ButthemostelaboratethingofthekindIeversawwasthebreakingupofa``SecondAdventist’’meetingbyascoreofstudentroysterers。Anitinerantfanatichadtakenanoldwoodenmeeting—houseinthelowerpartofthetown,hadsetuponeithersideofthepulpitlargecanvasrepresentationsofthemanofbrasswithfeetofclay,andotherportentouscharactersoftheprophecies,andthenchallengedtheclergytomeethiminpublicdebate。Attheappointedtimeabodyofcollegeyouthappeared,mostsoberinhabitanddemureinmanner,havingattheirhead``Bill’’HowellofBlackRockand``Tom’’ClarkofManlius,thetwowildestmiscreantsinthesophomoreclass,eachoversixfeettall,thelatterdressedasarespectablefarmer,andtheformerasacountryclergyman,wearingadress—coat,awhitecravat,atallblackhatwrappedincrape,leaningonaheavy,ivory—knobbedcane,andcarryingostentatiouslyaGreekTestament。Thesedisguisedmalefactors,havingtakentheirseatsinthegallerydirectlyfacingthepulpit,thelecturerexpressedhis``satisfactionatseeingclergymenpresent,’’andbeganhisdemonstrations。Foraboutfiveminutesallwentwell;then``Bill’’Howellsolemnlyaroseand,inasnufflingvoice,askedpermissiontosubmitafewtextsfromscripture。Permissionbeinggranted,heputonahugepairofgoggles,solemnlyopenedhisGreekTestament,reademphaticallythefirstpassagewhichattractedhisattentionandimpressivelyaskedthelecturerwhathehadtosaytoit。Atthis,thelecturer,greatlypuzzled,askedwhatthereverendgentlemanwasreading。UponthisHowellreadinNewTestamentGreekanotherutterlyirrelevantpassage。Inreplythelecturersaid,ratherroughly,``IfyouwillspeakEnglishIwillansweryou。’’
  AtthisHowellsaidwiththemosthumblesuavity,``DoIunderstandthatthedistinguishedgentlemandoesnotrecognizewhatIhavebeenreading?’’Thepreacheranswered,``Idon’tunderstandanysuchgibberish;
  speakEnglish。’’ThereuponHowellthrewbackhislongblackhairandlaunchedforthintoeloquentdenunciationasfollows:``Sir,isitpossiblethatyoucomeheretointerprettoustheHolyBibleanddonotrecognizethelanguageinwhichthatblessedbookwaswritten?Sir,doyoudaretocalltheverywordsoftheAlmighty`gibberish?’’’Atthisallwasletloose;somestudentsputasafetidaonthestove;othersthrewpigeon—shotagainsttheceilingandwindows,makingamostappallingdin,andonewretchputindeadlyworkwithasyringethrustthroughthecanvasrepresentationofthemanofbrasswithfeetofclay。But,alas,ConstableJohnDeyhadrecognizedHowellandClark,evenamidtheirdisguises。
  Hehaddealtwiththemtoooftenbefore。Thenexttableaushowedthem,withtheirtallhatscrushedovertheirheads,belaboringJohnDeyandhismyrmidons,andpresently,withhalfadozenotheringenuousyouth,theywerehaledtotheofficeofjustice。Theyoungjudgewhoofficiatedonthisoccasionwasnoneotherthanapersonagewhowillbementionedwithgreatrespectmorethanonceinthesereminiscences,——CharlesJamesFolger,——
  afterwardmycolleagueintheStateSenate,ChiefJusticeoftheStateandSecretaryoftheTreasuryoftheUnitedStates。HehadmetHowelloften,fortheyweremembersofthesameGreekletterfraternity,——thethriceillustriousSigmaPhi,——and,onlyafewdaysbefore,Howellhadpresentedmetohim;buttherewasnofraternalbondvisiblenow;justicewassternlyimplacable,andgoodroundfineswereimposeduponalltheculpritscaught。
  Thephilosophyofallthiswaywardnessanddissipationwasverysimple。Therewasnootheroutletfortheanimalspiritsoftheseyouth。Athleticswereunknown;therewasnogymnasium,noball—playing,and,thoughthecollegewassituatedontheshoreofoneofthemostbeautifullakesintheworld,noboating。AsregardsmyownpersonalrelationtothisconditionofthingsIhavepictured,itwasmorethatofagood—naturedspectatorthanofanactiveaccomplice。Mynearestfriendswereinthethickofit,butmytasteskeptmeoutofmostofit。Iwasfondofbooks,and,inthelittlestudent’slibraryinmycollegebuildingIreveled。Moreover,Ithenbegantoaccumulateformyselfthelibrarywhichhassincegrowntosuchlargeproportions。Stillthewholelifeoftheplacebecamemoreandmoreunsatisfactorytome,andIdetermined,atanycost,toescapefromitandfindsomeseatoflearningwheretherewaslessfrolicandmorestudy。
