NEWYORK

THECENTURYCO。

1905

TO

MYOLDSTUDENTS

THISRECORDOFMYLIFE

ISINSCRIBED

WITHMOSTKINDLYRECOLLECTIONS

ANDBESTWISHES

AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF

ANDREWDICKSONWHITE

PARTI

ENVIRONMENTANDEDUCATION

AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF

ANDREWDICKSONWHITE

CHAPTERI

BOYHOODINCENTRALNEWYORK——1832—1850

AtthecloseoftheRevolutionwhichseparatedthecoloniesfromthemothercountry，thelegislatureofNewYorksetapartnearlytwomillionacresofland，intheheartoftheState，asbountytobedividedamonghersoldierswhohadtakenpartinthewar;andthis``MilitaryTract，’’havingbeendulydividedintotownships，anill—

inspiredofficial，inlackofnamesforsomanydivisions，sprinkledoverthewholeregionthecontentsofhisclassicaldictionary。ThusitwasthattherefelltoabeautifulvalleyupontheheadwatersoftheSusquehannathenameof``Homer。’’Fortunatelythesurveyor—generallefttothemountains，lakes，andriversthenamestheIndianshadgiventhem，andsotherewasstillsomepoeticalelementremaininginthemidstofthatunfortunatenomenclature。Thecounties，too，asarule，tookIndiannames，sothatthetownofHomer，withitsneighbors，Tully，Pompey，Fabius，Lysander，andtherest，wereembeddedinthecountyofOnondaga，intheneighborhoodoflakesOtiscoandSkaneateles，andoftheriversTioughniogaandSusquehanna。

Hithercame，towardthecloseoftheeighteenthcentury，abodyofsturdyNewEnglanders，and，amongthem，mygrandfathersandgrandmothers。Thoseonmyfather’sside:AsaWhiteandClaraKeep，fromMunson，Massa—

chusetts;thoseonmymother’sside，AndrewDickson，fromMiddlefield，Massachusetts，andRuthHallfromGuilford，Connecticut。Theywereallof``goodstock。’’

WhenIwastenyearsoldIsawmygreat—grandfatheratMiddlefield，eighty—twoyearsofage，sturdyandvigorous;

hehadmowedabroadfieldthedaybefore，andhewalkedfourmilestochurchthedayafter。Hehaddonehisdutymanfullyduringthewar，hadbeenamemberofthe``GreatandGeneralCourt’’ofMassachusetts，andhadheldvariousotheroffices，whichshowedthatheenjoyedtheconfidenceofhisfellow—citizens。Astotheothersideofthehouse，therewasatraditionthatwecamefromPeregrineWhiteoftheMayflower;butIhaveneverhadtimetofindwhethermydoubtsonthesubjectwerewellfoundedornot。Enoughformetoknowthatmyyeomenancestorsdidtheirdutyinwarandpeace，werehonest，straightforward，God—fearingmenandwomen，whoownedtheirownlands，andneverknewwhatitwastocringebeforeanyhumanbeing。

TheseNewEnglandersliterallymadetheNewYorkwildernesstoblossomastherose;andHomer，atmybirthin1832，aboutfortyyearsafterthefirstsettlerscame，was，initsway，oneoftheprettiestvillagesimaginable。Intheheartofitwasthe``Green，’’andalongthemiddleofthisalineofchurchedifices，andtheacademy。

Infrontofthegreen，paralleltotheriver，ran，northandsouth，thebroadmainstreet，beautifullyshadedwithmaples，andoneithersideofthis，inthemiddleofthevillage，werestores，shops，andthemaintaverns;whilenorthandsouthofthesewerelargeandpleasantdwellings，eachinitsowngardenorgroveororchard，andseparatedfromthestreetbylightpalings，——all，withoutexception，neat，trim，andtidy。

Myfirstrecollectionsareofabig，comfortablehouseofbrick，inwhatisnowcalled``colonialstyle，’’witha``stoop，’’longandbroad，onitssouthernside，whichinsummerwasshadedwithhoneysuckles。Spreadingoutsouthwardfromthiswasaspaciousgardenfilledwithold—fashionedflowers，andinthisIlearnedtowalk。Tothishourtheperfumeofapinkbringsthewholescenebeforeme，andprovesthejusticeofOliverWendellHolmes’ssayingthatwerememberpastscenesmorevividlybythesenseofsmellthanbythesenseofsight。

Icanclaimnomeritforclamberingoutofpoverty。

Mychildhoodwashappy;mysurroundingswholesome;

