The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-11-13
SAPPHIC OR LAURAIC?
The Terrible Dilemma Of a Love-
Stricken Collegiate.

Forty years ago was young, handsome,
and in love with Laura. l was good
Greek scholar, too, and between love and
Greek got myself one day into frightful
'scrape. am getting very old now-I do not
moan only in years, because, when a man is
over sixty, that goes without saying, but
in feeling also. A few years ago l could
not recall the episode to which l am about
to refer without blushing up to my old
ears. Tonight l have sat down deliber-
ately to write about it with a sardonic
smile l am so far away now from that
handsome hot-headed, warm hearted youth
that can laugh over his absurdities as
over those of third person.
When | was nearly sixteen, and Laura
fourteen, we were separated for the first
time; l went to boarding-school, and she
abroad; nor did we meet for several years
and when we did, she was more beautiful
than ever Her very peculiar charms, the
egg-like oval of her face, the delicate aqui-
line nose, the arched lips, the long, dark
blue eyes the level brows, the wild
rose leaf complexion, and the abun-
dant nut brown hair, waving in
large waves, not crimps and with
golden CLEAN on the edge of each wave,
were all there, and all enhanced
by the splendor of maiden bloom;
for she was then nearly twenty
years old. She was a demure, dis
aiainful maid, with a most distracting
habit Of blushing and looking shyly down,
and she lost no time in bringing me to the
verge of madness, and keeping me there,
as it was absolutely impossible for me to
discover whether she really liked me or
not. As may easily be imagined such
state of mind made sad havoc with my
work q was then in college, and Just about
to take my degree), and though | was the
beading Greek scholar of my year, and
really had achieved in that language far
more than The average amount of progress,
there were moments in which ] seemed to
forget every thing, and to have lost all
my power~ot acquiring as well as retain
1ng. No doubt many people saw that | was
making fool OF myself. but the first per-
son to call my attention to my own utterly
6cfogged condition was our Greek pro-
fessor the celebrated DR.. ToIston. He was
not Doctor of Divinity, but Of Literature,
Laws Philosophy. and every thing else
that is possible. He had an Oxford degree,
then very uncommon thing in America
and he had American and German degrees
without end, and deserved them all, as he
was profound scholar and a man of real
genius and enthusiasm. Observing that |
worked hard and really liked to study, he
had kindly taken great Interest in me, had
even allowed me to read Greek with him
.over-hours, and had been so pleased with
my advancement that he had declared me
iii for Crcek prOfesSorShip, and as a mark
OF appreciation gave ms what | must adj
NIT could well have dispensed with) a
great deal of extra work to do. Most of
the students We're afraid of DR.. TOlston,
and it must be admitted tnat his patience
with lGggaTds was of the shortest. He had
devised a way of arranging his recitations
which did away with any possibility of
cribs or ponies and separated each victim
f,xp | oil in,
preclude all friendly assistance, and
10 compel attention 1t was in this
wise: Dr. TOlston was seated on daiS at
ne end of the room, the class at some dis
lance and below him. Each student was
called up separately, and was obliged to
leave h place, to ascend the dais and to
stand there at about yard from the mas
tel'S desk, and with his back to his com
panions. In this position, and exposed to
the full fire of the PROFESSIONAL eve, he was
expected to translate from the professors
own book. 1t will be easily seen that O
fellow might know his lesson, or might
mot, bat could not possibly hoodwink his
instructor. Up to the period of which |
write had never had any trouble with my
Greek. | was so very much more advanced
than the rest of the class that the regular
Tectations were mere child's play to me,
and in the matter of Greek verses knew
myself to be without a peer. Yet it was
precisely here that | first stumbled The
SUBJECT treated IN Greek verse that morn
irS vas the retreat from Moscow. good
many of the class did not even attempt it,
and those who did did not succeed very
brilliantly. My turn came last, and |
walked up and handed in my paper, which
the professor began to read.
i think, Mr. Raymond, that these verses
can hardly be yours" he said, suddenly,
in tone of ominous blandness, after read
ing few lines aloud.
20 yes, sir they are" said, quite I'M
suspecingly.
~ think not, Mr. Raymond; 1 really
think not"
but they are sir" l returned. 81 am
quite sure of it,
"You are quite sure}" said the professor,
with increasing blandness.
Yes, sir, quite" answered wondering
how soon l could get away. | had an APP
,pointment with the florist TO whom | was
heavily in debt
Then how do you explain the use of the
second aOrlst in the third line, Mr.. Ray
imonds And here, further on, | find an i'm
IeIfect equally out Of place and heren-at
this point he read slowly aud with frghttul
-distiuCtuess for several lines-"here and
here, the Greek is wholly unintellgible.
The accents are wrong some of them en-
rtirely omitted. Do you understand the
force Of tho accent in Greek. Mr. Raymond!
Your work this morning sir, has been UNI
worthy OF n boy OF twelve, Take back
your paper, sir. and light your fire with it.
TO morrow shall expect you 10 hand ma a
corrected cory. Mr.. Reynolds has done
t0st to-day