  CHAPTERII
  YALEANDEUROPE——1850—1857
  AtthecloseofmyyearatthelittleWesternNewYorkCollegeIfeltthatitwasenoughtimewasted,and,anxioustotryforsomethingbetter,urgeduponmyfathermydesiretogotooneofthelargerNewEnglanduniversities。
  Buttothishewouldnotlisten。HewasassuredbytheauthoritiesofthelittlecollegethatIhadbeendoingwell,andhischurchmanship,aswellashisrespectforthebishop,ledhimtodowhatwasveryunusualwithhim——torefusemyrequest。Uptothisperiodhehadallowedmetotakemyowncourse;butnowhewasdeterminedthatI
  shouldtakehis。Hewasoneofthekindestofmen,buthehadsternideasastopropersubordination,andthesehefeltithisdutytomaintain。Iwasobligedtomakeacoupd’tat,andforatimeitcostmedear。Bravingthecensureoffamilyandfriends,intheearlyautumnof1850I
  deliberatelyleftthecollege,andtookrefugewithmyoldinstructorP————,whohadpreparedmeforcollegeatSyracuse,andwhowasnowprincipaloftheacademyatMoravia,neartheheadofOwascoLake,somefiftymilesdistant。Tothusdefythewishesofthosedearesttomewasaseriousmatter。Myfatheratfirsttookitdeeplytoheart。Hisletterswereverysevere。Hethoughtmycareerwrecked,avowedthathehadlostallinterestinit,anddeclaredthathewouldratherhavereceivednewsofmydeaththanofsuchadisgrace。ButIknewthatmydearmotherwasonmyside。Herlettersremainedasaffectionateasever;andIdeterminedtoatoneformydisobe—
  diencebysevereandsystematicwork。Ibegantostudymoreearnestlythaneverbefore,reviewedmymathematicsandclassicsvigorously,andbeganacourseofreadingwhichhashadgreatinfluenceonallmylifesince。
  AmongmybookswasD’Aubigne’s``HistoryoftheReformation。’’
  Itsdeficiencieswerenotofasorttoharmme,itsvigorandenthusiasmgavemeagreatimpulse。Inotonlyreadbutstudiedit,andfolloweditwitheveryotherbookonthesubjectthatIcouldfind。Noreadingeverdidamanmoregood。Itnotonlystrengthenedanddeepenedmybetterpurposes,butitcontinuedpowerfullytheimpulsegivenmebythehistoricalnovelsofScott,andleddirectlytomydevotingmyselftothestudyandteachingofmodernhistory。Ofotherbookswhichinfluencedmeaboutthisperiod,Emerson’s``RepresentativeMen’’wasone;anotherwasCarlyle’s``PastandPresent,’’inwhichtheoldAbbotofBurybecameoneofmyideals;stillanotherwasBuskin’s``SevenLampsofArchitecture’’;
  andtosuchadegreethatthisarthasgiventomylifesomeofitsgreatestpleasures。Ruskinwasthenathisbest。
  Hehadnotyetbeensweptfromhisbearingsbypopularapplause,orintoxicatedbyhisownverbosity。Inlateryearshelostallinfluenceoverme,for,inspiteofhiswonderfulstyle,hebecametrivial,whimsical,peevish,goody—goody;——talkingtogrownmenandwomenasadyspepticSunday—schoolteachermightlaydownthelawtoclassesoflittlegirls。Asregardsthislaterperiod,MaxNordauisundoubtedlyrightinspeakingofRuskin’smindas``turbidandfallacious’’;butthetimeofwhichIspeakwashisbest,andhisinfluenceuponmewasgood。Irememberespeciallythathis``LampofPower’’madeaverydeepimpressionuponme。Carlyle,too,wasathisbest。Hewasthesimple,strongpreacher;——withnothingofthespoiledcynicheafterwardbecame。
  Thestayofthreemonthswithmyfriend——thefuturebishop——inthelittlecountrytown,wasalsogoodformephysically。Inourhoursofrecreationweroamedthroughtheneighboringwoods,shootingsquirrelsandpigeonswithexcellenteffectonmyhealth。MeantimeIkeptupmycorrespondencewithallthemembersofthefamilysavemyfather;——fromhimtherewasnosign。Butatlastcameapieceofgoodnews。Hewasveryfondofmusic,andonthearrivalofJennyLindintheUnitedStateshewenttoNewYorktoattendherconcerts。Duringoneofthesemymotherturnedsuddenlytowardhimandsaid:
  ``Whatapitythattheboycannothearthis;howhewouldenjoyit!’’Myfatheranswered,``Tellhimtocomehomeandseeus。’’Mymother,ofcourse,wasnotslowinwritingme,andafewdayslatermyfathercordiallygreetedmyhome—coming,andalldifficultiesseemedover。
