'The Longer I Stay ...’

While anxious parents may hope that "dropping out," an activity described by several students in the January issue, is but a momentary aberration sixties-style, it is clear that the impulse to leave college for other pursuits has been around for ages. Take, for example, a letter written by George E. Chamberlin, Class of 1860:

"Dear Gentlemen - Will you please write me by to-morrow's mail whether you have a book-keeper as yet, and if you have not, whether you would like to have me come back at your offer. The longer I stay here the more I think I was never made to be housed here in this little room four years as a college student, and other circumstances, too, would influence me to leave if I could get my old situation. ...”

That letter was dated March 12, 1857. About a month later George Chamberlin wrote another letter, which may help to explain the "other circumstances":

"Dear Ellen - I've been looking and looking at your miniature this afternoon, and have now set it up against a book full before me, and have determined to write you a letter. ... When I think of the leisure moments I have had in which I could have written you, had I had the will, my heart condemns me. ... But, dear Ellen, in my old age [he was a freshman] I find I'm truly growing lazy. ...

"College life, you know, is rather barren of incident, there being the same routine of labor from day to day. Once in a while, however, college boys do have a rousing good time. For instance, last Saturday afternoon our whole class met together in one of the recitation rooms, and had a treat on peanuts and molasses candy. No one can describe our fun at such meetings, except a participator."

As it happened, George Chamberlin stayed on to graduate in 1860. His last letter before Commencement began: "Dear Father - I have got to have fifty dollars more to graduate with.”