, 1881-03-13

Il Classmates "Reminiscences of IIlA
Days ut Harvard.

15n 81 nj 41IrEHrUs
To the Editor Of the Philadelphia. Times.
On the 10th Of July, 1851, Robert Todd Lincoln
was graduated from Harvard College, within
twelve days Of his alst birthday. Out OF his
ninetY-six CLASSMATES over sixty were older
than himself. and ot these not Il few were from
three to six years his senior, aud yet of al these
sixty there was not one whose counterfeit pre-
sentiment executed at the time insllcutes
more Of n1anllncss, maturity, and txity of char
acter. The face is reussuriny, with its serene,
courageous outlook. revealing besides sober
comprehension of the situation and an Inherit
ance from his father Of ''clear-grained human
worth and brave old wisdom Of Sincerity
=. One of the most vivid reco1icctions OF those
days is that nf young Lincoln ns he HE'D with
ninble and etastic step across tho coIlege-cam-
pns, the shrewd, good -natured glance of his
eye, the quick and abrupt nod from right to left
as he greeted passing friends, his CHEEKY voice
rs he hailed some crony another with some
odd nick nAme Of his own fresh coinage. 1t Is
an old tale that he stood we'll and was liked, but
in gaugIny the estimation in which he WAS held
we might US well, ouce for all, leave bis sonshIp
to the President out OF the account
or course, his parentase gave him celeb
rity, but in the democratic communt-
ty Of Cambridge that was all It
fixed all eyes on him. but 1t was ve-y lnefgni0-
cant factor in determining his essential impor-
tance. His own unasssted traits OF chuEacte1
we're all that he could safely fall back upon,
and these stood him In very good stead, biz
sun1fus dignity, sterling talents, and earnest
purpose winning him general respect. Whether
in the recitntion-room or III the debates OF thu
>" Institute" he always acquitted himself fairly,
what he said and what he. wrote alike tvlnced
quick understanding. an active mtut, Il sound
Judgment and The proofs q these, eonioined
with Il push md force. poise nud splf-posses.
sion, made it clear he could get along tn tha
world independent Of the adventi1ous aids
position and influence.
Ucsides, be- brought q keen relish to his text
, books that Is often lacking in students who take
higher standing. The ncisivc phrases of Tac-
titus aud the ro!iick1ng husnor OF Aristophanes
might elicit the quickest response from his ap-
probation. but hc did not neglect the drier pages
Of philosophy OF physics. Certainly, while there
there was, Tn the other hand, nothing perfume
tory In his habits of study. Perhaps he WAS
greater reader than student. At any rate. the
college curriculum wns fur from supplying the
whole of his mental pAbulum; through all his
four years he was exploring the fields Of English
literature. from Chancer, through the dramat-
lists, down 10 tho ''NewCO1Ue$. and finding food
for thought, us well as n1.rrment, in Rabelals,
/" Le Dinble Roittux, and the like
To do all that he did required the greatest care
in husbuuding his time, and "sp3rting his Oak"
became ut times d measure OF absolute neccs-
sity. For he and his chum were very Attrac-
tive company, and bis numerous friends we're
repeatedly dropping i'll, if for nothing more than
to help him color his pipes. For 1t may we'll be
understood that tho popular son Of popular
presents than he could we'll Keep count Of.
These included knickknucks Of every concelv-
able kind Just suited to IL students taste. and
tables and to decnr,,tc the wulIs,-rifts from
friends and gifts largely from trndesmen who
were eager to seek rcc0Enition rs purveyors
the Presidents son. Here were mcerschauns
without number. of all sizes and nearly all OF
very elaborate workmanship. and these tneer-
chaums his friends we're very kind and very
assidnous in helping him to culor. But pipes,
dont imagine, were the sole attraction. Did any
one seek to drive away dull cnrt. tho sole thing
npedful was to drop lit when work was over at
the familiar den. Hollis -. 1t wis enough to
hear the latcst and the best yet Of Hob's In
imitable anecdotcs-thsy were n the hio1dEos ;-
roommate. This Yorck's rebcllioLis risbitles
only the strongest effort of the will could com-
pose to the constrained so1e1unity Of chapel or
lecture ROOM, and il WIS Il well-attcsted fact
that his c,tching grins were just tho sovereign
est thing OIL earth to cure the blues,
years Bob was one Of tho choicest spirits Mt the
meetings Of tho ''Hasty Pudding Club club,
by the way. instituted so tradition tells us. to
pcrpetuate the glorious memory OF Miles Stand
ish. that sturdy Puritan Captain, And his tncom-
purabe gas1ronp1nic service to mankind. in de-
vising that syhsrit!c luxury, rnllsn and molnsscs
In this TING holfrcu club he filled the august
position OF icc-Prcsdent, which had been dig
niteA and adorned BY such predecessors as
Horace EiaaoE. "a5'llnsaon inston; A. Or. Hedge:
own rownsmen s. u. FELTON, and Edward Joy
Morris. Here he also pur to good use his tamil,
lurity with the attic stage, and no arruy Of ''al
the talents on II play night WAS complete with
cut bis stellar radiance. And to this day trndi-
tion spcaketh loud under tho Cambridge olms ct
how Liucoln used to enact the villainy Of Ud
Dadav IrWic, In Ilnruwicke's "Bachclor OF
Arts or illustrated the swinging passion OF that
cruel parient Hussct. in the ''Jeaious Wife Ot
such were tno .ainevcniful but happy days OF hls
youth, the golden time. tue happE. the bright,
the unforgoitcn,"-so happy. that when ne re-
nightingale sing by the cain Bcnslemecr- c.