  ShortlyafterChristmashestartedwithmeforYale;buttheresoonappearedalioninthepath。OurroutelaythroughHartford,theseatofTrinityCollege,andtomyconsternationIfoundatthelastmomentthathehadlettersfromourrectorandotherstothepresidentandprofessorsofthatinstitution。Stillmorealarming,wehadhardlyenteredthetrainwhenmyfatherdiscoveredaTrinitystudentonboard。Ofcourse,theyouthspokeinthehighesttermsofhiscollegeandofhisfaculty,andmoreandmoremyfatherwaspleasedwiththeideaofstayingadayortwoatHartford,takingalookatTrinity,andpresentingourlettersofintroduction。DuringaconsiderablyextendedcareerinthediplomaticserviceIhavehadvariousoccasionstoexercisetact,care,anddiscretion,butIdonotthinkthatmyeffortsonallthesetogetherequaledthosewhichIthenputforthtoavoidstoppingatHartford。Atlastmyfatheraskedme,ratherseverely,whyIcaredsomuchaboutgoingtoNewHaven,andI
  framedanansweroffhandtomeetthecase,sayingthatYalehadaninfinitelyfinerlibrarythanTrinity。Thereuponhesaid,``Myboy,ifyouwillgotoTrinityCollegeIwillgiveyouthebestprivatelibraryintheUnitedStates。’’Isaid,``No,IamgoingtoNewHaven;IstartedforNewHaven,andIwillgothere。’’Ihadneverbravedhimbefore。Hesaidnotaword。WepassedquietlythroughHartford,andadayortwolaterIwasenteredatYale。
  Itwasahappychange。Irespectedtheinstitution,foritsdiscipline,thoughattimesharsh,was,onthewhole,just,andtherebycameagreatgaintomyownself—respect。
  Butastotheeducationgiven,neverwasamanmoredisappointedatfirst。Thepresidentandprofessorsweremenofhighcharacterandattainments;buttothelowerclassestheinstructionwasgivenalmostentirelybytutors,whotookupteachingforbread—winningwhilegoingthroughthedivinityschool。Naturallymostoftheworkdoneunderthesewasperfunctory。Therewastoomuchrecitingbyroteandtoolittlerealintercoursebetweenteacherandtaught。Theinstructorsatinabox,heardstudents’translationswithoutindicatinganythingbetter,andtheiranswerstoquestionswithveryfewsuggestionsorremarks。Thefirsttext—bookinGreekwasXenophon’s``Memorabilia,’’andoneofthefirstmencalledupwasmyclassmateDelanoGoddard。Hemadeanexcellenttranslation,——clean,clear,inthoroughlygoodEnglish;butheelicitednoattentionfromtheinstructor,andwasthenputthroughsundrygrammaticalpuzzles,amongwhichhefloundereduntilstoppedbytheword,``Sufficient。’’Soonafterwardanotherwascalledupwhorattledoffgliblyatranslationwithoutoneparticleofliterarymerit,andwasthenpliedwiththeusualgrammaticalquestions。Beingaskedto``synopsize’’theGreekverb,hewentthroughthevariousmoodsandtenses,inallsortsofwaysandinallpossiblecombinations,histonguerattlingliketheclapperofamill。Whenhesatdownmynextneighborsaidtome,``thatmanwillbeourvaledictorian。’’Thisdisgustedme。IfthatwasthestyleofclassicalscholarshipatYale,Iknewthattherewasnothinginitforme。Itturnedoutasmyfriendsaid。Thatglibreciterdidbecomethevaledictorianoftheclass,butsteppedfromthecommencementstageintonothingness,andwasneverheardofmore。Goddardbecametheeditorofoneofthemostimportantmetropolitannews—
  papersoftheUnitedStates,and,beforehisearlydeath,distinguishedhimselfasawriteronpoliticalandhistoricaltopics。
  NorwasitanybetterinLatin。Wewerereading,duringthattermthe``DeSenectute’’ofCicero,——abeautifulbook;buttoourtutoritwasneithermorenorlessthanaseriesofpegsonwhichtohangZumpt’srulesforthesubjunctivemood。Thetranslationwashurriedthrough,asoflittleaccount。Thencamequestionsregardingthesubjunctives;——questionstowhichveryfewmembersoftheclassgaveanyrealattention。ThebestLatinscholarintheclass,G。W。S————,sincesodistinguishedastheLondoncorrespondentofthe``NewYorkTribune,’’and,atpresent,astheNewYorkcorrespondentoftheLondon``Times,’’havingonedayannouncedtosomeofus,——withaveryroundexpletive,——thathewouldanswernomoresuchfoolishquestions,thetutorsoondiscoveredhisrecalcitrancy,andthenceforwardpliedhimwithsuchquestionsandnothingelse。S————alwaysansweredthathewasnotpreparedonthem;withtheresultthatattheJuniorExhibitionhereceivednoplaceontheprogramme。
