The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-04-20

A letter written sixty-one years ago
by Joseph e. Kearney to his father.
Bernard Kearney. who in that year
was conducting st. Mary's private
school In High street. where st. Mich.
aeTs Hospital now stands, and both of
whom are nov dead. will prove of in
terest to many Yewarkers. The letter
was written in the year that Mr..
Kearney was being graduated from
Princeton and refers to other members
Of his (the law class. There were
William D.. Bispham. of Philadelphia;
Shelby Clarke, of Prince George, Md;
F. r. Farrar, of Amelia county, Va;
Ashbel Green, of Princeton: George M.
Lloyd. of Maryland; William B. Neg
ley, of Pittsburg, Pa, and Peter l..
Voorhees,. of Blawenburgh. Joseph E.
Kearney was a half brother of Miss
Sarah Kearney. who is now living az
Sc High street. Mr.. Kearney was
graduated in June and died the follow
ing September.
Princeton, N. j., May 10, 1S4S.
My Dear Father-,Your last communica-
~ Liz wv "a
the present week, informing me of news
relating to home. which, ] need not as
sure you. afforded me much pleasure in
have just recovered from a severe at
tack Of Influenza, which prostrated me for
one week. l had taken cold by wearing
sudden changes of the weather. which oc-
Cured during the present week, but by
taking the remedies prescribed by, the
doctor DUNN / have again recovered my
former good health. | called on Professor
Green this morning. according to agree
ment made with him last evening, for the
which he was oonveyancing. partly for the
purpose of teaching me and taking a sur
vey of It, but on arriving at his office
/ found him confined to his bed.
/ remained an hour or so with him and
then went after a physician. l also wrote
a letter to his son In Philadelphia inform
ing him of his fathers sickness, and made
promise to return about II o'clock and sit
with him. The unhealthy weather we
have lately a produced a great deal of
sickness. among which is the typhus fever
The trustees of the college are now in
session. They preside at the senior ex-
have a vacation OF six weeks previous to
graduating, which will take place at COM
mencemenf day. The difficulties with them
Mr. Mr. N Nichols feiHs who ha'' has par' the Kindness 1IoTe oVs to
carry this communication, is a member
of the senior class: They will leave a
void In the usual hustle of college life
which win not be filled again this session.
Msay of them are young. men of su-
pei ior endowmentH. About half of them
viii embrace the legal profession and will
then journey for the West. They are
making up small parties of four or FIVE,
who will, on completing the study of their
profession, prepare to meet at some place
agreed upon and take up their march
for the great Wes-. they will settle them
selves in some territory or new State, one
or two In each section of the State, and
so m, nrn 70 rnaLa fhopnc altyaG nnDular. nG
political speakers. and in a short time
will run for office, and each and all are TO
exert themselves to secure election.
Next year, or the year after, he resigns,
or is elected to a higher office, and another
one is elected in his place. BY that means
they can control the State election so as 10
raise themselves to office, honor and dis
t~inction, and nothing is more fitted to
produce greatness and distinction than Il
four-year course at this college. They ere
in a measure thrown into the most bolster
the ocean of life. They arrive among
strangers. nearly 300 In number. from near
" every cline. From Turkey, Ireland,
Scotland, England, Germany. the West
indies and from various parts of this con-
tinent.
We find their dispositions, tastes, man
ners and characters are as different as the
places from which they hail. They have a
chance to analyze their characters and see
men in all the varied lights. Their knowl-
edge of human nature Is almost Invaluable.
They learn one thing which certainly Is
worth purchasing at any price-'to take
care of themselves They know how to ac-
commodate themselves to the tickle
changes of fortune in after life and how to
treat a. professed friend or enemy. They are
furnished with examples of the effect of
every virtue End vice. from which, if they
are not complete nonentities. they may de-
duce reasons and rules by which to govern
themselves in after life, for no knowledge
is superior to that of human nature, except
that OF God. In fact, the one p~resupposes
this other, for it is almost an impossibility
to form a just estimate of the goodness end
bfnejcent power of God without having al
least q good idea Of human nature.
I must now say farewell till my next
with the best of affection to all.
JOSEPH E.. KEARNEY.