Iwasbroughtupneitherinpovertynorriches;myparentswerewhatwerecalled``well—to—do—people’’;everythingaboutmewasgoodandsubstantial;butourmodeoflifewasfrugal;wasteorextravaganceorpretensewasnotpermittedforamoment。Mypaternalgrandfatherhadbeen，intheearlyyearsofthecentury，therichestmaninthetownship;butsometimebeforemybirthhehadbecomeoneofthepoorest;forafirehadconsumedhismills，therewasnoinsurance，andhishealthgaveway。

Onmyfather，HoraceWhite，hadfallen，therefore，themaincareofhisfather’sfamily。Itwastotheyoungman，apparently，agreatcalamity:——thatwhichgrievedhimmostbeingthatittookhim——aboynotfarinhisteens——outofschool。Buthemettheemergencymanfully，wassoonknownfarandwideforhisenergy，ability，andintegrity，andlongbeforehehadreachedmiddleagewasconsideredoneoftheleadingmenofbusinessinthecounty。

Mymotherhadamoreserenecareer。InanotherpartoftheseReminiscences，sayingsomethingofmyreligiousandpoliticaldevelopment，Ishallspeakagainofherandofherparents。Sufficeitherethatherfatherprosperedasamanofbusiness，wasknownas``Colonel，’’andalsoas``Squire’’Dickson，andrepresentedhiscountyintheStatelegislature。HediedwhenIwasaboutthreeyearsold，andIvaguelyrememberbeingbroughttohimashelayuponhisdeath—bed。Ononeaccount，aboveallothers，Ihavelonglookedbacktohimwithpride。Forthefirstpubliccareoftheearlysettlershadbeenachurch，andthesecondaschool。ThisschoolhadbeenspeedilydevelopedintoCortlandAcademy，whichsoonbecamefa—

mousthroughoutallthatregion，and，asaboyoffiveorsixyearsofage，Iwasveryproudtoreadonthecorner—

stoneoftheAcademybuildingmygrandfather’snameamongthoseoftheoriginalfounders。

Notunlikelytherethuscameintomybloodthestrainwhichhasledmeeversincetofeelthatthebuildingupofgoodlyinstitutionsismorehonorablethananyotherwork，——anideawhichwasatthebottomofmyeffortsindevelopingtheUniversityofMichigan，andinfoundingCornellUniversity。

ToCortlandAcademystudentscamefromfarandnear;anditsoonbegansendingyoungmenintotheforemostplacesofStateandChurch。Atanearlyday，too，itbeganreceivingyoungwomenandsendingthemforthtobecomethebestofmatrons。AsmyfamilylefttheplacewhenIwassevenyearsoldIwasneverwithinitswallsasastudent，butitactedpowerfullyonmyeducationintwoways，——itgavemymotherthebestofhereducation，anditgavetomearespectforscholarship。

Thelibraryandcollections，thoughsmall，suggestedpursuitsbetterthanthescrambleforplaceorpelf;thepublicexercises，twoorthreetimesayear，ledmythoughts，nomatterhowvaguely，intohigherregions，andIshallneverforgettheawewhichcameovermewhenasachild，IsawPrincipalWoolworth，withhisbeststudentsaroundhimonthegreen，makingastronomicalobservationsthroughasmalltelescope。

Thusbeganmyeducationintothatgreattruth，soimperfectlyunderstood，asyet，inourcountry，thatstores，shops，hotels，facilitiesfortravelandtrafficarenotthehighestthingsincivilization。

Thisideawasstrengthenedinthefamily。Devotedasmyfatherwastobusiness，healwaysshowedthegreatestrespectformenofthought。Ihaveknownhim，evenwhenmostabsorbedinhispursuits，towatchoccasionsforwalkinghomewardwithaclergymanorteacher，whoseconversationheespeciallyprized。Therewasscantrespectinthefamilyforthepettypoliticiansoftheregion;buttherewasgreatrespectfortheinstructorsoftheacademy，andforanycollegeprofessorwhohappenedtobetravelingthroughthetown。Iamnowinmysixty—eighthyear，andIwritetheselinesfromtheAmericanEmbassyinBerlin。Itismydutyhere，asithasbeenatotherEuropeancapitals，tomeetvarioushighofficials;butthatoldfeeling，engenderedinmychildhood，continues，andIbowtotherepresentativesoftheuniversities，——totheleadersinscience，literature，andart，withafeelingofaweandrespectfargreaterthantotheirso—calledsuperiors，——princelingsandhighmilitaryorcivilofficials。

