The Portland daily press., 1880-12-21
lRockland Courier.l
Retrospective.

We notice that Dr.. Torsey has not with.
drawn from the management Of the seminary
at Kent's Hill, as was previously reported, and
it's mighty good thing for the seminary that
he hasn't. What vein of retrospection it
throws US into, reading that simple little item.
We close our eyes and look back once more at
the "Hill." Here is the doctor. portly of form
yet phenomenally quick of action. attired in
his inevitable suit of sober gray, with coat but
toned to the chin. Here is Professor Wilson,
with his long and heavy moustache, an object
of profound admiration to us beardless strip
lings and his unctuous pronu notation of the
word righteousness Here's Prof. Morse,
with his long red whiskers and an Utopian
scheme Of college band-and faith, he had
band, too; a band composed Of the students;
and such wonderful musicl We don't believe
lin fact, we kno,c, there never was any mu-
sic like it before nor since. There's Prof.
Chase, the mathematician, whom us baseball
loving chaps regarded with warm affection be-
cause of the fact that every finger on his two
hands, aye, and thumbs, too, had been broken
or disiointed twice or more times each, in his
pursuit of that noble and popular national
game. When he had finished q lucid explana-
ton Of some abstruse algebraical example, and
pointing with crooked fore-fnger at some
member of the class, inquired: "You see that,
do you?" it was always q matter of grave
doubt In the minds of the students to whom he
alluded, the sinuous finger pointed In so many
different directions.
There were other professors "profsp we ir:
reverently called them, and officers connected
with the institution in different capacities, all
OF whom us young cubs looked upon as our
natural enemies, but who now appear, In the
light Of advancing years, as our friends. What
boys those students were! Strong. healthy.
smart, high-spirited-it seems as If there never
had before existed such boys. And the girls,
too-beauties, every one OF them. That In, we
thought 30 then, Tut certain photographs In
an album at homo lead rs to believe that our
perceptiye faculties had not then attained the
characterizes them now. u Bar -rlslaIr s q
But the Doctor--ah, there never was Just
another such man. What O memory he had
We believe he remembers every student of the
many thousands who ever came under his in.
struction, and should be meet them would re-
call to mind some incident in the school life of
each. Some ridiculous incident, too, for he is
famous fellow for fun, Is the Doctor.
One day as student sat in the chemistry
class wondering how he ever should stagger
through neglected lesson, fellow student
came out of the laboratory and told him the
Doctor wanted him. With faltering step and
trembling form the young villain reluctantly
entered the mysterious room sacred to horri-
Bile SMELLS The Doctor was stirring some
dreadful compound In q little leaden dish. We
wonder If he remembers the trembling little
rascal who halted at his elbow with such q
fearfully anxious look upon his boyish face
After long and awful pause, during which
time the youthful rascal had in vain scanned
the kindly but impenetrahie countenance be-
fore him, the Doctor said ~ ~ - Co.
You want to be good boy, now don't
All, If he had kicked the young villain-if
he had run him through the retort-if he had
knocked him down and sat ON him while he
poured the &C mpound he was mixing down
his youthful throat, he could have stood It, But
that sweet and gentle tome
There was lump as big as barrel In the
far enough to family stammer, "Yes-yes.
SIR" g.. ...-.,.- ~ N.rr -g --.-r
Silently the stirring went on. The trembling
little culprit stood there in An agony OF doubt
and fear, the beating Of his heart rivalling In
loudness the ticking Of the great clock on the
wall. 1t seemed as II time had ceased and
eternity begun ere the gentle voice again re-
marked: 80 .s.f'- ~ -. -,
We'll, guess you loiH be good" -ss =
That was all. The little villain went ont
from that kindly presence and left 1t still stir
ring the chemicals, with his love for the doctor
b heightened and deepened beyond expression,
and with firm determination to indulge no
more in certain pranks indigenous to the col
lege boy Of to-day.
We were that little villain. We wonder II
the Doctor (God bless his kindly Christian
hearty remembers him?