New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-09
Garfield At COLLEGE.


The Rer. +. cutter IN an address nj Dorchester
In an interview AT the Parker House The occasion
was only few hours preceding the delivery OF has
great Faneu Hall speech three years ago tbs sep
temi er IN which he thrilled hIs Immense audience
through and through with his wonderful mastery
of the financial prol lens OF that day, General
Garfield made alluson 10 n memorable night IN
which the shaping OF his future lie. as II then lay
in his mind, underwent q change from disiinc-
lively and professionally religious calling snch ~
the Christian ministry Is Ia secular anu pollilca
purpose for lie. At tho time now speak ol, va,
the night at Williams. only the main question. aud
none oil It's details. occupied his Thought.
| never can forget that night. IT. hushed and
midnight surroundings It's solitude IN the open all.
and how the powers of his mind worked ~ utiul
stages, not with mlsgivings' Int not without eN-
trcnc caution And his moral nature va, awe
and sensitive as ] had never seen IL before. Tod
saving to him. u seemed TO himself, THIS Is
the way walk IN IT," lie meant 10 carry into no
ltcal life and he did so carry, the same lifelong.
drcp-seatcd CONVICTIONS the same conformity to the
standard OF duty. tho same high-lonrd purpose
which had governed hum hitherto. Ana he saw e.
fore hum ragged and tner-hcset and trcachrrOus
path. Hence tho deep heavings and pcut up
energies and yearnlngs for soul sympathy. After
an hour or two of tins breathing forth of his soul
and a return 10 the college buildings, the IfrcpTr~
sLle ire that wa, burning IN his bones burst forth
again. the desire To tell me what was going on
within him, aud to have someone witness, If not
share the personal conflicts of his soul. And 50 We
went forth again. aud 80 spent a good part Of the
night, 50 tar as ] can rccolIect, he himself beng
Largely the chlci actor and talker IN the scene.
Here you will sre the chIldhko transparent sim
plicty of the man at that tllnc and, IN the Same
view. the irrcpIcssblc energies OF this great soul
this more Than Samson among men.
And then, the purity OF his heart was something
for us to notice in those days lie enjoyed the
current college humor. and took no small part IN
il But if ever II lost its SAVIOR of guIlres,rc,s ho
would drop it instantly and go Tor some bright pure
thought as If an angel OF light had sent hun forth
And so the aroma of Garicld's lite IN college re-
mains in our recollection as of the sweetest aud
most wholesome character.
knew our revcrcd classmae rs n religions man
not Of the extra sanity ordcT-not in eminent
,iangcr of beng CaDOnlIed IN Cot ge days Whatever
peril of that sort may await hIs memory hereafter
speak in this way. having noticed IN some quarter
an apparently exaggerated representation of hIs
emotional piety | think pluck and prayer entered
into his daily life Jointly. White IN college hc
was man OF prayer. and have reason 10 think In,
habit was never otherwise all MS lite. The Cnis-
tan virtues were well cXemplilicd ia him. aud that
inner life of faith and lcye of which Jesus is the
ana object, had its fair Illustration IN him,
the days speak OF.
| recall an incident which has been related clse-
where and which speaks fOI itself. Our classmates,
many of them, had been spending "a Fourth of .Inly
on the top of Grey Lock Mountain, having an rlp-
rOariOusly good time college boys are AIT tO
do when let loose for days recreation. As night
gathered about them-fOT they were 10 spend the
night there-our classmate. taking a Testament
from his pocket said to his companions: Boys |
read chapter every night simultauct usy with my
mother. II you please ! will read it aloud And
afterward lie asked the oldest OF them to lead in