Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-06
OLD COLLEGE rRorEssoas.
"Reminiscences Of Famous EDUCATOR a.
Told by an Augusta Citixen-

Nohekc IemaIkeu , otate mouse
gentleman who had attended that institution
BACK in the forties, to a Journal reporter re-
Gently. HE was a very eccentric character
He taught the mental and moral PHILOSOPHERS
and in his department doubt if he had, in
his time, any superior. He had peculiar
way of hearing student recite He usually
began with a paragraph and gave the skeleton
of part of it himself, then paused for the
student to go on with it. Ifhe was unable to do
this, the Professor would go on ways further
with his skeleton, and if the student wasn'i
prepared to grapple with the abstraction then
he was permitted to subside and credited with
''fiunk'
This same Prof. Upham was one Of the
greatest detectives on the faculty One would
scarcely have suspected it however He was
rather sleepy looking man, and always
walked with head bent forward and peculiar
stoop that was exclusively his own. He was
more than theoretical psychologist however,
he was practical one. Once let him get
to talking with boy whom he believed to be
acquainted with any fact he desired to know,
and he was generally sure to pump
him dry as the boys expressed it. Iwell
remember of being in the library one day with
friend named Robinson. We had been
engaged in little mischief together a few
days before, and was considerably startled
upon looking up, to see him engaged in an
earnest conversation with Prof. Upham.
Oh, how carefully and successfully the old
Professor worked him, and how wrought up
l became when it seemed as if my confeder-
ate was on the point of giving everything
| away. The venerable Professor began the
conversation with few pleasant inquiries
about his parents, and passed from one thing
to another so naturally and pleasantly that
Robinson was thrown completely off from
his guard, and seemed upon the point of
telling everything, when by good fortune
managed to catch his eye and make an
admonitory motion. You would have been
amused to have seen the effect. He closed
up the conversation with startling abruptness
and became uncommunicative as clam.
The Professor saw that something had come
over him and turning round gave me a look
which | shall never forget, and taking his
hat left the room.
1.-The old man has been laid to rest for
some years now, but few of the men who
used to enjoy the advantages Of his vast
erudtion and concise and clear cut instruc-
ton will ever forget him
President Wood was a capital man, and
one whose great abilities did much to build
up the college. | well remember a severe
reprimand which he once gave me-" added
the gentleman, with laugh.
"How was that"
"Well you see crowd of US had been
round few evenings before doing up the
Freshmen, whom we had decided were grow
ing little pompous and large for the campus
and were sadly in need of combing. You may
be sure we did our work-as was usually the
case in those old days-in a most thorough
manner. The result was that a crowd of us
were summoned to a faculty meeting
well remember how the old Prex questioned
me. w he asked were YOU out of your
room Wednesday night?"
Eyes, sir"
Were you one of the parties engaged in
those riotous proceedings against the Fresh
men?"
well, was in the vicinity, sir, about
that time"
The Prex said no more but that afternoon
| received a notification to come down to his
ROOM Whether the others lied out or bluffed
their way out of the scrape do not know
but do know that appeared to be the only
victim of the examination"
What did you do about it?'
well, that evening | made my way with
fear and trembling to the Presidents study
found him seated at his table engaged in
examining large picture book, He mo-
toned me to seat near him, and remarked
pleasantly;
Here is book Mr.. W, which | have
been considerably interested in. You may
be amused when you hear the title We call
it The Arabian Nights Entertainment"
1t was indeed this well known and ancient
volume. but different from those we usually
see in having a scheme of morals arranged on
philosophical basis running through the
whole book. think there was only one edi-
ton of this work arranged, and yet it was
an exceedingly interesting one. The book
was profusely illustrated, and as | sat down
the old Prex began carelessly turning over
the leaves, and talking upon it. His remarks
were intensely interesting and entertaining,
and as he went on became absorbed in his
conversation. and quite forgot what | came
for The President talked on | should say
for fully an hour and half on the subject
of that work in the same pleasant way. |
began to feel however, that while ! had
passed the most delightful evening l had en-
loved for a month, | was trespassing a little
too long upon the Presidents time and pa
tience Perhaps something of this showed
itself in my face, for he suddenly ceased his
talk on the book, and turning to me said in
the most kindly tone:
CIV, the faculty are very DESTROYS of do
ing away with this pernicious practice of
hazng. You were engaged in the riotous
proceedings of Wednesday night. and the
| faculty have deemed it best that l should
reprimaud you. Therefore, you may con-
slider yourself Ieprimanded' And l bowed
myself out feeling that l could well
afford to receive another reprimand for the
sake of such pleasant evening.
SETH WILLIAMS POST.