Influencesofamoredirectsortcamefromaprimaryschool。TothisIwastaken，whenaboutthreeyearsold，forareasonwhichmaystrikethepresentgenerationascurious。Thecoloredservantwhohadchargeofmewishedtolearntoread——sosheslippedintotheschoolandtookmewithher。Asaresult，thoughmymemoryrunsbackdistinctlytoeventsnearthebeginningofmyfourthyear，itholdsnotthefaintestrecollectionofatimewhenIcouldnotreadeasily。TheonlystudieswhichIrecallwithdistinctness，ascarriedonbeforemyseventhyear，arearithmeticandgeography。Astotheformer，themultiplication—tablewaschantedinchorusbythewholebodyofchildren，arhythmicalandvariedmovementofthearmsbeingcarriedonatthesametime。Theseexercisesgaveuspleasureandfastenedthetablesinourminds。Astogeography，thatgavepleasureinanotherway。Thebookscontainedpictureswhichstimulatedmyimaginationandpromptedmetoreadtheadjacenttext。

Therewasnoover—pressure。Mentalrecreationandinformationwereobtainedinaloosewayfrom``RolloBooks，’’``PeterParleyBooks，’’``SanfordandMerton，’’

the``Children’sMagazine，’’andthelike。InowthinkitapitythatIwasnotallowedtoread，insteadofthese，thenovelsofScottandCooper，whichIdiscoveredlater。IdevoutlythankHeaventhatnosuchthingasasensationnewspaperwaseverbroughtintothehouse，——

eveniftherewereoneatthattime，——whichIdoubt。Astophysicalrecreation，therewasplentyduringthesummerinthefieldsandwoods，andduringthewinterincoasting，buildinghutsinthedeepsnow，andinstormingordefendingthesnowfortsonthevillagegreen。Oneofthesechildishsportshadahistoricalconnectionwithaperiodwhichnowseemsveryfaraway。Ifanyoldsettlerhappenedtopassduringoursnow—ballingorourshootingwithbowsandarrows，hewassuretolookonwithinterest，and，atsomegoodshot，tocryout，——

``SHOOTBURGOYNE！’’——thusrecallinghisremembrancesofthesharpshooterswhobroughtaboutthegreatsurrenderatSaratoga。

InmyseventhyearmyfatherwascalledtotakechargeofthenewbankestablishedatSyracuse，thirtymilesdistant，andtherethefamilysoonjoinedhim。IrememberthatcomingthroughtheIndianReservation，ontheroadbetweenthetwovillages，IwasgreatlyimpressedbythebowersandotherdecorationswhichhadbeenusedshortlybeforeattheinstallationofanewIndianchief。

ItwastheheadquartersoftheOnondagas，——formerlythegreatcentraltribeoftheIroquois，——thewarlikeconfederacyoftheSixNations;andas，inageneralway，thestorywastoldmeonthatbeautifuldayinSeptemberanewworldofromancewasopenedtome，sothatIndianstories，andespeciallyCooper’snovels，whenIwasallowedtoreadthem，tookonanewreality。

Syracuse，whichisnowacityofonehundredandtwentythousandinhabitants，wasthenastragglingvillageofaboutfivethousand。Aftermuchtimelostinsundrypoor``selectschools’’Iwassenttooneofthepublicschoolswhichwasverygood，andthence，whenabouttwelveyearsold，tothepreparatorydepartmentoftheSyracuseAcademy。

There，bygoodluck，wasJosephA。Allen，thebestteacherofEnglishbranchesIhaveeverknown。Hehadnorulesandnosystem;or，rather，hisrulewastohavenorules，andhissystemwastohavenosystem。Togenius。Heseemedtodivinethecharacterandenterintothepurposeofeveryboy。Workunderhimwasapleasure。

Hismethodswereverysimple。Greatattentionwasgiventoreadingaloudfromabookmadeupofselectionsfromthebestauthors，andtorecitalsfromthese。

ThusIstoredupnotonlysomeofthebestthingsintheolderEnglishwriters，butinspiringpoemsofBryant，Whittier，Longfellow，andothermoderns。Myonlyregretisthatmoreofthiswasnotgivenus。Irecall，amongtreasuresthusgained，whichhavebeenprecioustomeeversince，inmanyawearyorsleeplesshouronlandandsea，extractsfromShakspere，partsofMilton’s``SamsonAgonistes，’’andofhissonnets;Gray’s``Elegy，’’Byron’s``OdetotheOcean，’’Campbell’s``What’sHallowedGround？’’Goldsmith’s``DesertedVillage，’’Longfellow’s``PsalmofLife，’’Irving’s``VoyagetoEurope，’’andpartsofWebster’s``ReplytoHayne。’’

AtthisschoolthewretchedbugbearofEnglishspellingwasdealtwithbyamethodwhich，solongasourpresentmonstrousorthographycontinues，seemstomethebestpossible。Duringthelasthalf—hourofeveryday，eachscholarwasrequiredtohavebeforehimacopy—

book，ofwhicheachpagewasdividedintotwocolumns。

Attheheadofthefirstcolumnwastheword``Spelling’’;

attheheadofthesecondcolumnwastheword``Corrected。’’

