The Newtown bee., 1892-03-11
Aunt Becky's "Reminiscences.

NSW | OEhs anu WE lldu LO OO Al1Co from Albany in crazy old stage coach to reach the little village when the school was located.
 The building was originally built for Methodist college, but, before it was entirely finished, the old seminary, the other side of the village, was burned to the ground the school took possession of the college building and always occu- pied it afterward. l think that college has also been burned down since.
 It was very long building, on rising ground back of and overlooking the vil- lage. It was four stories high, besides basement and the center was six stories. A recess piazza, the roof of which was above the fourth story and was support ed by immense, square pillars, occupied one third of the building in the center and was the favorite promenade for the young ladies, at certain hours.
 At each end of the piazza was a small room, one for the general office, the other for the steward. There were three entrances from the piazza. I believe there were five entrances to the build ing, going up long flight of steps, both front and back, besides one at each end of the building The halls were immense ly long and wide, with rooms on either side. The chapel was in the basement at the ladies end of the building and it was great fun to look down from our third story window and watch the gen. tlemen filing into chapel. Yes, l say gentlemen, not boys, for many had heavy boards and moustaches. One young man had face and whiskers ex- actly like the wax heads you see in a barber's show window, just as fair and smooth, with side whiskers and nous tache. We never knew his name, but, as he always wore bright blue pants, we nicknamed him Blue-breeches.
 Some of the teachers were very nice and others were queer enough. The professor of Latin acted as if he was al- most too lazy to live; always wore slippers down at the heel, was very tall, thin and very dark complexioned; you would laugh to see him drag round. The preceptress was an extremely dig nitied mite of woman, very precise and, l believe, a good teacher. Her husband, tall, very airy and extremely polite to the ladies. The French teacher was short fat Italian who lisped, but under stood l7 different languages. The head music teacher was Hungarian exile, a fine teacher.
 The young men used to have their scrapes, as well as the girls. Most of the incest young men in the college were quartered on the third hall and called themselves the third hall rowdies. There was always one teacher, at least, quar- tered on every hall and the one on that third hall was so unpopular that the stu dents liked to plague him. These young men would get up in the night, fiddle, sing and do all sorts of things, but, when the teachers door opened Che probably falling over some obstruction purposely placed there) and the watchman appear ed, all was still. Every student safe in bed, apparently fast asleep.
 The watchman, who perambulated the building all night, was very much dis liked. I heard that they threw him out of the third story end window into snow bank, the Winter before. It was told for truth, but I will not vouch for it. But they did dress up dummy, while 1 was there and placed it leaning on the piazza railing, as if smoking. The watch man marched up, demanding who he was and why he was there. Of course, no answer. Then he took hold of him and found he was sold.
 There must have been, after all, much good in the institution, for many became prominent men in after years. I know two not so far away who are good law yers and judges.
 l enjoyed it all very well, all but the return home. It was customary there that young gentleman could act as es- cort to any young lady, who was willing to accept such attention, as far as AL bany. It happened that my chum and I had escorts, but, in some way, we delay ed till the last wagon. A great old lum- Der wagon without springs or cover and there were about 20 in the wagon; seats on the sides. It was fearful and it rain ed in torrents.
 We arrived at Schoharie about l o'clock at night. No rooms to be had, so the gentlemen had to take one room and we had sort of sitting room with a stove, where we managed to dry our clothes. Oh, such forlorn, bedragled set as we were when arrived at Stanwix hall, AL bany, the next afternoon; our new bon nets just ruined.
 When I arrived at my own home per- fectly exhausted, found my trunks had been left at Albany, but managed to have them sent to me in the course of fort night. l assure you that journey cured me of wanting to return to that school.
 One young lady, who was very talent ed, became deranged while I was there. never knew much about it, but she would come into chapel with one side of her hair brushed down flat to her face. the other straight back and puffed out, with one earring of one kind and one of another. Then she took to wandering in the woods nights. Finally she disap- peared and the college knew her no more. It was probably from over study.
 Board and common English branches at that seminary were $1 37 1-2 per week. Everything else extra. We had as good board, think, as in other schools. We had fine bread and biscuit. We made friends with the baker, who used to smuggle pie or something to our room and who used to make the finest short cakes with fruit ever ate in