  Inthejunioryearmattersimprovedsomewhat;but,thoughtheprofessorsweremostofthemreallydistinguishedmen,andoneatleast,JamesHadley,ascholarwho,atBerlinorLeipsic,wouldhavedrawnthrongsofstudentsfromallChristendom,theywerefetteredbyasystemwhichmadeeverythingofgerund—grindingandnothingofliterature。
  Theworstfeatureofthejunioryearwasthefactthatthroughtwoterms,duringfivehourseachweek,``recitations’’
  wereheardbyatutorin``Olmsted’sNaturalPhilosophy。’’
  Thetext—bookwassimplyrepeatedbyrote。Notonestudentinfiftytooktheleastinterestinit;andthemanwhocouldgivethewordsofthetextmostgliblysecuredthebestmarks。Oneexceedinglyunfortunateresultofthiskindofinstructionwasthatitsodisgustedtheclasswiththewholesubject,thatthereallyexcellentlecturesofProfessorOlmsted,illustratedbyprobablythebestapparatusthenpossessedbyanyAmericanuniversity,werevotedabore。AlmostasbadwasthehistoricalinstructiongivenbyProfessorJamesHadley。Itconsistedsimplyinhearingthestudentrepeatfrommemorythedatesfrom``Ptz’sAncientHistory。’’HowamansogiftedasHadleycouldhaveallowedanypartofhisworktobesoworthless,itishardtounderstand。And,worseremainedbehind。HehadchargeoftheclassinThucydides;butwitheverygiftformakingitameansofgreatgoodtous,hetaughtitintheperfunctorywayofthatperiod;——callingoneachstudenttoconstrueafewlines,askingafewgrammaticalquestions,andthen,withhardlyeveranoteorcomment,allowinghimtositdown。
  TwoorthreetimesduringatermsomethingwouldoccurtodrawHadleyout,andthenitdelightedusalltohearhim。Irecall,tothishour,withtheutmostpleasure,someofhisremarkswhichthrewbrightlightintothegeneralsubject;butalas!theywerefewandfarbetween。
  ThesamethingmustbesaidofProfessorThatcher’sinstructioninTacitus。Itwasalwaysthesamemechanicalsortofthing,with,occasionally,afewremarkswhichreallyarousedinterest。
  InthesenioryeartheinfluenceofPresidentWoolseyandProfessorPorterwasstrongforgood。Thoughthe``Yalesystem’’fetteredthemsomewhat,theirpersonalityoftenbrokethroughit。YetitamazesmetorememberthatduringaconsiderableportionofoursenioryearnolessamanthanWoolseygaveinstructioninhistorybyhearingmenrecitethewordsofatext—book;——andthattext—booktheRev。JohnLord’slittle,populartreatiseonthe``ModernHistoryofEurope!’’FarbetterwasWoolsey’sinstructioninGuizot。Thatwasstimulating。
  Itnotonlygavesomeknowledgeofhistory,butsuggestedthoughtuponit。Inthishewasathisbest。HehadnotatthattimebegunhisnewcareerasaprofessorofInternationalLaw,andthatsubjectwastreatedbyakindlyoldgovernoroftheState,inabriefcourseofinstruction,whichwas,onthewhole,ratherinadequate。ProfessorPorter’sinstructioninphilosophyopenedoureyesandledustodosomethinkingforourselves。Inpoliticaleconomy,duringthesenioryear,PresidentWoolseyheardtheseniorclass``recite’’fromWayland’ssmalltreatise,whichwassimplyanabridgedpresentationoftheManchesterview,themostvaluablepartofthisinstructionbeingtheremarksbyWoolseyhimself,whodiscussedcontrovertedquestionsbrieflybutwell。Healsodelivered,duringoneterm,acourseoflecturesuponthehistoricalrelationsbetweentheGermanStates,whichhadsomeinterest,but,notbeingconnectedwithourpreviousinstruction,tooklittleholduponus。Astonaturalscience,wehadinchemistryandgeology,doubtless,thebestcoursesthenofferedintheUnitedStates。ThefirstwasgivenbyBenjaminSilliman,theelder,anAmericanpioneerinscience,andareallygreatcharacter;thesecond,byJamesDwightDana,andinhislecture—roomonefelthimselfinthehandsofamaster。Icannotforgivemyselfforhavingyieldedtothegeneralindifferenceoftheclasstowardallthisinstruction。Itwaslistlesslyheard,andgrievouslyneglected。Thefaultwasmainlyourown;