Theteacherthengaveouttotheschoolabouttwentyofthemoreimportantwordsinthereading—

lessonoftheday，and，ashethusdictatedeachword，eachscholarwroteitinthecolumnheaded``Spelling。’’Whenallthewordswerethuswritten，thefirstscholarwasaskedtospellfromhisbookthefirstword;ifmisspelled，itwaspassedtothenext，andsoonuntilitwasspelledcorrectly;whereuponallwhohadmadeamistakeinwritingitmadethepropercorrectionontheoppositecolumn。

TheresultofthiswasthatthegreaterpartofuslearnedorthographyPRACTICALLY。Forthepracticaluseofspellingcomesinwriting。

TheonlymistakeinMr。Allen’steachingwastoomuchattentiontoEnglishgrammar。Theorderoughttobe，literaturefirst，andgrammarafterward。Perhapsthereisnomoretiresometriflingintheworldforboysandgirlsthanroterecitationsandparsingfromoneoftheusualgrammaticaltext—books。

Astomathematics，arithmeticwas，perhaps，pushedtoofarintopuzzles;butgeometrywasmadefascinatingbyshowingitsrealapplicationsandthebeautyofitsreasoning。ItistheonlymathematicalstudyIeverloved。

Innaturalscience，thoughmostoftheapparatusofschoolsnowadayswaswanting，Mr。Allen’sinstructionwasfarbeyondhistime。NevershallIforgetmyexcitedinterestwhen，occasionally，thevillagesurgeoncamein，andthewholeschoolwasassembledtoseehimdissecttheeyeorearorheartofanox。Physics，asthenunderstood，wasstudiedinatext—book，buttherewasillustrationbysimpleapparatus，whichfastenedfirmlyinmymindthemainfactsandprinciples。

Thebestimpulsebythismeanscamefromtheprincipaloftheacademy，Mr。OrenRoot，——oneofthepioneersofAmericanscience，whosemodestyalonestoodinthewayofhisfame。Iwastooyoungtotakedirectinstructionfromhim，buttheexperimentswhichIsawhimperformledme，withoneortwoofmymates，toconstructanexcellentelectricalmachineandsubsidiaryapparatus;

andwiththese，asmallgalvanicbatteryandanextemporizedorrery，IdilutedProfessorRoot’slectureswiththeteachingsofmylittlebooksonnaturalphilosophyandastronomytomeetthecapacitiesoftheyoungerboysinourneighborhood。

Salientamongmyrecollectionsofthisperiodarethecriesandwailingofanewly—bornbabeintheroomsattheacademyoccupiedbytheprincipal，andadjacenttoourbigschool—room。SeveraldecadesofyearslaterIhadthehonorofspeakingontheplatformofCooperInstituteincompanywiththisbabe，who，asIwrite，is，Ibelieve，theveryenergeticSecretaryofWarintheCabinetofPresidentMcKinley。

Unfortunatelyforme，Mr。RootwassoonafterwardcalledawaytoaprofessorshipatHamiltonCollege，andso，thoughlivinginthebestofallregionsforgeologicalstudy，Iwasneverproperlygroundedinthatscience，andastobotany，Iamtothishourutterlyignorantofitssimplestfactsandprinciples。Icountthisasoneofthemistakesinmyeducation，——resultinginthelossofmuchvaluableknowledgeandhighpleasure。

Astophysicaldevelopment，everyreasonableencouragementwasgiventoplay。Mr。Allenhimselfcamefrequentlytotheplay—grounds。Hewasanexcellentmusicianandamosthelpfulinfluencewasexertedbysinging，whichwasadailyexerciseoftheschool。Ithenbegantakinglessonsregularlyinmusicandbecameproficientenoughtoplaytheorganoccasionallyinchurch;thebestresultofthistrainingbeingthatitgavemylifeoneofitsdeepest，purest，andmostlastingpleasures。

Onthemoralside，Mr。Alleninfluencedmanyofusbyliberalizingandbroadeningourhorizon。HewasadiscipleofChanningandanabolitionist，and，thoughhenevermadetheslightestattempttoproselyteanyofhisscholars，theveryatmosphereoftheschoolmadesectarianbigotryimpossible。

AstomygeneraleducationoutsidetheschoolIbrowsedaboutasbestIcould。Mypassioninthosedayswasformachinery，and，aboveall，forsteammachinery。Thestationaryandlocomotiveenginesuponthenewly—

establishedrailwaystowardAlbanyontheeastandBuffaloonthewestespeciallyarousedmyattention，andIcametoknoweverylocomotive，itshistory，character，andcapabilities，aswellaseverystationaryengineinthewholeregion。

