darrow, '76, L. S. Hutchinson, '77, and G. W. Peck, '78, who framed appropriate resolutions expressive of the feeling of the University in regard to the death of the Hon. Ezra Cornell. DR. STEBBINS'S TRIBUTE TO MR. CORNELL. [From the Ithaca Daily Journal, December 16th.] We have obtained from Dr. Stebbins the concluding passage of his sermon, Sunday morning last, on the Discipline of Sorrow, in which he pays a tribute to the memory of Mr. Cornell : "This meditation is not inappropriate, I trust, to the sorrowful solemnities of the past week. Symbols of mourning have hushed the thoughtless in our streets, and tears of grief have been shed by strong men when they have met each other in their places of business. In all our homes one name has been spoken with hesitating tongue. Such a tribute is seldom paid to a private citizen, so DR. STEBBINS'S DISCOURSE. 321 spontaneous, so sincere, so abundant. All felt that they had lost a good citizen, a bountiful benefactor of the town. He was distinguished by a sterling integrity, on which calumny could not cast a shadow, by a marked manliness of character which com manded respect, by a persevering energy which no obstacle could turn aside, by views so comprehensive as to be interested in the construction of a drain or the founding of a University, by an enterprise so daring as to think anything needed could be obtained. He was among the foremost in originating and sustaining all undertakings for the good of the town, by a liberal use of his enlarging fortune and practical wisdom. He was sensitive to his own lack of education, which his narrow opportunities in youth compelled, and he felt the importance of opening to the people, and especially to the young, wider avenues to the sources of knowledge. To this end he lavished his wealth without stint and his strength without measure in founding the two institutions which will merit the gratitude of posterity as well as our own. Nor did he forget, amidst the riches and honors of such princely munificence, the wants of the impoverished and the sorrows of the distressed, but many fires were kindled on cold hearths and many destitute tables furnished with bread by his quiet, private bounty. How marked his simplicity of life amidst abundance! How unassuming his deportment in the midst of highest success! How deep his faith in the capabilities of his fellow-men! How calm when calumny darkened the air around him! How assured he stood in the panoply of conscious integrity! And when the overburdened frame, tasked in the great work he had undertaken even beyond its endurance, began to bend and break under its burden, how serene his patience as life was ebbing away, and how submissive to the great Providence by which he was called to leave his plans unaccomplished, but yet well begun. With what unobtrusive, unspoken, but deep religious trust he closed his days; no murmur passing his lips, no repining abiding in his heart. What an example he has left behind him as an inspiration to the young of the power of industry, economy, integrity, and benevolence to win competency and honor. |