The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-24

CAMBRIDGE. Mass. Feb 23.-The chief
historical associations OF Old Cambridge are
annually revived by the celebration of
Washing;on's Birthday. In Brattle Street
is the old Vassall house Washington's
headquarters during the siege of Boston,
and the home of Henry Wadsworth Long
fellow. Farther out is Lowell's Elmwood
another historic mansion Of Revolutionary
times. Near the Common is the ancient
elm. suffering yearly loss of vitality
through sheer old age, but still with an
appearance at least of sturdy strength. I'M
der which Washington took command of
the American Army. The Common lying
across the street from tie Harvard Yard
was the scene OF the American encamp-
ment, and the yard itself still contains five
Of the buildings which looked down upon
those stirring times. Within a few years
only the old Holmes house the birthplace
OF the autOcrat, from the steps of which
President Langdon. OF Harvard, offered
prayer FOR the success of the troops on
their way to Bunker Hill, has had TO be
torn down for the better accommodation
Of Richardson's beautiful building for the
law school.
No Northern town, perhaps outside of
Philadelphia and Boston, contains more
important memorials of these opening
days of the Revolution. In the yard one
can call up in Imagination almost the ex-
act picture of the American encampment
in the group of old halls which then as
now were clustered over against the Com
mon. Here are Massachusetts, Harvard.
and Hollis Halls. and Holden Chapel, with
Christ Church. in which Washington at
tended service. not far away. Still in the
yard-although not comprehended in the
same view as the other build ngs-is
Wadsworth House. the residence of nine
Harvard presidents. in which Washing
tons headquarters were established for
the first week or so following his arrival
from the South.
When George III, .'gloryfying in the
name of Englishman,' assembled the
throne. Harvard loyalty responded in a
consratulatory volume of Engl sh and
Latin verse. Only a few years after the
senior class was voting to take its de-
grees in the manufactures of the coun-
try and wore homespun accordingly as a
protest against the oppression of King and
Parliament. The temper of revolt thus
established was turned soon after, for
lack Of other material, perhaps, against
the administration of the college itself.
In 116S a very fair sized rebellion against
the president and professors broke out a
Tree of Liberty''-in imitation of the
Liberty Tree OF the Boston pauiots-was
designated, and the three lower classes
requested TO be scharged, while the scr
Tors asked that they might be sent to New
Haven TO receive their degrees from Yalei
Next year, however, internal diss5 n
sion seems to have been forgot in dislike
of the common foe across the water a
military company was recruited from the |
students, calling Itself the Marti-M ercu- |
rian Band, with the motto, Tam Marti |
guam Mercurio, indicating that war as
well as scholarship was the proper duty |
Of the American undergraduate in the |
time of his country's peril Blue coats |
faced with white, nankeen breaches. |
white stockings, top boots. and cooked |
hats composed the uniform.
The General Court OF Masss chusetts |
came TO Cambridge TO sit at this time. |
resenting the presence of British troops |
and cannon in Boston. The delibera ions |
were in Harvard Hall, still in exterior |
appearance almost exactly the same as |
then. James Otis made one of his impas- |
stoned harangues-to use the good old |
phrase-and the students crowded to hear |
him. Turning to them he babe them re- |
member that their turn to resist oppres- |
sion might soon come. One cannot help |
being glad that he did not emit TO quote |
Horace line: "Dulce ct decorum est pro 1
patiId noIi MOI an eye Dut was We |
We are told; mot a breast but throbbed |
with patriotic emotion" Otis had gradu- |
ated from Harvard in 1743, and knew his |
audience.
In 1310 the General Court came again 10 !
Cambridge. By this time. according TO the |
testimony of one of their elders "the |
young gentlemen'-the student body" as 1
1t is now referred to-had quite caught |
the spirit of the times. Their declama-
nd h. 81,
spirit OF liberty. This has always been /
encouraged, but they have sometimes bee n |
wrought up to such pitch of enthusiasm
that II has been difficult for their tutors 1
TO keep them within bounds; but their tu-
tors are fearful Of giving too great a
check to a disposition which may here
after I'LL the country with patriots. and |
choose TO leave il TO age and experience
to check their valor." Toryism was rot