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，andOrlans，andClry，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。