The College

"IT is a curious scene, here, as I write, a beautiful old New England village, 150 years old, large houses and gardens, great elms, plenty of hills - every thing comfortable, but very Yankee - not an African to be seen all day - not a grain of dust - nor a car to be seen or heard - green grass everywhere - no smell of coal tar. ... As I write a party are playing base ball on a large green in front of the house - the weather suits me first rate - cloudy but no rain."

Commencement, 1872

"Words, words, nothing but words." (Unidentified alumnus, commenting on Whitman's Commencement poem, Like aStrong Bird on Pinions Free.)