A Freshman Writes Home
Excerpts from Letters of Clifford H. Smith '79 to His Father, Mother, and Sisters in 1875-76.
Dec. 4—What exceedingly cold weather it has been since I came away. It was quite comfortable on the cars, but I walked from the depot bringing my trunk and bundle in my hands, so that I went rather slow and the frost nipped both my ears, a little. I have kept a fire night and day, and kept warm most of the time. My rubber boots have been a great comfort, as I could keep my feet warm if nothing else. They are giving us somewhat harder lessons than in the fall, especially in Greek History, of which we have from ten to twelve pages a day.
My club business has been something of a failure so far. I have only eleven beside myself in it. Some who had expected to board with me went elsewhere, and almost every one had some reason for going to another club. I told Mr. Pelton how it was, and he wants me to keep it and try for next term, and I think I can succeed mch better for that.
Dec. 10—I weigh only 165 pounds in my ordinary clothing without my overcoat. We have begun gymnastics this week The instructor is a very fine gymnast.
That boy of our class, who was caught copying in examination was sent home this week for the rest of the term. He is the first one ever sent away for that, and we feel rather bad, especially as he was not as bright as some, and I am afraid will have hard work to make up his studies.
... I purchased a good pair of skates the other day for fifty cents. They were cheap and I wanted some exercise, and I think they will be worth as much as diat any time I am going to earn fifty cents this afternoon blacking a stove for an old lady A boy is waiting to have me help him in the Latin for eleven o'clock.
Dec. 18—I am editor of a paper for next week in our delta kappa society. Four men are appointed to write articles for it. Dec. 20—This weather uses me up worse than anything I ever saw yet. There seems to be the difference between Hanover and Bratt. cold weather that there is between a razor and a jack-knife. Mr. Andrews gave me an old comfortable to put on my bed last night and I slept as warm as could be desired. I got out of bed this morning at twenty five minutes of eight, and as my time was limited and my water as solid as a stone I didn't make much of a toilet. The water in the tea kettle froze on top of the stove, and there were enough coals to make a fire too. The thermometer stood at 26 below this morning. Since writing the preceding I have heard that the thermometer got down to 31 It is so cold that I can't think of any thing more to write al- though my room is quite comfortable this afternoon.
Christmas—Monday— thermometer below zero—l was in a hurry, the path was slippery, likewise my boots. I got on to my knees and you can imagine the rest. Do with the pants as you think best. You needn't be afraid if they look somewhat darned and patched, for that is better than the holes I see in some fellows' pants. About half the class have gone to their Christmas supper tonight They had to go in wagons and it is very rough since the ground is frozen and it is cold stormy and dark.
One of our boys is quite sick with a cold or some thing worse so they have sent for his mother, and another has been ailing today I have studied harder this week I believe than any time before since I have been here and have made almost perfect recitations One of the professors told one of our class that it was the most poorly fitted class they had had for a long time.
The thermometer rose 60 degrees in twenty four hours Dec. 20 & 21. The snow is almost gone in the streets and mud has taken its place. I don't know what I should do without my rubber boots.
The brother of the boy who is sick came at two o'clock last night. He isn't any worse this morning.
Jan. 1,1876—We had one recitation this morning and had the rest of the day as a holiday, and after many debates in my own mind, I donned my best clothes and in company with another freshman about half past three this afternoon went down to the president's for a new years call. Had a little talk, a cup of coffee and some oysters. I think President Smith is quite certain about the state of the weather tonight as the greater part of the college have called on him I think. Then we went to two of our professors' houses and made our calls and being freshmen concluded to let that suffice. It is very fortunate that the weather has been such as it has for it affords a fertile subject for conversation. The mud is worse than it has been before since I have been here and I noticed today that a bank of grass looked quite green.
. . . The senior class who graduate this centennial year had a grand supper and good time last night. I was kept awake until! about eleven by the shouting and noise around and at twelve was awakened by the ringing of the college bell at its loudest and the firing of a salute of seventy six guns and any number of pistols and a general hullaboo. The seniors continued their sport with dancing and firing a gun, that made the village shake, once an hour untill breakfast time! Of course it was only a part of the class and they not the best.
.... Wednesday I skated up the river six miles and back again on good smooth ice. Jan. services for Barnes were held in the college chapel Monday afternoon and then the body was carried to Nashua, a delegation of six of our class being sent with his mother and uncle. Three of them returned after the funeral Wednesday, and the others staid untill today as there were to be services Sunday. Jan. 8-1 have been making out my board bills and I find that when the term closes, $232.02 will have passed through my hands in seven weeks. I have made every thing come out straight so far.
Now I suppose we must consider the financial question a little. I left home with 534.42 in cash. I paid $3.00 for traveling, 56.73 for books, stationary and Postage, $14.82 for Board in the fall, and the rest for miscellaneous charities, untill I now have $3.17 of which I must pay $2.63 on two boys board, leaving .54. The only expenses that I think of now to come, are 56.00 for a cord of wood and $3.00 to get home. I may have a little money here but it is uncertain, so please send me nine dollars Perhaps I am not as economical as I might be, but I have put things as close as I could, and I hope to learn economy, if nothing else, before I get through We are quite anxious now to know what our marks are. They will be sent home a week or two after the term closes. Feb. 19—I have worked early and late for my club and shall have probably between fifteen and twenty when they all come. As two new clubs have started this term and the old ones are still going, it has been close picking for men.
Of course our chief topic of conversation so far has been marks, and we find some surprises and some marks that we wouldn't have made. Another man ties with me on the fourth place. One man that stands seventh would be several points ahead of every one but he had seven unexcused absences, and each one threw off three hundredths from his mark. They have usually allowed two or three absences to pass, but those arising ffom Parker's troubles are not thrown off, so I should have been even with the second man if I had staid at home The leader of the junior class lost his place at the head by going to the depot that morning I bought half a cord of very good maple wood for three dollars I sawed half of it this afternoon three times in two Three of the men who were very sick last fall are in the class again. Two of them have hardly any hair on their heads.
Feb. 23—Those students who were out during the vacation with the Y. M. C. Association committee report great success, in some places a hundred coming forward for prayers and many being converted. Feb. 28— My health is first rate and my buttons keep coming off whenever I take a long breath Yesterday, the day of prayer for colleges, we had a sermon at half past ten by one of the profs, on the text, "what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" It was the best sermon I have heard for a long time In the afternoon there was a prayermeeting in the vestry which had a very good attendance. In the evening the vestry was crowded. All day the interest seemed deep, the room was very still and no time was wasted from silence or long prayers. Today the students had a union meeting of twenty minutes at noon, which was full and deeply interesting