  ——butitwaspartlydueto``TheSystem,’’whichledstudentstoneglectallstudieswhichdidnottellupon``marks’’and``standing。’’
  Strangetosay,therewasnot,duringmywholecourseatYale,alectureuponanyperiod,subject,orpersoninliterature,ancientormodern:——ouronlyresource,inthisfield,beingthepopularlecturecoursesinthetowneachwinter,whichgenerallycontainedoneortwopresentationsofliterarysubjects。Ofthese,thatwhichmadethegreatestimpressionuponmewasbyRalphWaldoEmerson。
  Sundrylecturesinmyjunioryear,byWhipple,andatalaterperiodbyGeorgeWilliamCurtis,alsoinfluencedme。ItwasoneofthegoldenperiodsofEnglishliterature,theclimaxoftheVictorianepoch;——theperiodofWordsworth,Tennyson,andtheBrownings,ofThackerayandDickens,ofMacaulayandCarlyleononesideoftheAtlantic,andofEmerson,Irving,Hawthorne,Ban—
  croft,Prescott,Motley,Lowell,Longfellow,HoraceBushnell,andtheircompeersontheother。Hencecamestronginfluences;butindealingwiththemwewerelefttoourselves。
  Veryimportantinshapingmyintellectualdevelopmentatthistimeweremyfellow—students。Theclassof1853
  wasaverylargeoneforthatday,andembracedfarmorethantheusualproportionofactive—mindedmen。Walksandtalkswiththesewereofgreatvaluetome;thencecamesomeofmybestimpulsesandsuggestionstoreadingandthought。
  EspeciallyfortunatewasIinmy``chum,’’thefriendthatstoodclosesttome。HewasthemostconservativeyoungmanIeverknew,andattheveryoppositepolefrommeoneveryconceivablesubject。Buthisdeeplyreligiouscharacter,histhoroughscholarship,andhisrealdevotiontomywelfare,wereveryprecioustome。Ourverydifferenceswereuseful,sincetheyobligedmetorevisewithespecialcareallmymainconvictionsandtrainsofthought。Heisnow,atthispresentwriting,theBishopofMichigan,andamostnobleandaffectionatepastorofhisflock。
  Themainsubjectsofinteresttousallhadapoliticalbearing。Literaturewasconsideredasmainlysubsidiarytopoliticaldiscussion。Thegreatthemes,inthemindsofthosewhotriedtodoanythinking,wereconnectedwiththetremendouspoliticalstrugglethendrawingtowarditsclimaxincivilwar。Valuabletomewasmymembershipofsundrystudentfraternities。Theywerevealy,buttherewassomenourishmentinthem;byfarthebestofallbeingaseniorclubwhich,thoughithadadoptedahideousemblem,wasdevotedtooffhanddiscussionsofsocialandpoliticalquestions;——onthewhole,thebestclubIhaveeverknown。
  Thestudieswhichinterestedmemostwerepoliticalandhistorical;fromclassicalstudiesthegerund—grindingandrecitingbyrotehadcompletelyweanedme。OneofourLatintutors,havingsaidtome:``Ifyouwouldtryyoucouldbecomeafirst—rateclassicalscholar,’’Ianswered:
  ``Mr。B————,Ihavenoambitiontobecomeaclassicalscholar,asscholarshipisunderstoodhere。’’
  Idevotedmyselfallthemoreassiduouslytostudyonmyownlines,especiallyinconnectionwiththesubjectstaughtbyPresidentWoolseyinthesenioryear,andtheonethingwhichencouragedmewasthat,atthepublicreadingofessays,mineseemedtointeresttheclass。Yetmyfirsttrialofstrengthwithmyclassmatesinthisrespectdidnotapparentlyturnoutverywell。Itwasataprizedebate,inoneofthelargeopensocieties,butwhileIhadpreparedmyspeechwithcare,Ihadgivennothoughttoitspresentation,and,asaresult,thejudgespassedmeby。NextdayatutortoldmethatProfessorPorterwishedtoseeme。Hehadbeenoneofthejudges,butitneveroccurredtomethathecouldhavesummonedmeforanythingsavesometransgressionofcollegerules。
  But,onmyarrivalathisroom,hebegandiscussingmyspeech,saidsomeverykindthingsofitsmatter,alludedtosomedefectsinitsmanner,andallwithakindnesswhichwonmyheart。Thusbeganawarmpersonalfriendshipwhichlastedthroughhisprofessorshipandpresidencytotheendofhislife。Hiskindlycriticismwaswortheverythingtome;itdidfarmoreformethananyprizecouldhavedone。Fewprofessorsrealizehowmuchalittlefriendlyrecognitionmaydoforastudent。TothishourIblessDr。Porter’smemory。
