The Harvard Monthly (Volume 13-14 )

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1892 Excerpt: ... HARVARD, 1820-1824. ON September 1, 1820, after seventy-two weeks at Westford Academy, I was presented by my preceptor for examination at Harvard. The examination began at six in the morning and lasted until five in the afternoon. It was entirely oral except the translation of a passage from English into Latin. It was conducted by thirteen gentlemen, all of them, with one or two exceptions, connected with the college. Among them was the President, John Thornton Kirkland. At the close of the examination we were directed to meet in the President's study at seven in the evening, to hear our destiny. At half-past eight my name was called, and to my great surprise I was admitted without conditions. My surprise was the greater from the fact that, owing to my hurried preparation, I had left two subjects unstudied. One of these was Greek Prosody, in which Prof. Edward Everett was the examiner. We were allowed a vacation of four weeks, until October first, when we returned to college, and went through the routine of entrance, which consisted of repairing to the President's room, there receiving a certificate of admission and a copy of the laws of the college; thence proceeding to the office of the steward, or bursar, and paying the entrance fee of ten dollars; and thence going to Commons Hall to engage board. My experience in the latter department was not altogether pleasant. Commons were then furnished in the four halls of University Building, on the floor above the basement, which was occupied by the Commons steward. The diet was most extraordinary. The coffee was an evil compound made in a copper boiler, and tasted more of verdigris than anything else. The puddings were of a solid nature, concocted chiefly of bad rice. They could be thrown over the building witho...