Myholidayexcursions，whennotemployedinboatingorskatingontheOnondagaCreek，oruponthelake，wereusuallydevotedtovisitingworkshops，wheretheenginedriversandstokersseemedgladtotalkwithayoungsterwhotookaninterestintheirbusiness。EspeciallyinterestedwasIinarotaryengineon``Barker’scentrifugalprinciple，’’withwhichtheinventorhadprom—

isedtopropellocomotivesattherateofahundredmilesanhour，butwhichhadbeendegradedtogrindingbarkinatannery。Ifeltitsdisgracekeenly，asapieceofgrossinjustice;buthavingobtainedasmallbrassmodel，fittedtoitatinboilerandplaceditonalittlestern—wheelboat，Ispeedilydiscoveredthesecretoftheindignitywhichhadovertakenthemachine，fornoboatcouldcarryaboilerlargeenoughtosupplysteamforit。

So，too，Ikneweverywater—wheelinthatpartofthecounty，whetherovershot，undershot，breast，orturbine。

Everythinginthenatureofamotorhadanespecialfascinationforme，andforthemenincontrolofsuchpowerIentertainedarespectwhichapproachedawe。

Amongallthese，myespecialreverencewasgiventothelocomotiveengineers;inmyyouthfulmindtheytookonaheroiccharacter。OftenduringthenightwatchesI

thoughtofthemasbravingstormandperil，responsibleforpricelessfreightsofhumanlives。Theirfirm，keenfacescomebacktomevividlythroughthemistsofsixtyyears，andtothisdayIlookuptotheirsuccessorsatthethrottlewithrespectfuladmiration。

AfterProfessorRoot’sdeparturetheSyracuseAcademygreatlydeclined，Mr。Allenbeingtheonlystrongmanleftamongitsteachers，and，asIwastogotocollege，Iwasremovedtoa``classicalschool。’’Thisschoolwasnotatfirstverysuccessful。Itsteacherwasagoodscholarbutcareless。UnderhimIrepeatedthegrammaticalformsandrulesinLatinandGreek，glibly，termafterterm，withoutreallyunderstandingtheirvalue。Hisgreatmistake，whichseemstomeanotinfrequentone，wastakingitforgrantedthatrepeatingrulesandformsmeansunderstandingthemandtheirapplication。Butacatastrophecame。IhadbeenpromotedbeyondmydesertsfromalowerintoanupperLatinclass，andatapublicexaminationtheRev。SamuelJosephMay，whowaspresent，askedmeaquestion，towhichI

madeananswerrevealingutterignoranceofoneofthesimplestprinciplesofLatingrammar。Hewasdiscon—

certedattheresult，Istillmoreso，andourpreceptormostofall。Thateveningmyfatherverysolemnlyaskedmeaboutit。Iwasmortifiedbeyondexpression，didnotsleepatallthatnight，andofmyownaccord，beganreviewingmyAndrewsandStoddardthoroughlyandvigorously。Butthisdidnotsavethepreceptor。A

successorwascalled，amanwhoafterwardbecameaneminentPresbyteriandivineandprofessorinaSouthernuniversity，JamesW。Hoyt，oneofthebestandtruestofmen，andhismanly，moralinfluenceoverhisscholarswasremarkable。Manyofthemhavereachedpositionsofusefulness，andIthinktheywillagreethathisinfluenceupontheirliveswasmosthappy。Theonlydrawbackwasthathewasstillveryyoung，notyetthroughhissenioryearinUnionCollege，andhismethodsinclassicalteachingwereimperfect。Helovedhisclassicsandtaughthisbetterstudentstolovethem，buthewasneitherthoroughingrammar，norsureintranslation，andthisI

afterwardfoundtomysorrow。Myfriendandschoolmateofthattime，W。O。S。，publishedafewyearssince，inthe``St。NicholasMagazine，’’anaccountofthisschool。

Itwassomewhatidealized，butwedoubtlessagreeinthinkingthatthelackofgrammaticaldrillwasmorethanmadeupbytheloveofmanliness，andthedislikeofmeanness，whichwasinthosedaysourveryatmosphere。

ProbablythebestthingformymentaltrainingwasthatMr。HoytinterestedmeinmyVirgil，Horace，andXenophon，andrequiredmetowriteoutmytranslationsinthebestEnglishatmycommand。

Buttoallhispupilshedidnotprovesohelpful。Oneofthem，thoughhehassincebecomeanenergeticmanofbusinessonthePacificCoast，wascertainlynothelpedintohispresentpositionbyhisLatin;forofallthetranslationsIhaveeverheardorreadof，oneofhiswastheworst。BeingcalledtoconstruethefirstlineoftheAeneid，heproceededasfollows:

