Evening star., 1901-09-24
WEBSTER AT DARTMOUTH.

grievances.
WEBSTER AT DARTMOUTH.
Black Dan Gave More Time to Gem
eral Reading Than to Text Books.
From the Manchester (N. H. Union.
None of the biographies of Daniel Web
ster has very much to say about his school
days or his college life Though he was
looked upon a leader in his class at
Dartmouth, where the centenary of his
graduation was celebrated, it seems to be
pretty generally agreed that he did not es-
pecially distinguish himself as scholar,
and that the high esteem in which he was
held by his classmates was largely due to
his bearing toward his fellows and his
great power as a speaker.
This faculty of happily and readily eX-
pressing himself was the most notable
characteristic prophetic of the man into
which he was to develop His family had
faith in him-faith that he would some
day do something and be somebody, but
the bare narrative of his college days reads
like the narrative of the life of many an
other boy at college. There is, also, in his
biographs a notable lack of sprightly an
ecdoteS and tales of college Scrapes with
which the biographies of great men usually
abound. Even old graduates of Dartmouth
can remember few Webster traditions and
the one best remembered recalls his de-
struction of his diploma at the time of his
graduation. This one of his classmates de-
MES
Webster as a student was Studious, pune
tual and regular in all his habits, and
this studOusness and regularity account
for the lack of more interesting infOrma-
tion concerning him at the time.
Daniel Webster entered Dartmouth Col
lege in 1897, when he was fifteen years old.
1t was only by great sacrifices made by
his family that the means were provided
for his education
N ard tn cfn u-hi iS fru
that he was studious, his application
rather along lines chosen by himself than
those laid down by the college authorities.
He was paSsionately fond of reading, and
he read the best English books of his time.
But in some of his studies he was lacking,
notably in Greek and mathematics. By
his wide range Of reading he gained ex-
tenSive knowledge, but he did not love
learning for learning's sake, and was
therefore not a scholar in the narrow ac-
ceptance of the word.
1t was in his junior year that his Won
derfu1 power of elOquence began to be
noted. He was a member Of the United
Fraternity, an organization which gave
him all the opportunity needed to exercise
his powers of speech and he made good
use of the opportunities. He gained con-
siderable distinction as debater. and at
the close of this year was considered the
best writer and speaker in the college.
He was accustomed, said one of his
classmates. ito arrange his thoughts in
his mind, in his room or his private walks,
and to put them on paper just before the
exercise was called for. When he was re-
quired to speak at o'clock he would fire.
quently begin to write after dinner, and
when the bell rang he would fold his paper.
put it In his pocket, and go in and speak
with great ease. In his movements he was
rather slow and delibera e, except when
his feelings were arouset.; then his whole
soul would kindle into flame
Said another of his classmates: I'VE used
to listen to him with the deepest interest
ar thought
equaling the vfgor and flow OF his elo-
quence."
OF himself. at this period of his life.
Webster wrote: MY college life was not
an idle one. Besides the regular attend
ance on prescribed studies, 1 read some
thing of English history and English liter
ature Perhaps my reading was, was TOO TOO
year by superintendent little weekly
newspaper and making selections for 1t
from books of literature and contemporary
publications. l suppose sometimes wrote
a foolish paragraph myself While in col
lege delivered two or three occasional ad-
dresses which were published. l trust they
are forgotten; they were in very bad taste.
l had not then learned that all true power
in writing Is in the idea, and not IN the
style an error into which the ars retorica,
as it is usually taught, may easily LEAD
stronger heads than mine.
writing to his classmate, DR.. Merrill, he
said: II assure you, my dear old friend.
that hear from you with pleasure You
are not shepherd, and certainly am no
king. But we are friends, born in the same
country about the same age and educated
at the same college. We embraced differ
ent professions, which we have pursued
now for a long time. and Providence has
graciously blessed us both with great
share of health and happiness. At our
time of life the mind often turns to the
past 1 find that 1 think now much more
frequently than twenty or thirty years ago
on college scenes and college friends.
look over the catalogue, call to mind the
dead and inquire after the living. l well
remember that l did not keep up with you
in the stated course Of college exercises.
Your lessons were better learned. and you
were a great favorite with Prof. Smith and
the other members of the authority from
the exact punctuality Of your perform
ances. I believe l was less Industrious: at
any rate, l indulged more in general read
ing, and my attainments, If l made any,
were not such told for much in the reci-
tation room. After leaving college 1 caught
up as the boys say, pretty well In Latin.
but in college and afterward l left Greek
to Loveland and mathematics to Shat
tuck