  Nordidmysecondeffort,acompetitioninessay—writing,turnoutmuchbetter。Myessaywastoolabored,toolong,toocrabbedlywritten,anditbroughtmeonlyhalfathirdprize。
  Thiswasinthesophomoreyear。Butinthejunioryearcameafarmoreimportantcompetition;thatfortheYaleLiteraryGoldMedal,andwithoutanynoticeofmyintentiontoanyperson,Ideterminedtotryforit。Beingopentotheentireuniversity,theuniversalexpectationwasthatitwouldbeawardedtoasenior,ashadhithertobeenthecase,andspeculationswererifeastowhatmem—
  berofthegraduatingclasswouldtakeit。Whenthecommitteemadetheirawardtotheessayon``TheGreaterDistinctionsinStatesmanship,’’openedthesealedenvelopesandassignedtheprizetome,ajunior,therewasgreatsurprise。Theencouragementcametomejustattherighttime,anddidmegreatgood。Later,therewereawardedtomethefirstClarkePrizeforthediscussionofapoliticalsubject,andtheDeForestGoldMedal,thenthemostimportantpremiumawardedintheuniversity,mysubjectbeing,``TheDiplomaticHistoryofModernTimes。’’Somedetailsregardingthislattersuccessmayservetoshowcertainwaysinwhichinfluencecanbeexertedpowerfullyuponayoungman。ThesubjecthadbeensuggestedtomebyhearingEdwinForrestinBulwer’sdramaof``Richelieu。’’Thecharacterofthegreatcardinal,thegreateststatesmanthatFrancehasproduced,madeadeepimpressionuponme,andsuggestedthesubjectsinboththeYaleLiteraryandtheDeForestcompetitions,givingmenotonlytheinitialimpulse,butmaintainingthatinteresttowhichmysuccesswaslargelydue。
  Anotherspurtosuccesswasevenmoreeffective。Havingonedayreceivedatelegramfrommyfather,askingmetomeethiminNewYork,Ididso,andpassedanhourwithhim,allthetimeatalosstoknowwhyhehadsentforme。But,finally,justasIwasleavingthehoteltoreturntoNewHaven,hesaid,``Bytheway,thereisstillanotherprizetobecompetedfor,thelargestofall。’’
  ``Yes,’’Ianswered,``theDeForest;butIhavelittlechanceforthat;forthoughIshallprobablybeoneofthesixTownsendprizemenadmittedtothecompetition,thereareotherspeakerssomuchbetter,thatIhavelittlehopeoftakingit。’’Hegavemeratheracontemptuouslook,andsaid,somewhatscornfully:``IfIwereoneofthefirstSIXcompetitors,inaclassofoverahundredmen,IwouldtryhardtobethefirstONE。’’Thatwasall。Hesaidnothingmore,exceptgood—bye。OnmywaytoNewHavenIthoughtmuchofthis,andonarriving,wenttoastudent,whohadsomereputationasanelocutionist,andengagedhimforacourseinvocalgymnastics。Whenhewishedmetorecitemyorationbeforehim,Ideclined,sayingthatitmustbespokeninmyownway,notinhis;thathiswaymightbebetter,butthatminewasmyown,andI
  wouldhavenoother。Heconfinedhimself,therefore,toacourseofvocalgymnastics,andtheresultwasasurprisetomyselfandallmyfriends。Myvoice,frombeingweakandhollow,becameround,strong,andflexible。
  Ithenwenttoastudentintheclassabovemyown,anaturalandforciblespeaker,andmadeanarrangementwithhimtohearmepronouncemyoration,fromtimetotime,andtocriticizeitinacommon—senseway。Thishedid。Atpassageswherehethoughtmymannerwrong,heraisedhisfinger,gavemeanimitationofmymanner,thengavethepassageinthewayhethoughtbest,andallowedmetochoosebetweenhisandmine。Theresultwasthat,atthepubliccompetition,Iwassuccessful。ThisexperiencetaughtmewhatIconceivetobethetruetheoryofelocutionarytraininginouruniversities——vocalgymnastics,ononeside;common—sensecriticism,ontheother。
  Astomyphysicaleducation:withaconstitutionfarfromrobust,therewasneedofspecialcare。Fortunately,Itooktoboating。Inaneight—oaredboat,spinningdowntheharbororuptheriver,withG。W。S————atthestroke——asearnestanddeterminedintheUndinethenasintheNewYorkofficeoftheLondon``Times’’now,everyconditionwassatisfiedforbodilyexerciseandmentalrecreation。