``Arma，——arms;virumque，——andaman;cano，——andadog。’’Therewasaroar，andMr。Hoyt，thoughevidentlysaddened，kepthistemper。Hedidnot，likethegreatandgoodArnoldofRugby，undersimilarprovocation，knocktheoffenderdownwiththetext—book。

Stillanotheragencyinmydevelopmentwasthedebatingclub，soinevitableinanAmericanvillage。Itsdiscussionsweresometimespretentiousandalwayscrude，butsomethingwasgainedthereby。Irememberthatoneofthesubjectswasstatedasfollows:``Whichhasdonemostharm，intemperanceorfanaticism。’’Thedebatewaswithoutanystrikingfeatureuntilmyschoolmate，W。O。S。，broughtupheavyartilleryonthesideoftheanti—fanatics:namely，astatementoftheruinwroughtbyMohammedanismintheEast，and，aboveall，thedestructionofthegreatAlexandrianlibrarybyCaliphOmar;andwithsucheloquencethatalltheargumentationwhichanyofushadlearnedinthetemperancemeetingswasparalyzed。

Onanotheroccasionwedebatedthequestion:``WastheBritishGovernmentjustifiedinitstreatmentofNapoleonBonaparte？’’Muchhistoricallorehadbeenbroughttobearonthequestion，whenanimpassionedyoungoratorwoundupabitterdiatribeagainstthegreatemperorasfollows:``TheBritishGovernmentWASjustified，andiffornootherreason，bytheEmperorNapoleon’smurderofthe`DuckdeEngine’’’（Ducd’Enghien）。

Astoeducationoutsideoftheschoolveryimportanttomehadbeenthediscovery，whenIwasabouttenyearsold，of```TheMonastery，’bytheauthorof`Waverley。’’’

Whothe``authorof`Waverley’’’wasIneitherknewnorcared，butreadthebookthreetimes，endoverend，inasortoffascination。Unfortunately，novelsandromanceswerekeptunderlockandkey，asunfitreadingforchildren，anditwassomeyearsbeforeIreveledinScott’sothernovels。ThattheywouldhavebeenthoroughlygoodandwholesomereadingformeIknow，andaboutmysixteenthyeartheyopenedanewworldtomeandgavehealthfulplaytomyimagination。Ialsoreadandre—readBunyan’s``Pilgrim’sProgress，’’and，withplea—

sureevenmoreintense，theearlierworksofDickens，whichwerethenappearing。

Myonlyregret，asregardsthattime，isthat，betweentherathertrashy``boys’books’’ononesideandtheratherseverebooksinthefamilylibraryontheother，IreadfarlessofreallygoodliteraturethanIoughttohavedone。Myreadingwasabsolutelywithoutaguide，hencefitfulandscrappy;partsofRollin’s``AncientHistory’’

andLander’s``TravelsinAfrica’’beingmixedupwith``RobinsonCrusoe’’and``TheScottishChiefs。’’Reflectiononmyexperiencehasconvincedmethatsomekindlyguidanceinthereadingofafairlyscholarlyboyisoftheutmostimportance，andnevermoresothannow，whenbooksaresomanyandattractive。Ishouldlaymuchstress，also，onthehearingofgoodliteraturewellread，andtheinterspersingofsuchreadingwithsomeremarksbythereader，pointingoutthemainbeautiesofthepiecesthuspresented。

Aboutmytenthyearoccurredanevent，apparentlytrivial，butreallyveryimportantinmymentaldevelopmentduringmanyyearsafterward。Myfatherbroughthomeoneday，asagifttomymother，ahandsomequartocalled``TheGalleryofBritishArtists。’’

ItcontainedengravingsfrompicturesbyTurner，Stanfield，Cattermole，andothers，mainlyrepresentingscenesfromShakspere，Scott，Burns，picturesquearchitecture，andbeautifulviewsinvariouspartsofEurope。OfthisbookInevertired。Itarousedinmeanintensedesiretoknowmoreofthesubjectsrepresented，andthisdesirehasledmesincetovisitandtostudyeverycathedral，church，andtownhallofanyhistoricalorarchitecturalsignificanceinEurope，outsidetheSpanishpeninsula。

But，farmoreimportant，itgaveanespecialzesttonearlyallScott’snovels，andespeciallytotheonewhichIhavealwaysthoughtthemostfascinating，``QuentinDurward。’’

