DARTMOUTH LIFE IN 1836
An interesting letter has come to the Collegethrough the courtesy of Professor Adelbert Ames,himself a grandson of one of the students to whomthe letter was addressed. It was written on October10, 1836, by Hewett C. Fessenden of the class of1838 to Benjamin F. Butler and N. G. Rogers, thenstudents at Waterville College, later named ColbyCollege, in Maine. The letter is interesting notonly for the intimate picture of college life in the'30's which it presents but also through the factthat it was addressed to a man who later occupieda large position in the life of the country. Thewriter of the letter evidently transferred to Dartmouth from Waterville at the beginning of hisjunior year. He was a native of New Gloucester,Maine, and after graduating from Dartmouth studied medicine in Portland and Bowdoin MedicalCollege where he graduated in 1841. He practisedin Saco, and Eastport, Maine, and also served asacting assistant surgeon in the United States army.He died on October 22, 1885, at Eastport, Maine.
GETTING INTO STUDENT LIFE
DARTMOUTH College, Hanover, an old room in an old black house, Oct. 10 or 11. To old Ben Butler and Old Nat Rogers what live (or as Goodenow and Kelley have it "viviunt, studiunt, et dormiunt) in my old room No. 10, N. C. as I expect. Now my good fellows just stop cursing me for not writing sooner; I hear you, so now just stop and listen to my excuse and then if you will scold you may and be hanged to you. When I first arrived at Hanover, your term at W had not commenced and of course I could not write to you then. Well, for a fortnight I had enough to do, because you know upon just entering I ought to get my lessons well to show 'em I was not a dunce. I joined one of the Societies belonging to the college and they put an oration on to me the first thing. I tried to shirk off but couldn't. Blast their eyes! It was too bad, but I had to submit. As I was a Waterville student they expected something large (for the W students are esteemed as good scholars and writers) and I thought if I could I would keep up the name of W College. That kept me at it a good fortnight upon the tight jump and last Wednesday night I made my "debut" in the beau monde, i.e. I delivered my oration—felt a little frightened at firstgathered courage as I advanced and dashed on like a house on fire till I got through. Now isn't my excuse a good one? If it isn't I can't help it, so help me Hannah Blake. D'ye know her?
But to leave my nonsense, I take it you would like to hear how matters are here. The Profs I like very much—all fine fellows. The students are pretty fair. As writers or speakers or mathematicians, they won't hold a candle to the W students, but as linguist, they surpass them. Some of 'em are pretty wild fellows and I got in among 'em very quick but unwittingly on my part, but I soon hauled off from them. However, before I hauled off I helped 'em eat 2 or 3 chickens (which I afterwards found out were stolen) and drink a few bottles of wine. They wanted me to help 'em play cards, but remembering Ben's long and parental lecture I refused. They don't catch me in with them again, that is certain and I am in earnest I assure you. The Society Libraries are both very fine, containing 5,000 volumes apiece.
With each library is connected a reading room which is opened all day for the use of the students, but books are not permitted to be taken out except between 1 & 2 o'clock P.M. They don't seem to take much interest in the debates, but they have 2 or 3 orations to make up for it. Scarcely ever does any one except the regular disputants speak on a question. I don't much admire the constitution of the Society to which I belong, and I don't think you would, but I can't tell you what the rules are by letter for I am going to reserve it till we have the pleasure of meeting which I hope is not many months distant. Although it is but a month or two since we were together it seems like as many years. But I am not about to sermonize, moralize or sen- timentalize, and I will proceed with my rough re- marks upon things here. The college library I have not been into, ergo I shall say nothing about it. By the way, they have portraits in all the library rooms, either of the officers of college or of great men as Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, etc.
WHAT THEY STUDIED
We are studying Mechanics as well as you and I guess with an instructor who can teach us as much as Prof. Keely can you, and we have also commenced the French Grammar. Go it my hearties, "Vive mes garcons." I don't have to study my lessons at all. Many thanks to Monsieur Schaffer, our little Frenchman whom I shall long remember. Our other study is Paley's evidences, which we go over in a hurry, and what is more we have a lecture a day. We have to get a lesson Wednesday afternoon which I don't relish, but to make up for it we have 14 weeks vacation in the winter, and better still our vacation commences 4 weeks from tomorrow. I am in hopes to pop in upon you before your term closes just to "see the folks and get some peaches," but need not rely upon it too much. Our Erasophian gets along slowly I guess, from what I hear. The Fraternity are getting all the Freshmen. Look to it my lads, look to it don't let them get more than half. Give Ero's my best respects, and many hopes for its prosperity, because I am one of its founders you know. You've got Fred Wiley back for which you're glad and I am sorry. Evans too has gone back to you. Don't you keep him longer than two terms if you want to keep yourself out of difficulty.
COME TO DARTMOUTH
Why look here Ben and Nat, are you going to graduate there? Come here with all possible speed. You won't repent it. Don't stay there and take a part. I shall look for you here next Commenc't. and if you don't come here, go to pot. "Them's my sentiments and you have 'em gratis." The senior class will be making off to some other college or colleges I take it or else they will be most confounded ninnies besides false to their pledge. Give my love to all my classmates and my respects to all others who may take the pains to inquire for me. I reckon you have got a hard customer in your old Prex. he will make you walk straight I'll warrant you and without any such palaver as Babcock used to have. Success to him I say. But don't let him find you out in any scrape however many you may cut up. I don't like a chap that will get caught in a scrape; but that ain't saying that I do like one who will cut up a good one without discovery. Never mind if this is not a very good letter because I have got an outrageous bad cold. It snowed an inch or an inch and a half here today, hailed a little and now it has turned to rain and I have wet my feet, and that has made a small addition to the cold which I had before. You see this is confounded bad weather—cold, dirty, rainy, miserable, muddy weather—ain't fit for a dog to be out in, much less a child of my consequence.
I have not left off chewing and smoking yet and as soon as I finish this letter I will smoke my pipe awhile and go to bed. The bell is just ringing for nine o'clock. Well let it ring; I am not tied to the bell rope—never was, and never will be, though I may be one day to the hang man. Excuse my rattling stile, and in return, write me just such a one or a better. I have not had a letter these three weeks. Tell Shepard I shall write to him in a few days. Remember me particularly to him Evans and Wiley. Should be happy to have a letter from one or all of them. Wiley I believe promised to write me. Just make him walk up to his promise. Oh, I like to have forgot to mention how well we are off with respect to composition. We don't have to write one once in an age, though I have got to speak an original piece on the chapel stage this term and it will take me a fortnight to write it. Well, I will write it and speak it, and if I am able it shall be a good one for the honour of Old Waterville. I have got somewhat acquainted with your friend Bradly and I like him much. He is considered a fine, talented fellow. Chum sends his respects to you two fellows, and I would just observe in the most delicate manner in the world that my letter is about finished and a week after you receive this, I hope to find in the Post Office a letter from you. (Rogers to write and Ben to dictate) addressed to your quondam affectionate classmate H. C. Fessenden. Tell Rogers to make fine letters when he is writing to me.
Letter to Messrs. B. F. Butler & N. G. Rogers, Waterville (Colby College) Maine. October 10, 1836.
