New-York tribune., 1873-07-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TrLERs HISTORY OF AMHERST COLLEGE

n,
LER. svo pp t7l. springhed Clark W. Bryan "
Go.
The literary institution to which the present vol
ume is devoted is so intimately connected with the
ecclesiastical history and biography Of Western Mas
rsehusetts for the last half century, as to ahoru
subject of not little interest 20 the general reaoer
as we'll as 10 the special friends of classical educa-
tOn. Professor Tyler's elaborate ana sble WORK Is
sngularly fruitful in illustrations OF the peculiar
forms of New England character, The founders OF
Amherst College were remarkable body OF men,
Al their head stood the clerical descendants Of the
Puritans of that day, band of strenuous and eff
eient preachers of the gospel earnestly devoted to
Ahe primitive faith, with manners of pastoral sim
plicfty and purity, often quaint in expression but
always powerful in argument, combining a some
what rugged exterior with rare integrity of purpose
and sweetness Of hfe, with perhaps touch OF over
weening confidence in their own opinions, but with
q asingle-hearted devotion to what they deemed the
interests of truth and virtue. United with theln'
were men of emnenee and wealth IN different Walhs
Of society, including several merchants OF high re-
pute. who became inspired with glowing enthuSi.
asm for the establishment of the new instrument OF
religion and learning and who cOnsecrated their OF
ferings Ia the college as a sacrifice to the LORD
The first step towards its foundation was taken aD
Ameetug of the Franklin County Association oA
Ministers in 1915 1t voted that 1t was desirapio
In found literary institution in some central town
Of Hampshire County, and that Amherst was 'ne
most eligible place for its location. This was SIX
years before the college came into existence ana
after various preliminary measures the erection OF
the 6rst building was commenced in lS2G. The IN
habitants of Amherst and some of the nelghborlng
towns were invited to contribute labor and materials
tor the purpose The stone for the foundation was
brought from the little town of Pelham, which was
lannon's in local tradition as the scene OF certain
,Drious pulpit experiments by one stephen bur
rouphs a notorious clerical adventurer about the
6me of the Revolution Provisions for the WORK
men were brought by the willing hands of the farm
srs in the vicinity Donations OF lime, sand, Drlck'
timber flowed in from every quarter Teams, ana
n for the coarser parts of the work, provided
IN abundance. Everything was furnished without
money and without price. The people not only con-
lrbuted in kind but turned ont in person. sometimes
tanning on the ground. and laborng day and night.
The horse-sheds which ran along the whole line
Were removed The OLD Virginia fence disappeared
PIow and scraper pick-aX, hoe, and shovel were all
out IN requsition level the ground for the building
and dig the trenches for the walls. The quiet town
If Amherst had never before witnessed such busy
and stirring scene. The foundations were speedily
laid The walls went up if possible, still more
tapidly. Seldom has such feat been accomplished
with such scauty resources. Besides the voluntary
contributions. TIE building committee had not n
cent in their hands. During the progress OF the
work their means were repeatedly exhausted
There was seldom greater amount of material on
hand than would last the workmen a week "On
one occasion in the afternoon the last hod Of mortar
WAS deposited on the scafold, and there not a
neck of hme with which 10 make more. The work
men were about TO pack mp their tools TO 90 TO
another Job when Col. Graves came upon the
ground and entreated and finally persuaded them
10 wait till morning. IS they were returning to
their quarters for the night, strange team was
seen coming through the village from the north. 1t
proved 10 be a wagon loaded with lime sent some
twenty-five miles 10y man not a subscriber, but a
friend 10 the cause who having lime 10 spare, and
believing that il wOnld be acceptable to those who
had charge of the building, had, unsolicited and un-
Informed of their necessities dispatched load from
snch distance 10 meet such emergency" The
dedication of the building took place in September
1921. a little more than year from its commence
meut. On the next day, the college was
spened and organized by the admission Of
torty-seyen students, some into each of
The four regular classes, Morning and even
Ing prayers were at first attended in the old village
"meeting house" The bell of the parish continued
to summon the students to all their exercises until
Bne was presented TO the college. During the next
rear the presidents house was completed, and a
second college edifce begun. subscription of
R3OOOO was opened, and speedily filed The ex-
penses of the students at that time, compare
lively hight. Motives of economy and of con
yenence' writes DIR. Chapn Of the Class of '25, in
fuencod the first classes of students, very largely,
ir coming TO Amherst We all made our own fires
and toOA luC = tire car, ~. -.JIl.. most 0t us
sawed our own wood My college course cost me
eight hundred dollars, which was medium aver
see I should thinks The college grounds were
rongh and unadorned. and during all OF my course
had little done to improve them. Each Spring we
had our chip day when the students IN mass turned
Dut to scrape and clear up the grounds near the
buildings" A graphic sketch Of the early days at
Amherst is given in the following contribution by
Professor Shepard
Il remember that the Youngest OF my class Most
Of my fellows were mature youths who aid appear
g. youths 1 seniors in character and manlike in
purpose with air that seemed 10 tell OF years OF
searnIue for the ministry and Of brave struggle with
the poverty which had kept them from Their goal They
pezcd their late opportunity with eagerness.; tney
in general patient, panstakng and earnest students.
The institution orucd for just such pupils Its pg
mary Object to III young men ot clerical career
and one 90 tH foremost ndatOns the cheap
nr,- of edocauon and 81 v1uE For dol and hall
eWcek obtained fare, which, u ! remember right,
va fub.tlnilM and wholesome. Tie farmers wcre
h o'a bome market iof Their productions. aud ultr
and BE- fn. .tf considered pleasure. The Ofrtirds
w'r a. bstsr .isa tbe nur.t % peiobc. grca ip
pun r' saHf.l. art thf h,toy uu'gs tnuIsnri
ifan taaf lh.fI.i boo in. HHutaIrI .o .os0 rtil u.
uIH f...IH. .|.I ..fHHl .. .af h. t'H n iH.
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