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。