  IcannotrefrainfrommentioningthatourclubsentthefirstchallengetorowthateverpassedbetweenYaleandHarvard,eventhoughIamobligedtoconfessthatweweresoundlybeaten;butneitherthatdefeatatLakeQuinsigamond,northemanyabsurditieswhichhavegrownoutofsuchcompetitionssince,havepreventedmyremaininganapostleofcollegeboatingfromthatdaytothis。Ifguardedbycommon—senserulesenforcedwithfirmnessbycollegefaculties,itgivesthemaximumofhealthfulexercise,withaminimumofdanger。Themostdetestableproductofcollegelifeisthesicklycynic;andathor—
  oughcourseinboating,underagoodstrokeoar,doesasmuchasanythingtomakehimimpossible。
  AtthecloseofmyundergraduatelifeatYaleIwentabroadfornearlythreeyears,andfortunatelyhad,foratime,oneofthebestofcompanions,mycollegemate,Gilman,laterpresidentofJohnsHopkinsUniversity,andnowoftheCarnegieInstitution,whowasthen,ashehasbeeneversince,asourceofgoodinspirationstome,——
  especiallyintheformationofmyideasregardingeducation。DuringthefewweeksIthenpassedinEnglandI
  sawmuchwhichbroadenedmyviewsinvariousways。
  Historywasmadealivetomebyrapidstudiesofpersonsandplaceswhiletraveling,andespeciallywasthisthecaseduringashortvisittoOxford,whereIreceivedsomestrongimpressions,whichwillbereferredtoinanotherchapter。DiningatChristChurchwithOsborneGordon,aneminenttutorofthatperiod,IwasespeciallyinterestedinhisaccountsofJohnRuskin,whohadbeenhispupil。
  Then,andafterward,whileenjoyingthehospitalitiesofvariouscollegesatOxfordandCambridge,Isawtheexcellenciesoftheirtutorialsystem,butalsohadmyeyesopenedtosomeoftheirdeficiencies。
  GoingthencetoParisIsettleddowninthefamilyofaveryintelligentFrenchprofessor,whereIremainednearlyayear。NotawordofEnglishwasspokeninthefamily;and,withthedailylessoninaFrenchmethod,andlecturesattheSorbonneandCollgedeFrance,thenewlanguagesoonbecamefamiliar。Thelecturesthenheardstrengthenedmyconceptionofwhatauniversityshouldbe。AmongmyprofessorsweresuchmenasSt。
  MarcGirardin,Arnould,and,atalaterperiod,Laboulaye。
  Inconnectionwiththelecture—roomwork,mystudiesinmodernhistorywerecontinued,especiallybyreadingGuizot,Thierry,Mignet,Thiers,Chteaubriand,andothers,besideshearingvariousmasterpiecesinFrenchdramaticliterature,asgivenattheThtreFranais,whereRachelwastheninherglory,andattheOdon,whereMlle。
  Georges,whohadbegunhercareerunderthefirstNapoleon,wasendingitunderNapoleonIII。
  MyfavoritesubjectofstudywastheFrenchRevolution,and,intheintervalsofreadingandlectures,Isoughtoutnotonlythespotsnotedinitshistory,butthemenwhohadtakenpartinit。AttheHteldesInvalidesI
  talkedwitholdsoldiers,veteransoftheRepublicandoftheNapoleonicperiod,discussingwiththemtheeventsthroughwhichtheyhadpassed;and,atvariousotherplacesandtimes,withcivilianswhohadheardorationsattheJacobinandCordelierclubs,andhadseentheguillotineatwork。ThemostinterestingofmyoldsoldiersattheInvalidesworeuponhisbreastthecrossoftheLegionofHonor,whichhehadreceivedfromNapoleonatAusterlitz。StillanotherhadmadethefrightfulmarchesthroughtheSpanishPeninsulaunderSoult,andevidentlyfeltveryhumbleinthepresenceofthosewhohadtakenpartinthemorefamouscampaignsunderNapoleonhimself。Thehistoryofanotherofmyoldsoldierswaspathetic。Hewasleddailyintothecabaret,wheremyguestswerewonttofighttheirbattleso’eragain,hiseyesabsolutelysightless,andhishairaswhiteassnow。GettingintoconversationwithhimIlearnedthathehadgonetoEgyptwithBonaparte,hadfoughtattheBattleofthePyramids,hadbeenblindedbytheglaringsunonthesandofthedesert,andhadbeenaninmateattheInvalideseversince;——morethanhalfacentury。AtalaterperiodIheardfromanotherofmyacquaintanceshow,asaschoolboy,hesawNapoleonbesidehiscamp—fireatCannes,justafterhislandingfromElba。
  TherestillremainedatParis,inthosedays,onemainconnectinglinkbetweenthesecondempireandthefirst,andthiswasthemostcontemptibleofalltheBonapartes,——
  theyoungerbrotherofthegreatNapoleon,——
  Jrome,ex—kingofWestphalia。Isawhim,fromtimetotime,andwasmuchstruckbyhisresemblancetothefirstemperor。Thoughtaller,hestillhadsomethingofthatRomanimperiallook,soremarkableinthefounderofthefamily;butinJrome,italwaysrecalledtomesuchCaesarsasTiberiusandVitellius。
