The Portland daily press., 1863-02-11
Letter from Brunswick.
BowDoIN COLLEGE, Feb. o, 1863.
To the Editors ofthe Press:

"DIoGENEs." =.
Who, that has ever heard of Bowdoin Col
iege, or Brunswick has not become familiar
with the name and fame of Diogenes; not Di-
ogenes, the Cynic, who couldn't find an hon
est man, but the Professor of Odd Jobs in this
Institution, nick-named Old Di, alias Thomas
a. Curtis? Probably the oldest functionarv
here, he still lives; but his form is bent. and
time is making fearful havoc with his beauty.
His name does not appear in the catalogue
as one of the college officers, but he is inva-
riably recognized and appreciated as such.
According TO his own story he came here
Il years ago. and from that time till the pres
ent IN oment he has been employed in some
capacity by the college or students.
profound mystery hangs over his history
previous to his advent here. Some have con-
iectured, that he was once a Catholic priest.as
he appears to have been educated for some sta
ton higher than that which he occupies. 1t is
said that, before the advent of "ponies," or lit
eral translations, he used to assist the Fresh
men in preparing their lessons in Latin or
Greek. Perhaps It is true. He is a man
whose place could hardly be filed. Besides
making fires, drawing water, cleaning carpets,
all other duties belonging to his professorship.
he works cheap give you a sample:
Building fires, per week 6 cts.
bringing water, per week
Mending, IA days work
MendIng, l-2 days work 10
Mending, more than 1-2 day, "any
loose change you may have in your
pocket" which means Is
He lives In an old hut near the tepot. In a
manner nobody understands, for the reason
that nobody is allowed to enter there. In his
nut he Is said to have a large and well assorted
library, closely packed in boxes well nailed
pp. The library is reported TO number about
1000 volumes, which for private library even
In this literary town, is very large.
No Improvements find favor in his eyes-a
little old fogyish-but few years since he
was forced to contribute to Burnham's photo
tograph gallery, in Portland, much against his
inclination. The Photographer Burnham, of
your city, was engaged to take the photo
graphs OF the class of 80 Accordingly with
his apparatus he took up his abode in our
midst. Every graduate has picture of each
Of the professors, but until this time IL had
been deemed well enough to leave the Odd
Job Professor "out In the cold" On this oc-
casion the number would be incomplete with
out him. The power Of moral suasion and of
money was tried in vain, TO induce him to be
"taken." Stratagem was resorted to. Near
his mansion is an old barn. with window IA
cling Diogenes' door. In this barn Burnham
with his picture machine posted himself. TO
await patiently the movements of Portland
seuuehl' VINO was an accOnpilce IN this theit
OF the face Of Old Di. The student went TO
the door of the house. raped, and soon the
door opened outsuard, displaying the white
chalk charges for labor, DC, the highest, l be-
lieye, being against the tutor in Latin and
mathematics.
For long time the efforts to direct Curtis.
attention. to the window of the barn were In
vain, and he was about to retire within the
shanty, when the photograph man yelled Wig
orously. Curtis looked up in surprise, gazing
just long enough to be "taken,' house, chalk
marks, and all. When he learned of the Joke.
he refused to be comforted for a long while,
positively asserting that he would change his
will and not leave the college library single
book, but Inever learned that his will was mo-
dified.
Curtis begins to look and act old. With
difficulty he now manages to move over the
abundant ice: We fear but few classes more
will enjoy the benefit of his long stories. L
close by quoting from the Songs of Bow
doin,' the following passage, which occurs in
an Ode TO Diogenes, written by a member of
the class OF 81, and TO be sung, If at all, to
the tune Of America:
God bless thy STOPPING form,
Out in each beating storm,
Aye faithful found!
God bless thy Stole face,
Thy Diogenian pace:
Long may they staidly grace
This classic ground
MAquoIT.