Thisnovelledmelater，notmerelytovisitLiege，andOrl<e’>ans，andCl<e’>ry，andTours，buttodevourthechroniclesandhistoriesofthatperiod，tobecomedeeplyinterestedinhistoricalstudies，andtolearnhowgreatprinciplesliehiddenbeneaththesurfaceofevents。ThefirstoftheseprinciplesIeverclearlydiscernedwasduringmyreadingof``QuentinDurward’’and``AnneofGeierstein，’’whentherewasrevealedtomethesecretofthecentralizationofpowerinEurope，andofthetriumphofmonarchyoverfeudalism。

Inmysixteenthandseventeenthyearsanotherelemententeredintomyeducation。Syracuse，asthecentralcityoftheState，wasthesceneofmanyconventionsandpublicmeetings。Thatwasatimeofverydeepearnestnessinpoliticalmatters。Thelastgreateffortsweremaking，bythemoreradical，peaceablytopreventtheextensionofslavery，and，bythemoreconservative，peaceablytopreservetheUnion。Theformeroftheseeffortsinterestedmemost。TherewereatSyracusefrequentpublicdebatesbetweenthevariousgroupsoftheanti—slaverypartyrepresentedbysuchmenasGerritSmith，WendellPhillips，WilliamLloydGarrison，JohnParkerHale，SamuelJosephMay，andFrederickDouglass。Theytookstrongholduponmeandgavemeahigherideaofaman’sbestworkinlife。Thatwasthebloomperiodoftheoldpopularlecture。Itwasthetimewhenlectureswereexpectedtobuildcharacterandincreaseknowledge;thesensationandbuffoonbusinesswhichdestroyedthesystemhadnotyetcomein。Ifeeltothishourthegoodinfluenceoflecturesthenheard，intheoldCityHallatSyracuse，fromsuchmenasPresidentMarkHopkins，BishopAlonzoPotter，SenatorHaleofNewHampshire，Emerson，Ware，Whipple，andmanyothers。

Astorecreativereadingatthisperiod，theauthorwhoexercisedthestrongestinfluenceovermewasCharlesKingsley。Hisnovels``AltonLocke’’and``Yeast’’

interestedmegreatlyineffortsfordoingawaywitholdabusesinEurope，andhis``TwoYearsAfter’’increasedmyhatredfornegroslaveryinAmerica。His``WestwardHo！’’extendedmyknowledgeoftheElizabethanperiodandincreasedmymanliness。Ofthisperiod，too，wasmyreadingofLowell’sPoems，manyofwhichI

greatlyenjoyed。His``BiglowPapers’’wereaperpetualdelight;thedialectwasfamiliartomesince，inthelittleNewEnglandtowntransplantedintotheheartofcentralNewYork，inwhichIwasborn，thelesseducatedpeopleusedit，andthedryanddrollYankeeexpressionsofour``help’’and``hiredman’’wereasourceofconstantamusementinthefamily。

Inmyseventeenthyearcameatrial。MyfatherhadtakenaleadingpartinestablishingaparishschoolforSt。Paul’schurchinSyracuse，inaccordancewiththeHighChurchviewsofourrector，Dr。Gregory，andtherewasfinallycalledtothemastershipayoungcandidatefororders，abrilliantscholarandcharmingman，whohassincebecomeaneminentbishopoftheProtestantEpiscopalChurch。Tohimwasintrustedmyfinalpreparationforcollege。IhadalwaysintendedtoenteroneofthelargerNewEnglanduniversities，butmyteacherwasnaturallyinfavorofhisAlmaMater，andtheinfluenceofourbishop，Dr。deLancey，beingalsothrownpowerfullyintothescale，myfatherinsistedonplacingmeatasmallProtestantEpiscopalcollegeinwesternNewYork。Iwentmostreluctantly。Therewereinthefacultyseveralexcellentmen，oneofwhomafterwardbecameacolleagueofmyowninCornellUniversity，andprovedofthegreatestvaluetoit。Unfortunately，weofthelowercollegeclassescouldhaveverylittleinstructionfromhim;stilltherewasgoodinstructionfromothers;thetutorinGreek，JamesMorrisonClarke，wasoneofthebestscholarsIhaveeverknown。