  Itwaswellknownthattheex—king,aswellashisson,PrinceJromeNapoleon,werethornsinthesideofNapoleonIII,andmanystoriesillustratingthiswerecurrentduringmystayinParis,thebest,perhaps,beingananswermadebyNapoleonIIItoanotherrepresentativeofhisfamily。Thequestionhavingbeenasked,``Whatisthedifferencebetweenanaccidentandamisfortune(unaccidentetunmalheur)?’’theemperoranswered。
  ``Ifmycousin,PrinceNapoleon,shouldfallintotheSeine,itwouldbeanACCIDENT;ifanybodyweretopullhimout,itwouldbeaMISFORTUNE。’’Althoughthiscousinhadsomeoratoricalability,bothheandhisfatherweremostthoroughlydespised。Thesonborethenicknameof``Plon—Plon,’’probablywithsomereferencetohisreputationforcowardice;thefatherhadwontheappellationof``LeRoiLoustic,’’and,indeed,hadthecreditofintroducingintotheFrenchlanguagetheword``loustic,’’
  derivedfromthefactthat,duringhisshortreignatCassel,KingJromewaswont,afterthenightlyorgiesathispalace,todismisshiscourtierswiththewords:``Morgenwiederloustic,Messieurs。’’
  Duringthesummerof1854Iemployedmyvacationinlongwalksanddriveswithacollegeclassmatethroughnorthern,western,andcentralFrance,includingPicardy,Normandy,Brittany,andTouraine,visitingthespotsofmosthistoricalandarchitecturalinterest。Therewere,atthattime,fewrailwaysinthoseregions,soweputonblousesandtooktotheroad,sendingourlightbaggageaheadofus,andcarryingonlyknapsacks。Ineverywayitprovedamostvaluableexperience。Pleasantlycomebacktomemywalksandtalkswiththepeasantry,andvividlydwellinmymemorythecathedralsofBeauvais,Amiens,Rouen,Bayeux,Coutances,LeMans,Tours,Chartres,andOrlans,thefortressofMontSt。Michel,theChteauxofChenonceaux,Chambord,Nantes,Am—
  boise,andAngers,thetombsoftheAngevinekingsatFontevrault,andthestonecottageofLouisXIatClry。
  VisitingthegraveofChteaubriandatSt。Malo,wemetalittleoldgentleman,bentwithage,butverybriskandchatty。Hewasstandingwithapartyoffriendsononesideofthetomb,whilewestoodontheother。Presently,oneofthegentlemeninhiscompanycameoverandaskedournames,sayingthathisagedcompanionwasagreatadmirerofChteaubriand,andwasanxioustoknowsomethingofhisfellowpilgrims。TothisImadeanswer,whenmyinterlocutorinformedmethattheoldgentlemanwasthePrincedeRohan—Soubise。Shortlyafterwardtheoldgentlemancameroundtousandbeganconversation,andonmymakinganswerinawaywhichshowedthatIknewhistitle,heturnedrathersharplyonmeandsaid,``Howdoyouknowthat?’’TothisImadeanswerthateveninAmericawehadheardtheverse:
  ``Roi,jenepuis,Princenedaigne,Rohanjesuis。’’
  Atthisheseemedgreatlypleased,graspedmyhand,andlaunchedatonceintoextendedconversation。HisgreatanxietywastoknowwhowastobethefuturekingofourRepublic,andheaskedespeciallywhetherWashingtonhadleftanydirectdescendants。Onmyansweringinthenegative,heinsistedthatwewouldhavetofindsomedescendantinthecollateralline,``for,’’saidhe,``youcan’tescapeit;nonationcangetalongforanyconsiderabletimewithoutamonarch。’’
  ReturningtoParisIresumedmystudies,and,attherequestofMr。Randall,thebiographerofJefferson,madesomesearchintheFrencharchivesforcorrespondencebetweenJeffersonandRobespierre,——searchmaderathertoputanendtocalumnythanforanyotherpurpose。
  AtthecloseofthisstayinFrance,bythekindnessoftheAmericanministertoRussia,GovernorSeymour,ofConnecticut,IwasinvitedtoSt。Petersburg,asanattach
  oftheAmericanLegation,andresidedforoversixmonthsinhishousehold。Itwasamostinterestingperiod。TheCrimeanWarwasgoingon,andthedeathoftheEmperorNicholas,duringmystay,enabledmetoseehowagreatchangeinautocraticadministrationisaccomplished。Animportantpartofmydutywastoaccompanytheministerasaninterpreter,notonlyatcourt,butinhisinterviewswithNesselrode,Gortschakoff,andotherstheninpower。