The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-06-29
NOTED COLLEGE BOYS.
sn;ercstiu. Snctches OF sow Eamnu.
Men.

"
sketches pleasantly some OF the college
experiences of Longicllow and lIaw-
thornc. lie says:
In his college days Longfcllows's pa
rents resided in Portland. The young
poet entered Bowdoin one year in adj
vance. as a sophomore. at the early age
of fifteen. In college. | am told. he had
no exclusive associates. He mingled and
talked freely with all. and so came to be
universally regarded by the boys as a So
cial and genial fellow. In Rotations
he was always very prompt and attcn-
tive. He showed himself to DE a very
fine recitation scholar. In the languages
he was especially finished. aud his
themes always bore the stamp of Il elias
steal mind. In mathematics and meta
| physics, however. lie was not par
| tcularly distinguished. though lac
acquitted hlmsclf fairly. While
III college he wrote great
deal oi poetry, among which j. one poem
now III print, much admired. Prof
Packard, while in Boston. once called
upon James q. Carter. then the editor
OF the Lhcrary Rcrjs,c of Boston. "Who
is that young fellow down there" says
Mr.. Carter, "who writes such good poe
try - II seems that young Longfcllow
was constant poetical contributor to
TIL, RsrieiC while in college. There i "A
very old desk now in college which is
said to have been part OF the college
furniture Of the poet. am told that
Willie in college h. read nearly all the
distinguished British poets. and showed
himself very foul OF the old cssayists of
history ana biography. While in college
he also delivered before the students a
very fine production OF liking Philip and
Miles StandislI." and ut graduation the
subject OF his Grafton was The Life and
Writings of Chattcr,on." But he was
then, as now, very much aycrsc TO public
speaking. 1t will De Il halt century
next July since he graduated. His class |
will hold II reunion at that time, and |
Longlcllow will deliver poem.
HAWTHORNE.
llawthornc's parents lived in the old |
town of Salem, Mas. Young Nathaniel |
entered BowdOin at the age OF seven
| teen. rs II student he was the reverse of !
young Longlellow in almost every re- |
spect II was Longicllow's nature TO be |
frank and social with all. Hawthorne,
on The other hand, was sensitive, shy, re- |
served. quiet and mcdltative. and he Oft |
cncr preferred TO be by himself. Says |,
ono of his old classmates 10 the writer:
Il think he was the most peculiar young |
man in his tastes ever met. One pccu- |
larity of his college days | remember |
very well. On leaving the recitation |
room, instead OF keeping with the rest |
of the class, a. they stopped 10 laugh and |
chat, he would immediately drop |
of, either by himself or in COM |
pany with one OF his particular |
associates. remember it was often his !
delight to wander away alone down |
among the pines. Here. in some noise
less retreat, he would remain for hour.
| studying and muslng by himself. He
seemed to have dread of contact with
his fellow-studentS, and exhibited tenden-
cies to solitude. But few of his class.
mates ever came 10 know him well. I'm
college he had but three associates. With
these he was very intimate. One was
Franklin Pierce. Pierce aflerward, be.
came president OF the United States. and
ber," continued my informant ,.snrinD
them often together in college day.,
and ! know the friendship which
they then formed for each other lasted
| through life. llawthorne's two other os,
socaics in college were lIoratio BRIDGE
now AT the head ofthc bureau of clotbin@
| In the naval department, and Geo. i.
| Sawyer, now chiel-iuslice of south Caro-.
lima" In rotations Hawthorne was
not remarkable Tor accuracy. In fact he
| was very often deficient. Mathematics
he disllkcd very much. He 0Xcellcd only
| IN one brancll--that of Il writer, Prof
| Newman often spoke Of his trnnslatlons
rs showing high order Of taste, while
| his English compositions, were
always excellent lie was. indeed "A lover
of literature, aud prcierrd rather TO give
vent 10 lll- natural genius than to allow
llihlself to be crampcd and moulded into
the mere memOriling machine of the
classroom. But To complete the story.
some one has said that Hawthorne wa,
blessed with n noble wife, whom if he
had never loved he would in all probable
ity have died undeycoped and unknown.
Both are now dead. Hawthorne sleep,
on pleasant hill.slope near Concord.
His ideal wife rests in an old church.
yard In London. In heaven, let rs trust.
their souls ARE again united