Itwasintheautumnof1849thatIwentintoresidenceatthelittlecollegeandwasassignedaveryunprepossessingroominaveryuglybarrack。EnteringmynewquartersIsoondiscoveredaboutmevariouscabalisticsigns，someofthemevidentlymadebyheatinglargeironkeys，andpressingthemagainstthewoodwork。OninquiringIfoundthattheroomhadbeenoccupiedsomeyearsbeforebynolessapersonagethanPhilipSpencer，amemberofthefamousSpencerfamilyofAlbany，who，havingpassedsomeyearsatthislittlecollege，andneverhavingbeenabletogetoutofthefreshmanclass，hadgonetoanotherinstitutionofaboutthesamegrade，hadtherefoundedaGreekletterfraternitywhichisnowwidelyspreadamongAmericanuniversities，andthen，throughtheinfluenceofhisfather，whowasSecretaryofWar，hadbeenplacedasamidshipmanunderCommodoreMcKenzieonthebrig—of—warSomers。OnthecoastofAfricaamutinywasdiscovered，andas，onexamination，youngSpencerwasfoundattheheadofit，andpapersdiscoveredinhiscabinrevealedtheplanofseizingtheshipandusingitinacareerofpiracy，theyoungman，inspiteofhisconnectionwithamemberoftheCabinet，washangedattheyard—armwithtwoofhisassociates。

ThemostcuriousrelicofhimatthecollegewaspreservedinthelibraryoftheHermeanSociety。Itwasacopyof``ThePirates’OwnBook’’:aglorificationoftheexploitsof``Blackbeard’’andothergreatfreebooters，profuselyadornedwithillustrationsoftheirjoysandtriumphs。Thisvolumeboreonthefly—leafthewords，``PresentedtotheHermeanSocietybyPhilipSpencer，’’andwasinthosedaysshownasagreatcuriosity。

Thecollegewasatitslowestebb;ofdisciplinetherewasnone;therewereaboutfortystudents，themajorityofthem，sonsofwealthychurchmen，showingnoinclinationtoworkandmuchtendencytodissipation。Theauthoritiesofthecollegecouldnotaffordtoexpelorevenoffendastudent。foritsendowmentwassosmallthatitmusthavealltheinstructionfeespossible，andmustkeepongoodtermswiththewealthyfathersofitsscapegracestudents。Thescapegracessoonfoundthisout，andtheresultwasalittlepandemonium。Onlyaboutadozenofournumberstudiedatall;therest，bytranslations，promptings，andevasionsescapedwithoutlabor。Ihavehadtodosince，asstudent，professor，orlecturer，withsomehalf—dozenlargeuniversitiesathomeandabroad，andinallofthesetogetherhavenotseensomuchcarousingandwilddissipationasIthensawinthislittle``Churchcollege’’ofwhichtheespecialboastwasthat，owingtothesmallnumberofitsstudents，itwas``abletoexerciseadirectChristianinfluenceuponeveryyoungmancommittedtoitscare。’’

TheevidencesofthisChristianinfluencewerenotclear。

Thepresidentofthecollege，Dr。BenjaminHale，wasaclergymanofthehighestcharacter;agoodscholar，anexcellentpreacher，andawiseadministrator;buthisstaturewasverysmall，hisgirthverylarge，andhishairveryyellow。When，then，onthethirteenthdayofthemonth，therewasreadatchapelfromthePsalterthewords，``AndtherewaslittleBenjamin，theirruler，’’

veryirreverentdemonstrationswereoftenmadebythestudents，presumablyengagedinworship;demonstrationssomortifying，indeed，thatatlastthepresidentfrequentlysubstitutedfortheregularPsalmsofthedayoneofthebeautiful``Selections’’ofPsalmswhichtheAmericanEpiscopalChurchhassowiselyincorporatedintoitsprayer—book。

Butthiswasbynomeanstheworstindignitywhichtheseyouth``underdirectChristianinfluence’’

perpetratedupontheirreverendinstructors。Itwasmyprivilegetobeholdaprofessor，anexcellentclergyman，seekingtoquellhideousriotinastudent’sroom，buriedunderaheapofcarpets，mattresses，counterpanes，andblankets;

toseeanotherclericalprofessorforcedtoretirethroughthepanelofadoorunderashoweroflexicons，boots，andbrushes，andtoseeeventhepresidenthimself，ononeoccasion，obligedtoleavehislecture—roombyaladderfromawindow，and，onanother，keptatbaybyashowerofbeer—bottles。

Onefavoriteoccupationwasrollingcannon—ballsalongthecorridorsatmidnight，withfrightfuldinandmuchdamage:atutor，havingonenightbeensuccessfulincatchingandconfiscatingtwoofthese，pouncedfromhisdoorthenextnightuponathird;butthishavingbeenheatednearlytorednessandlaunchedfromashovel，theresultwasthatheworebandagesuponhishandsformanydays。

Mostingeniouswerethemethodsfor``trainingfreshmen，’’——

oneofthemildestbeingtheadministrationofsootandwaterbyahose—pipethrustthroughthebrokenpanelofadoor。AmonggeneralfreaksIrememberseeingahorseturnedintothechapel，andastuffedwolf，dressedinasurplice，placedupontheroofofthatsacrededifice。

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